IT would be well and good if social-media platforms like Facebook and Twitter would, indeed, bind people together, or help with enlightenment so Internet users can form intelligent or informed opinions. In an ideal world, we would be consuming wise, truthful content rather than the fake news and misleading information that are just too common these days.
I saw online exchanges regarding the recent visit of Apo Whang-od, the last mambabatok, to Manila. “Guardians of tradition” were questioning the soundness of the organizer’s decision to have the old lady go through the travel and the actual events during the festival. The other camp was saying something about respecting the wishes of the famous tattoo artist and her family. The social-media posts may have amplified an already-existing division in opinions, and I wonder if any resolution or compromise has been reached regarding the matter. This is true for many other issues appearing prominently on social- media platforms.
As to the spread of fake news and inaccurate information, I suppose we cannot expect social-media users—even those with huge following—to be meticulous about the content they are putting out as some may think that being “just a blogger” does not require responsibility. Misinformation is on the rise and, as an added observation, the media apparently has a polarizing effect. It does not help that there are certain groups or individuals that feed off the scandals and the online outrage. Evidently, some people are capitalizing on the weakness of the medium.
So what are we to do? As users of social-media platforms, we have to take our responsibility seriously. For a lot of people, Facebook has become a main source of news. So it is very important that everyone becomes accountable for every content that appears on his or her feed or page. This is especially true for social-media outfits that distribute information to thousands, or even millions, of followers.
As responsible consumers of information, do not trust everything you read or find online. Be vigilant and careful about the things you read and believe in, and especially about those that you share.
Don’t be instrumental in the spread of untruth or petty content. Instead, try to enlighten and inspire. Try to be on the side of wisdom and truth as often as possible.
For a medium that wields great influence over such a broad spectrum of the population—there was a study which found that, in rich countries, people actually touch their phones 2,600 times a day!—it is worrisome that the rules are vague, and that the medium itself is largely misunderstood. This is why many Internet users are getting away with the abuse of their freedom. Then again, the issue of expression is an entirely different matter that may be analyzed in another column.