Context as our weapon in the fight against fake news

In this era where digital platforms have become the primary sources and conduits of information, we continue to face an increasing challenge: the proliferation of misinformation and disinformation.

The rapid dissemination of misleading content- whether in the form of articles, videos, images, and even graphics- has made it increasingly difficult to discern credible information, making more people vulnerable to what has become commonly known as “fake news.”

This issue was the focal point of a recent seminar hosted by the Public Relations Society of the Philippines, where I was able to share my thoughts on the matter and posed an important question: if spotting fake news is already challenging, wouldn’t finding the truth be just as difficult?

This is echoed in a survey by think tank Stratbase and Social Weather Stations, which revealed that 59 percent of Filipinos consider the rampant spread of fake news and disinformation a serious issue.

Even more alarming, 65 percent of respondents admitted to struggling with differentiating between false and factual information across various media platforms - including social media, newspapers, radio, and television.

In today’s world where information is readily accessible with a single click, and anyone can publish content online, the responsibility of verifying and critically assessing what we consume has never been more crucial. With the overwhelming volume of data, it has become increasingly important for us to be more discerning and more mindful of what we see and read on social media before accepting information as fact.

Fake news thrives because it is convincingly framed, widely shared, and amplified on various platforms, gaining momentum on digital platforms. It has the ability to exploit cognitive biases wherein preexisting beliefs and emotions are reinforced.

But not everything on social media is accurate or even made in good faith. We see false claims, spliced videos, and distorted quotations spreading like wildfire on social media- feeding on people’s biases, lack of media literacy education, and lack of access to reliable sources of information.

If we take all the content that we see on social media at face value, we risk building our beliefs on lies, which in turn would affect our decisions and actions. This is why many fall victim to making decisions based on half-truths, which often leads to more misinformation.

The solution lies in a crucial yet often overlooked aspect – context.

Context provides the crucial basis needed to evaluate the truthfulness of any information. Without context, facts may be misrepresented, half-truths can masquerade as complete realities, and stories may be manipulated to influence opinions and decisions. Context is what separates facts from distortion. When we understand the full picture, we can fight misinformation.

We should have the mindset that digital literacy is not limited to the ability to operate smartphones and navigate social media. It must encompass critical thinking, media literacy and fact-checking.

Misinformation can now spread faster than the truth – and often, more convincingly. While there are legislative measures that penalize the deliberate spread of fake news, unfortunately, no law can completely protect us from being misled.

Our most effective defense against misinformation is individual responsibility. It is upon each of us to exercise discernment and take an active role in ensuring that what we consume are truths, and nothing but.

Before sharing content, reacting to posts, or forming opinions based on online discussions, we must ask ourselves: Am I contributing to the spread of misinformation, or am I advocating for truth?

Let’s be smarter about what we read and share. Let’s demand and understand context. Check sources if these are reliable and investigate the evidence behind the claims. Use fact-checking tools to see if the information is true.

Every interaction, may it be a simple comment, a shared article, or a forwarded message, carries with it the potential to shape public understanding.

In a time when misinformation spreads quickly and convincingly, let’s look out for one another by becoming responsible consumers of information. Ultimately, context above all- by valuing accuracy and integrity, we can fight falsehoods and protect the truth.