As someone who always browses social media (and I have to, to get news materials), I have noticed the sudden proliferation of new content pages ostensibly branding themselves as content providers – you know, sharing viral videos, news items, trivia and so forth.
At first glance, these “content” pages on social media sites such as Facebook may look innocent enough (although, may I point out, these sites often steal content from other content makers or ordinary netizens – and I’m really infuriated at the fact that these “stolen” content often get far more likes and reactions than the original posters or creators), but take a close look at those content pages and you’ll find a disturbing pattern.
Lagi kasi silang may mga balita o content na ang bida ay si ganito at ganireng pulitiko, lalo na yung mga inaasahang tatakbo sa 2025 midterm elections. Panay ang pagpapabango ng mga page na ito sa naturang mga pulitiko, mapa-national o local level man.
Oo, “local,” dahil may napapansin na akong mga pages na ito na tila naglalabas na rin ng mga artikulong pabor sa ilang mga lokal na opisyal dito sa lalawigan ng Laguna.
At ito ang laging sine-share sa mga Facebook groups ng mga user na, kung bubusisiin mo, e wala pang isandaan ang “friend” sa socmed, o di kaya halatang hindi tunay ang profile picture, o ang nakalagay lagi ay “New Facebook account.”
I’ve been in the field of journalism long enough to understand what counts as real news and what counts as mere propaganda or press releases. And the fact that these content providers are shamelessly marketing these obvious press releases as “news” raises concerns in me, especially in the context of the upcoming 2025 elections.
Here are some troubling statistics: in 2023, Filipinos ranked fourth in terms of time spent on social media, according to Digital 2023, the annual report on worldwide social media and digital trends by Meltwater and We Are Social.
We are also the top consumer of “vlogging” content, according to that report, which explains why reels and Tiktok – no matter how “trashy” the content is – are extremely popular among the masses.
And yet, according to a study made by the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) that was publicized last October 2023, nine of 10 Filipinos are either “victim of fake news” or having a “problem in their everyday interaction with information [and] media.”
Pansinin ninyo, bakit ang dami pa ring nagpapaniwala sa mga obvious scam post sa Facebook (yung mga nag-aalok ng loan o di kaya e nagsasabing bibigyan raw sila ng GCash)?
The sudden proliferation of these obvious propaganda mouthpieces masquerading as content providers should serve as a wake-up call for authorities and other stakeholders to ensure that our voters – especially our youth, who now almost exclusively depend on social media for their daily dose of information – should not be misled by flowery languages and empty promises traditional politicians still use to lure voters.
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