Social Media in Focus: WMSU and UP’s Crusade Against Fake News

    In the recent past, Philippines has noted a remarkable wave of Filipinos using internet and displayed a passionate intensity of embracing social media platform. With around 76 million Filipinos actively using the internet as of 2021 and 73 million engaging on social media, the country ranked as one of the most online-linked nations globally. However, apace with the digital revolution, the issue of fabricated and harmful information being disseminated online has become an ever-growing concern. This article will feature the Seminar-workshop of the collaborative efforts of University of the Philippines Center for Integrative Development Studies Education Research Program UP CIDS-ERT and Western Mindanao State University that focuses on the landscape of internet usage and social media in the Philippines, while addressing the challenges caused by fake news misinformation and initiatives and strategies on how to combat it.

Understanding the challenges faced by the people in engaging to the digital world, the University of the Philippines Center for Integrative Development Studies Education Research Program (UP CIDS-ERP) invited Western Mindanao State University (WMSU) to partner in preparing its graduate students with the knowledge to battle against the spread of misinformation in the digital age. On August 26, 2023, WMSU accepted the invitation and conducted a workshop entitled “Skeptical Resilience and Fighting Fake News” that concentrated on digital tutorials promoting students’ civic online that aimed at empowering basic education teachers and graduate school students.

The collaborative efforts of WMSU and the UP CIDS-ERP underscore a proactive stance in addressing the challenges posed by the digital age. With education at the forefront of this initiative, the workshop stands as a testament to the commitment of these institutions to fostering a generation of critical thinkers who can navigate the complex landscape of online information with discernment and precision.

The UP CIDS-ERP skillfully facilitated the workshop which took place at the WMSU Social Hall. Senior Research Associate Junette Fatima D. Gonzales and their Co-Convenor Dr. Lorina Y. Calingasan served as the lead discussant and directed the lively session.

Research Associate Junette Fatima D. Gonzales delivered a very informative insight about the introduction of social media platforms and the statistical data that shows the list of social media platforms that the people in the Philippines commonly used followed by the discussion about the differences of the two types of fake news which are the Misinformation and Disinformation.

    Dr. Lorina Y. Calingasan presented the different techniques on how to spot fake news in social media and gave instructional materials to the participants that contains information to be interpreted and analyzed whether the information is fake or not. The workshop ended with the realization that spotting fake news requires strategic steps to ensure the credibility and accuracy of information. Checking the source, Investigate the author, Cross-Check the Headline, Analyze the content, Check the date, analyze the videos and pictures critically, and lastly, verify with fact-checking sites.

The course provided a wide range of tactics and exercises aimed at enabling participants to recognize and battle against false information and fake news on the internet. Participants actively participated and learned about evidence-based approaches that provided insight on how to successfully address the widespread issue of misinformation.

The workshop offered a comprehensive range of strategies and activities designed to empower participants in identifying and countering fake news and deceptive content online. In the event that social media platform is a ground for the spread of misinformation, stakeholders should also make use of social media platform as a tool in adopting measures to control it. Fact-checking partnerships and other mechanisms should be implemented to limit the dissemination of false information. However, such measures must be continuously implemented across time and place that should involve not only schools but the entirety of the community to effectively address issues and concerns related to misinformation.

The event concluded with an assessment of learning for the participants, distribution of evaluation forms to gather feedbacks and a photo shoot. The seminar-workshop stands as a monument of commitment to develop the capacity of the basic education teachers and graduate school students to combat fake news and misinformation and to address the danger of its spread.

Author:

Hashim S. Antao Jr. 

Contributor

Editor: 
Alprince King A. Biri, LPT

Associate Editor, The Chronicle