70% of Pinoys say fake news a serious problem – SWS

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MANILA, Philippines — Seven out of 10 adult Filipinos believe the problem of fake news and its spread on the internet is serious, according to the latest survey by the Social Weather Stations (SWS).

The survey, done from Dec. 12 to Dec. 16 through in-person interviews of 1,440 adults, found 69 percent of Filipinos saying the problem of fake news in the media is serious, up from 60 percent in December 2017.

According to SWS, 32 percent of respondents believe fake news in media like television, radio, and newspaper was “very serious,” 38 percent said it was “somewhat serious,” 6 percent said it was “somewhat not serious” and 3 percent think it was “not serious at all.” Meanwhile, 21 percent were undecided.

Fake news on the internet like Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube are also serious, according to 67 percent of respondents, with 32 percent saying it is “very serious” and 35 percent “somewhat serious.”

Five percent think fake news on the internet is “somewhat not serious,” 3 percent said it was “not serious at all,” while 24 percent were undecided.

The issue of fake news in media worsened in all areas since December 2017, with those who consider it serious rising to 79 percent in December 2021 from 68 percent in Metro Manila, 71 percent from 61 percent in Luzon outside Metro Manila, 65 percent from 61 percent in Mindanao, and 63 percent from 51 percent in the Visayas.

SWS also found that 51 percent of Filipinos find it difficult to spot fake news from television, radio or social media (13 percent “very difficult” and 38 percent “somewhat difficult”) while 48 percent can spot it easily (37 percent “somewhat easy” and 11 percent “very easy”).

One in five, or 20 percent, said they “often” saw or read fake or wrong information on television, radio or social media while 40 percent said they saw it “sometimes,” 35 percent “seldom” and 4 percent “never.”

The percentage of those who say they often spot fake information is highest in Metro Manila at 34 percent, followed by Luzon outside Metro Manila at 23 percent, Visayas at 15 percent and Mindanao at 11 percent.

Fake news in the media is considered more serious by those who can spot them easily and those who often encounter fake news on television, radio, and social media.

By educational attainment, fake news in the media is considered more serious among college graduates at 74 percent.

—INQUIRER.RESEARCH