Joy Belmonte rallies youth vs fake news

MANILA, Philippines — Quezon City Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte has called on the youth to use social media responsibly and avoid becoming instruments of lies and disinformation.

Speaking at the commencement exercises of the Asian College of Science and Technology last Tuesday, Belmonte warned students of the harm that irresponsible use of social media could inflict on people and society in general.

“Fake news abounds. Trolls are now for hire, ready to swamp a target with hatred and animosity… Your primordial task as you go out into the world is to reverse that tide,” she told the graduates.

“The world needs you. But be careful not to pollute the world with more untruths for what the world needs are not peddlers of information. What the world needs are critical thinkers who are able to separate truth from lies,” she added.

Belmonte noted that the youth should not fall prey to those who wish to take advantage of them.

“Ask questions. Verify. Criticize. Know that information does not become true by the number of likes or the popularity of its peddler,” she said.

“That lie will harm reputations, perhaps even destroy a life, and create a new morality, which holds that a lie, repeated often enough, will be taken by everyone – including the liar – as truth,” Belmonte added.