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With the rise of digital media, information is easily accessible globally but this allows fake news and misinformation to spread widely. In the Philippines, trolls and fake social media accounts spread political lies and propaganda, influencing elections by reinforcing support for unworthy candidates. While social media empowers sharing views, governments also use media for propaganda and to exhibit power. As more rely on media for information, there are debates about its role in spreading truth and lies. To address this, people must be responsible and educated social media users, avoiding spreading fake news and instead responding politely without tolerating trolls.

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35 views2 pages

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With the rise of digital media, information is easily accessible globally but this allows fake news and misinformation to spread widely. In the Philippines, trolls and fake social media accounts spread political lies and propaganda, influencing elections by reinforcing support for unworthy candidates. While social media empowers sharing views, governments also use media for propaganda and to exhibit power. As more rely on media for information, there are debates about its role in spreading truth and lies. To address this, people must be responsible and educated social media users, avoiding spreading fake news and instead responding politely without tolerating trolls.

Uploaded by

One Stop Acad Help
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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With the rise of digital media, the entire world is now at the touch of our fingertips as information

across the globe become easier to access. Through its most prominent example, the internet, we can
almost share everything with anyone via email or social networking sites. There are even platforms that
allow users to broadcast any event that can be captured through our smartphones and engage with the
audience in real-time. However, this conveniency turns the opposite as “fake news” result in serious
repercussions for both the subject and the reader. Fake news, hereby defined as false information, stories
or hoaxes that are intended to deceive and misinform readers. Even more alarming is that fake news has
surfaced along social media platforms, during periods of campaign and election. Under the guise of
electronic and digital media, people in power present misinformation that may increase political
engagement among citizens for the former’s benefit. Filipinos, became victims as “trolls” have prevailed
in the past few months by posting offensive things. Trolls spreading political misunderstandings and
falsehoods in social media affect the willingness of users in dispersing more misinformation. Trolling, on
the other hand, have also lead to misinformation as they have established fake pages in support of a
particular political group and commented by made up accounts of people. This deception provokes
reactions from Filipinos and has reinforced support for candidates who do not deserve the position.

In the contemporary world, politics is inextricably linked with technological advancement.


Governments have used the media in a propaganda war, not only for national security but to also exhibit
their power in the international arena. While social media has become an empowering venue for those
who are not fond of sharing their political views. It enables citizens to communicate with politicians and
other authorities through comments posted on live broadcasts, tweets, and emails. Thus, signing online
petitions is another way for people to voice their political opinions especially during the recently held
national election.

For a rapidly changing and highly technological world, the reliance of significant portions of the
global population on mass media and the Internet, despite considerable benefits, has often sparked
debates about the role of technology in spreading information/ disinformation, a critical feature of a time
distinguished by the rapid global dissemination of polarizing political news. Various forms of media
continue to play an essential role in political, economic, and cultural development. And indeed, social
media has built, connected, and divided human civilization. But as we dig deeper into the underlying
interests of some individuals, groups, and governments of countries, we must realize that there is a need
to form the people to become responsible users of social media. Despite the benefits that media and social
media provide, we are endowed with the responsibility to be mindful and wise in our usage. We must be
able to identify and avoid spreading the so-called “fake news” which can result in greater consequences.
We should instead educate people to respond politely and not tolerate trolling as this recently became a
socially-constructed norm among social media users. To end, understanding that we are part of a world
much greater than ourselves or our country can pave the way to taking concrete actions to solve problems
with global impacts, or practicing being a good citizen.

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