Majority of Filipinos see fake news as serious issue –SWS

Majority of the Filipinos see the spread of fake news both in traditional media and in the internet as serious issue, a December 12 to 16, 2021 survey by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) found.

According to the survey, 69 percent of adult Filipinos said fake news is serious in media like television, radio and newspaper.  At least 21 percent were undecided; 6 percent answered somewhat not serious; and 3 percent said not serious at all.

As to the separate question on the fake news spread on the internet like Facebook, Twitter and Youtube, 67 percent responded it is serious; 24 percent were undecided; 5 percent said somewhat not serious; and 3 percent not serious at all.

The Fourth Quarter 2021 Social Weather Survey used face-to-face interviews of 1,440 adults (18 years old and above) nationwide: 360 each in Balance Luzon, Metro Manila, the Visayas, and Mindanao.

The sampling error margins are ±2.6% for national percentages and ±5.2% for Balance Luzon, Metro Manila, the Visayas, and Mindanao.

The survey was non-commissioned.

Spotting fake news

The same survey showed 51 percent saying it is difficult to know if a piece of news or information from the television, radio, or social media is fake or wrong, while 48% consider it easy.

Of the respondents, 20 percent said they spot fake news on TV, radio, or social media often, 40 percent sometimes, 35 percent seldom, and 4 percent never.

“Those who consider the problem of fake news in media as serious are higher among those who say spotting fake news is very easy (82 percent) and somewhat easy (78 percent) than among those who say spotting fake news is somewhat difficult (62 percent) and very difficult (58 percent),” SWS said.

“Similarly, those who consider the problem of fake news on the internet as serious are higher among those who say spotting fake news is very easy (79 percent) and somewhat easy (74 percent) than among those who say spotting fake news is somewhat difficult (60 percent) and very difficult (60 percent),” it added.

The problem of fake news is considered more serious by those who spot them more often, the survey also found.

Fake news worsens

Respondents who consider the problem of fake news in media as serious is highest in Metro Manila (79 percent); followed by Balance Luzon (71 percent); Mindanao (65 percent); and the Visayas (63 percent).

As for fake news in the internet, those who consider it as serious are highest in Metro Manila (80 percent), followed by Balance Luzon (66 percent), the Visayas (63 percent), and Mindanao (62 percent).

The problem of fake news in media is considered more serious by those with higher education:  74 percent among college graduates; 75 percent among junior high school graduates; 63 percent among elementary graduates; and 54 percent among non-elementary graduates.

Those who say the problem of fake news on the internet is serious are also higher among college graduates (75 percent) and junior high school graduates (74 percent) than among elementary graduates (59 percent) and non-elementary graduates (48 percent).—LDF, GMA News