TikTok PH: Combating Fake News and Enhancing Digital Literacy
Stop, Think, Decide, and Act. That’s the prevalent stance throughout TikTok Philippines’ Digital Literacy Hub: A Guide to Online Safety last July 7, 2022. Antoinette Taus hosted the event. Consisted of important names, the event fights for enlightenment and safety from disinformation in the country.
Trusted and fake news. Both are always in a constant tug-of-war with each other in today’s digital age. And, in the middle of it all? Us. So, how is a platform primarily for entertainment like TikTok tributing to tugging its Filipino users in the right direction?
Starting the event, Antoinette Taus introduced the panelists. TikTok PH’s Public Policy Head Kristoffer Rada, TikTok’s leading Public Historian Mona Magno-Veluz (also known as Mighty Magulang), YoutheLed’s Natalia Jorge, and Internews’ Gian Labot.
COMBATING FAKE NEWS
Fake news has always been a dreaded disease plaguing the country for decades. But, with the current (and growing) digital age, as well as the recent election, its effects on the minds of the Filipino people have raised more issues than ever. And, TikTok itself has become one of the platforms that got hit hard with it.
There is a lack of sufficient promotion and integration for digital literacy and critical thinking, as pointed out by Gian Labot. Most people, and especially TikTok users, simply consume every information they see and view on their screens. The act of delving into these sources more to see their credibility and validity becomes irrelevant.
Mona Magno-Veluz stated that we really cannot control how others act. But, what we can do is control how we act. And, that is by empowering other users with the right information and content.
She also advised people to stop giving fake news air. Whether it’s by viewing it or creating discourse on its comment section, it is still giving it oxygen to circulate more in the “environment.” In TikTok’s case, it means the algorithm. And, in her own words, we must “Snuff it out!”
Kristoffer Rada expounded on the insights of the panelists. He reminded everyone that we all have the power to gatekeep fake news.
COMBATING FAKE NEWS: FOUR THINGS TO REMEMBER
Natalie Jorge’s essential and essential ideas for practicing digital literacy. First was sourcing and evaluating the contents to find where they came from. The second was content validation. This is finding out if the information is worth looking up and even sharing, or harmful to everyone. The third idea was values and conduct which talks about one’s openness and tolerance of misinformation and fake news. And, finally, the fourth idea was about taking ownership and accountability. This pertains to one’s actions and words on any platform, like TikTok in this case.
THE INITIATIVES AGAINST MISINFORMATION
Misinformation, as pointed out by Jorge, spares no victims. Both children and adults are targets for it, along with fake and fabricated news.
For the industry and TikTok, efforts those to help solve the issues, as said by Rada. Options of blocking and reporting are provided free to users. And for the platform’s call, this includes banning and suspending accounts. These can be done if the users are sharing false information or doing other actions against the rules of the platform.
He also stated that they are constantly studying the algorithm. With it, they are striving to filter the right information for a tout to amplify the platform’s initiatives, he stated that this work cannot be done by one sector alone. Creators and users all have the ability in providing trusted sources and information. This is not only limited to TikTok but other platforms as well.
In supporting the initiatives, other panelists also provided important ways for everyone to move forward with it. And by everyone, they mean both the industry and the consumers.
For Labot, helping local media outlets and monitoring situations on the industry’s end is a must.
Mighty Magulang also pointed out the ability to understand the power of short-form videos. In today’s age of social media, education is no longer just about learning from school books. It has now evolved, as well as been preferred by many, as these types of videos. So by honing the power of this bite-sized information, moderation and building credible content can be established on various platforms.
And Rada also provided the hashtag “#EduWOW” as a clear example of the right kind of monitoring, harmonizing, and reporting of news and information.
THE FUTURE OF DIGITAL LITERACY ON TIKTOK
With the current efforts of the industry, how can we all move these initiatives forward to a better future?
Analyzing information and making it digestible and friendly to everyone, especially to resistant audiences, is what Labot hopes for in the future.
For Jorge, she plans to provide the necessary information about digital literacy and history to more teachers. With history, for her, it has sadly now become one’s interpretation of it. So by building more into these plans using today’s digital equipment, the right and true information can be brought out to everyone.
Rada is also hopeful for more partnerships with the media in spreading their initiatives.
WHAT CAN WE DO?
TikTok still has a long way to go to further digital literacy in the Philippines. But again, the efforts in strengthening it on the platform must be made by both the industry and its consumers. In the end, we, the users, will be the ones who will define the initiatives made by both groups and whether it’s working or not. So for the final words of the panelists for everyone:
Think before you do!
Natalia Jorge, referencing the hashtag “#thinkb4youdo”
Curate your FYP [For You Page]! Fill your life with positivity!
Mona Magno-Veluz, a.k.a Mighty Magulang
Seek out local sources. Go local!
Gian Libot
STDA!
Kristoffer Rada, referencing “Stop, Think, Decide, Act”
We can all make a difference in today’s rocky digital age. By promoting digital literacy and critical thinking, we can all be responsible individuals in consuming and sharing the right kind of information with the world.
