Social media has done a lot for President Bongbong Marcos' campaign. In fact, even President Duterte benefited from his social media bloggers or vloggers during his campaign. The only problem is many also spread fake news and disinformation just to discredit the opposing candidate. Those who read them will not even fact-check the fake information and will simply accept. This is how powerful social media has become.
The Duterte administration initiated the program of allowing bloggers to participate in Malacañang press briefings and events. With the incoming administration, the number of bloggers allowed to join Malacañang may increase even more. According to the incoming secretary of PCOO, they are evaluating those who can be given accreditation to join the press corps. She said they look at qualifications such as the number of followers and engagements or how many people participate in their discussions or threads.
Here is where journalists voiced their concerns and objections. One of those is DFA Secretary Locsin, a former journalist who is known for not mincing words. He was emphatic in saying there is no journalism on social media. Vergel Santos, trustee of the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility said: “A blogger decides for himself or herself. A journalist does not. A journalist, apart from being put through a rigorous training in the discipline and skills, a journalist's works are put through a system of checks to ensure that the information disseminated is truthful, well-contextualized, and not malicious. Bloggers don't understand those things." Pro-administration bloggers will surely disagree, and they have the internet to air their views. But bloggers are rarely accountable for what they post. Unlike journalists whose reports will be put in newspapers, radio, or TV. If the reporting is not true, they may face libel charges. The internet has not been able to successfully prosecute those spreading lies.
I have gone through several national elections. The internet was in its infancy during the Cory, Ramos, and Erap administrations. During the Arroyo era, awareness of the internet increased but was only available to those who could afford laptops and the very first smartphones. During the Noynoy era, the use of social media in campaigns began. But it was the Duterte campaign that took full advantage of the internet, with an unfortunate consequence. Social media posting fomented hate between the political camps. This continued even after Duterte won. His supporters did not stop spreading false information along with messages of hate specifically targeting Vice President Robredo. Never in the country’s history have the fires of hate been stoked than during the Duterte campaign and his presidency. If the Palace gives bloggers accreditation to be part of the Malacañang press corps, probably as a reward for the help they provided in Marcos' campaign, what do you think will happen if they are not accountable for what they post?