9 out of 10 Filipinos problematize 'fake news,' mainly from influencers, vloggers: Pulse Asia
About 9 out of 10 Filipinos see "fake news" as a problem in the country—with over half deeming social media influencers, bloggers, and vloggers as the sources.
The latest survey from Pulse Asia, conducted Sept. 17 to 21 and released Oct. 11, found that 86% of 1,200 respondents aged 18 and up think fake or false news is a cause for concern. About 14% of them felt otherwise.
An "overwhelming majority" of 90%, Pulse Asia noted, have consumed fake news about government and politics. Some 26% consume fake news a few times a week, 25% a few times a month, 17% at least weekly, and 21% at least daily. Some 10%, meanwhile, said they never did.
Fake news sources, according to respondents, mostly come from the internet/social media (68%) and television (67%).
About 32% of them heard fake news from the radio, 28% from friends, and 21% from family. Community leaders (4%), newspapers (3%), and religious leaders (1%) are also fake news sources, Pulse Asia found.
Some 58% of the respondents claim that social media influencers, bloggers, and vloggers peddle disinformation about government and politics.
Other fake news peddlers, they say, are:
- 40% – journalists;
- 37% – national level politicians;
- 30% – local politicians;
- 15% – civic leaders, non-government organizations;
- 11% – businessmen; and
- 4% – academics.
Some 44% of the respondents are convinced that their news sources aren't false, but another 44% of them are undecided. Some 11% have doubts.
Around 55% of the respondents are confident that fellow Filipinos can spot false information. But 7% of them are not, while 37% are undecided.
During the survey period, Pulse Asia took note of significant national events, including:
- the optional wearing of face masks outdoors;
- the 50th anniversary of the Martial Law declaration;
- President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s foreign trips in the United States, Singapore, and Indonesia;
- the Philippine peso's continued decline against the U.S. dollar; and
- the resignation of executive secretary Vic Rodriguez.
Pulse Asia's survey has a ±2.8% error margin at the 95% confidence level.