BY IRISH MAE CARACENA
IN THE Philippines, it seems that vloggers or social media influencers have evolved to be the new “reliable” and “unbiased” sources of news information – emphasis on the quotation marks. Forget seasoned reporters who took an oath and are committed to factual reporting; why bother when your preferred “vlogger” can provide a quick five-minute breakdown with extra twists on the words here and there? Charismatic personalities and catchy titles often overshadow the slower, more meticulous work of traditional journalism.
This transition from traditional news sources to vlogs isn’t merely a quirky trend; rather, it’s a sign of a far bigger problem: the spread of misinformation and the public’s rising mistrust of the media. Vloggers and social media personalities are busy accumulating views, while mainstream news organizations are busy fact-checking.
The outcome? Nowadays, a lot of Filipinos have more faith in the individual with the camera in their bedroom than in the group of qualified journalists who are holding the government accountable.
Filipinos are indeed seeking out news from vloggers rather than traditional news organizations. This choice is generally driven by a need to confirm their own views, even if it means denying facts and reality.
Let’s take the loyal followers of certain powerful politicians in the Philippines. They have openly boycotted and labeled countless media organizations such as Rappler and GMA as “manipulators of truth” and “being biased”. The reason for these boycotts is simple—it does not fit their narrative and whatever they want to believe. And that is alarming.
As a democratic country, our Constitution clearly states that everyone has the right to free speech and expression, which enables them to express their opinions and thoughts.
That right is not absolute, though.
Every freedom has a duty that goes along with it, and here is where a lot of these “news” vloggers go too far. While not all vloggers are careless or malicious in their content, the growing number who prioritize virality over veracity is what makes this trend dangerous.
Some influencers have used this freedom as a weapon to propagate misleading information, cause discord, or launch baseless attacks on people and organizations in their quest for views, likes, and shares. Because of this, a number of them are currently dealing with the social and legal repercussions of their online conduct, including takedown orders, cyber libel lawsuits, and public outrage. Krizette Chu, to name one, has faced mounting criticism and legal scrutiny for her posts, proving that no amount of followers can shield someone from accountability.
Being vigilant is more crucial than ever in a time when everyone with a smartphone may serve as a “news source.” We need to have the ability to critically evaluate, check, and challenge the information we take in, particularly on social media. Not everyone with a big following is trustworthy, and not everything that goes viral is real. It is essential to understand that vloggers, just like traditional journalists, should be held accountable for what they share.
As citizens, it is our duty to discern between fact and fiction, between true journalism and opinion disguised as fact. When people are informed, not merely amused, democracy flourishes. So, let’s be responsible for ourselves. As information consumers, we should demand better from vloggers and influencers as well as from ourselves by fact-checking, cross-referencing, and asking better questions. Nothing less is appropriate for the truth.
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Irish Mae U. Caracena is a third-year political science student at the University of Cebu-Main. The piece is written as part of their course requirement.
