Manuella P.

Noveda Kabataang Essay

Outdated Concept: Truth

As breaking news unfolds, people increasingly rely on social media to stay abreast of the

latest updates or information. As these spread all over the world, fake news become prevalent

everywhere. We now live in a post-truth society. Post-truth relates to circumstances in which

objective facts are less influential in shaping public opinion than emotional appeals which is

closely connected with the deluge of ‘fake news’ we have experienced. In this era, an unhesitating

liar can be king. The more brazen his dishonesty, the less he minds being caught with his pants on

fire, the more he can prosper. And those pedants still hung up on facts and evidence and all that

boring stuff are left for dust, their boots barely laced while the lie has spread halfway around the

world. Fake news is an online phenomenon bearing serious real-world consequences. It pushes

propaganda, sways elections, distorts truth, and ruins lives. Fake news is a present threat, and it

hacks at the foundations of safety, security, and justice with each day it is allowed to spread. It

was so easy for us to spread fake news for business, political issues, to be sensational and a lot

more to offer. Fake news is a serious concern and a big challenge for the news industry these days.

Ever since the internet revolution started, it has provided a soft ground for spreading fake news

and has become the primary cause of misinformation, inaccuracy in news, misleading news stories,

half-truths and sometimes highly sensational reporting, done to garner attention, mislead, deceive

or defame. It has been observed that fake news spreads faster when it provides misinformation that

is aligned with the audience’s point of view because such content is not likely to be questioned or

discounted.
 Countless issues, problems and misinformation are spreading and we’re experiencing right

now in our society. I have experienced also fake news that affects my safety and security. Recently,

there’s a news about cult that was near on our area, and they are merciless in killing people that

are innocent. They were about to kill 100 persons a day and that news really scares me for every

day specially when I am going to school or anywhere. I was scared for my security, protection and

also to my family. I was too anxious about the news, but then it still serves me that I should be

more careful and aware about what is happening around me. This news was spread all over the

social media and there was also a lot of people believed that there is cult and that we should be

more careful outside. Pictures were shown all over the social media that people think that it’s true.

People are manipulated by the social media and make believe that all information that was on it,

is legitimate. After a week of that news was spread, the Police Station of Sta. Rosa confirmed that

it was just a fake news. I am so relieved about the truth beyond that issue. In current days, most

people believe in social media posts and it’s become a serious problem, affecting people’s lives

too. Therefore, we should start thinking logically and set a critical mindset for every news that is

heard or read & research facts before believing the news.

On August 10, the AlterMidya Network launched a discussion on Truth Telling Through

Alternative Media with students of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) Manila. In

collaboration with the PUP Center for Language and Literary Studies, the film screening and

discussion was held in celebration of the 15th anniversary of the alternative Pinoy Weekly

newspaper. A few Quijano, associate editor of Altermidya, released the Truth Tellers documentary

about the lives of veteran journalists Inday Espina-Varona and Kimberlie Quitasol of Northern

Dispatch Weekly, a community newspaper in Cordillera. In the documentary, the value of

alternative journalists is shown in revealing the truth to communities. Lot of students were asking

how to fight fake news. According to Quijano, fake news has long existed through various forms

of government deception among its people. This is especially prevalent as social media is used by

various dominant forces that push the personal agenda. According to Espina-Varona, critical

thinking is the first antidote to fake news. He also encouraged young people to promote citizen

journalism to help reveal the truth. “If you do not act and inform what is happening in your

community, we will have difficulty concentrating on how rich or large a media institution is. We

need you to show us the truth we may have missed; and that is something you should never get

tired of doing. Right now, where social media is a toxic brew of people cursing and people

threatening anybody who they think is a threat to their patron saint, the only guarantee that

democracy will continue in this country is young people like you”.

False news makes the world less informed and it erodes trust. Those flowering of fabricated

stories is the greatest threat for everyone whose life is dependent on what the news are into the

media. Fake news is not the problem here, maybe it was us in the first place. How can we stop this

phenomenon when we are not aware on what is true? As it continuously spreading all over our

medias, minds and even on our society, Davao youth leaders urged to help fight fake news.

Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Martin Andanar urged youth leaders

here to become advocates of truth and help the government fight fake news. This advocacy invites

the youth to take on the responsibilities and it provides a platform and opportunities for

engagement among the youth in the country through the Youth for Truth radio program where

genuine stories from the youth can be heard. “Through the Youth for Truth Program, we aim to

inspire the young people to actively take part in various relevant and pressing societal issues”, Sec.

Andanar said. “It is the government’s commitment to cultivate and empower the youth as it will
be a great waste if these young potentials will not be given opportunity to express their creative

ideas and exercise their special gifts”, he added. Andanar introduced the Youth for Truth radio

program to the Davao youth leaders and brought the Dismiss Disinformation forum in the city to

widen its support and involvement in PCOO’s campaign against fake news. The Youth for

Truth radio program is being aired over Radyo Pilipinas 738kHZ on Fridays, from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m.

This program wants to reach the youth because it could use the power, idealism, enthusiasm, the

passion, the energy of the youth to counter, to dismiss disinformation. Also, we want an informed

youth.

How youth can be more active on fighting this battle on fake news? By the help of 40 youth

leaders, advocates, and students vowed to fight fake news and disinformation in the election season

as digibaks or digital tibaks. (Filipino slang for ‘activists’) As digital warriors for human rights

and democracy, youth leaders from all over Luzon trained for three days under the DIGIBAK:

Digital Activism Training for Human Rights Advocacy last March 22-24 at the Hive Hotel,

Quezon City. To especially address the weaponized trolling that proliferate in this election period,

the training also included a special topic on fake news and disinformation with fact-checking body,

Vera Files. In this session, the participants were taught on how to spot and fact-check deceptive

contents online. The skills development training also included courses relevant to digital activism

such as fundamental understanding of how the digital media operates through the lens of the

economic, political, and social context; the nature of its technological infrastructure; power

relations in society; and social behavior and culture. It presents the multi-disciplinary approaches

to the framework of digital activism and integrates strategies and tools in technology,

communication, community organizing, social movement building, creative campaigns and media

engagement.
 During the training, Rama reminded the youth participants that digital activism is not just

about experiencing the platforms, but about maximizing it. “That’s why the power is with you,

guys. This is your playground. This is your battle,” she related.

Meanwhile, Active Vista Executive Director Leni Velasco shared that the Digibak training

for youth is a part of a nationwide youth movement in the country that pushes for a human rights-

based agenda in the elections. “20 million youth voters or one-third of the voting population this

2019 polls comprised of youth. There is a wide youth movement brewing for the 2019 elections.

Thus, we recognize that their massive online presence to promote a rights-based agenda in

governance is instrumental in making positive change happen. Through Digibak training, we equip

them to translate their on-ground electoral campaign efforts into a digital campaign,” Velasco said.

Velasco also underscored that the digital activism is not meant to replace on-ground

activism, but a tool to amplify it. “With the onslaught of technological advances, the evolution of

the concept of digital rights and internet freedom, and the growing attacks on Human Rights and

Democracy worldwide, now more than ever should digital activism be strengthened to reclaim the

digital space to ensure that rights, dignity and freedoms of people are upheld, protected and

promoted. On-ground and online movements for rights, democracy, and justice should

simultaneously advance, to amplify each other,” she said. “Digital Activism trainings for youth

leaders are being organized in other cities to build an army of advocates that will defend human

rights online and offline, at all times,” Velasco concluded.

On March 30, Digibak also trained youth leaders of Iloilo City. The Digibak Training is an

initiative of DAKILA through its Active Vista Learning Center with the support of the Embassy

of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the Philippines.

 Lot of things you read online especially in your social media feeds may appear to be true,

often is not. Mistrust, misinformation and manipulation are everywhere that we need to eject to

the minds of the people. Youth should take on the responsibility, take action and combat fake

news, in order to create peace and order in every society we are into. “Think before you share”,

keep in mind that in only a click of our finger can change the entire life of an individual and can

create also change in the world. Defining truth can be challenging. We seem to rely on it almost

every moment of every day and it's very "close" to us. Yet it's difficult to define because as soon

as you think you have it pinned down, some case or counterexample immediately shows

deficiencies. Ironically, every definition of truth that have developed falls prey to the question, "Is

it true?" We should not live in a post-truth world of truthiness, fake news, and alternative facts.

We must not let the existence of false news or artificial facts discourage us from the enlightenment

ideal of relentlessly pursuing reason and truth.