Filipinos Say Fake News Is A Problem But Can’t Spot It

Filipinos are having trouble identifying fake news.

According to a recent Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey, Filipinos know that fake news is real and a serious problem but struggle to identify it.

The survey results released on March 12 revealed that 59% consider fake news on the internet and social media sites like Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and YouTube a serious issue. On the other hand, 20% do not consider fake news a serious problem, and 21% say they are undecided.

Other Survey Findings

Aside from identifying fake news as a serious problem, the Stratbase Group commissioned survey also found the following:

• 62% think that fake news in traditional media like TV, radio, and newspapers is “serious,” while 18% say it’s “not serious,” and 21% are undecided.
• 65% think it's challenging to identify whether news or videos they read or saw on social media or traditional media are fake or wrong.
• Of the 65%, 43% say it’s “somewhat difficult,” while 22% say it’s “very difficult.”
• 23% say it’s “somewhat easy” to spot fake news, while 12% say it’s “very easy.”
• 55% of Filipinos admit they frequently see or encounter fake news in traditional and social media.
• Of the 55%, 27% say they “often” encounter fake news, while 28% answer “sometimes.” 38% said they “seldom” encounter fake news or information, and 7% say “never.”

The survey was conducted among 1,800 respondents nationwide from February 15 to 19.

Stratbase Group president Dindo Manhit revealed the survey results in a cybersecurity conference organized with the Embassy of Canada in the Philippines, saying that the results underscore the harsh reality that fake news remains a serious threat in the country, both online and traditional media. “Fake news manipulates public opinion, distorts democratic choices, and enables corrupt forces to maintain power,” Manhit said.

How to spot fake news and teach it to your kids

These days, people mostly rely on social media and the internet for their news and daily information, so it’s essential to know when information is reliable or fake. Here are a few simple tips that can help us tell the difference between fact-based news and misinformation that we can use ourselves and teach our kids. Teaching them will go a long way in being and raising responsible digital citizens–ones who are responsible for themselves and what they share with others.

Think before you click–and share

One of the main rules in the digital world–think before you click—also applies to fake news. Most of the misinformation on social media is designed to be clickbait, aiming to elicit an emotional response, whether it’s happiness, excitement, or anger.

So when we see something that we feel strongly about emotionally, we should resist the urge to share the post immediately. Pause, breathe, and think about why we feel this way. Check the image, read the whole article, or watch the entire video. Does it make outrageous claims? Do they cite sources or other links? These might be signs of fake news if they make outrageous claims without citing proper sources.

Also, remind children to read the whole post or watch the entire video before reposting.

Check the source

Aside from reading and understanding the whole post, it’s also best to check the source of the information. Legitimate news content will cite all information sources, such as other legitimate news/media companies, government or private company websites, disclosures, or press releases. If your child feels confused, encourage them to ask: Where did the information come from? You can then teach them to identify the source together–it can be a link to a legitimate website or quotes from relevant personalities. You can also look for similar news coverage of the same story.

The absence of a legitimate source and similar content from other news sources can be a red flag.

Fact-check

It’s also important to teach our children not to believe everything they read and, if possible, fact-check everything. Here are a few simple tips on how to do so:

• Do an internet search of the article's headline or post title to check if the story has already been identified as false. If it's real, other relevant news agencies will likely have a similar story.
• For photo and video posts, check if they could possibly be fake or AI-generated. Is the image blurred? Are there any shadows, body parts, or anything that looks out of place? Are there duplicate images or items in the background? You can also do an image search to check the source and validity.
• If the story or post was shared by a public figure or social media personality, ensure that the account is real or legitimate. Some platforms put a blue check mark beside the account name to prove that the account is verified.
• Check the story's date or post to ensure the information is not outdated.
• Always check the source of the information.
• Trust your gut feeling–if the information or post feels wrong, don’t share it.

Learn how to spot propaganda

Propaganda is biased or misleading information used to promote a specific cause or point of view. You and your child can discuss and learn commonly used propaganda techniques to help you identify possible propaganda in social media and the internet:

• Playing to people’s emotions, such as fears, anger, or sympathy, instead of presenting facts and data.
• Using simple messages and catchy slogans instead of providing relevant information.
• Crafting their message for a specific type of audience.
• Blaming someone else for certain problems or scapegoating others or groups for common issues.
• Repeating the same idea to make it more believable.

Admit if you make a mistake

Finally, if you share a misinformation or false story, take responsibility for it by deleting it and posting a simple note that you have unknowingly shared fake news. And teach your child to do the same.

Read here to understand digital citizenship and responsible internet use.