THE FORUM entitled #IMSocial: The GMA News Think Before You Click and YouScoop Sessions discussed the responsible usage of social media and its effects on the community on January 25 at the Ricardo and Dr. Rosita Leong Hall.
The talk was facilitated by GMA News Network in partnership with the Ateneo Association of Communication Majors (ACOMM). It was hosted by fifth year communication major Von Pessumal and GMA news anchor Mav Gonzales.
The opening remarks were given by Communication professor Sev Sarmienta. He emphasized how social media, as well as its power, has been a necessity to human life, if used properly to yield benefits for its users.
“We want to know more about what we can do, to do more for good,” Sarmienta said.
Three speakers spearheaded the discussion, namely GMA news anchor Pia Arcangel, blogger and heritage advocate Ivan Henares, and Top Gear Philippines Editor-in-Chief Vernon Sarne.
Proper and purposeful usage
Ivan Henares focused on the power of social media in the country. He said that social media, if not used appropriately, can damage the people who use it.
Henares also addressed problems such as cyberbullying, online bashing, generation of memes, or as he generally called, “online lynch.”
“We cyberbully a lot, and the media becomes a tool for cyberbullying,” he said.
He also stated how Filipinos are easily caught up with tweeting or posting for trending topics, the huge contribution of the Filipinos when it comes to online voting and texting, as well as how Filipinos are able to propel netizens into stardom using social media.
Henares also talked about the inevitability of Filipinos giving their opinions and reactions through the social media.
“It’s a way of Filipinos also expressing themselves when they are able to talk back, give their reactions, give their suggestions, give their comments,” he said. “It’s very important for Filipinos, lalo na satin, gusto natin nakakapagsalita tayo (It’s very important for Filipinos, especially for us. We always want to speak up).”
Moreover, Henares threw a question at the audience on whether being able to access Facebook for free—a service available when users have free data on their mobile phones—is good or bad. He affirmed a “bad” from the audience by saying that public opinion is now based on titles of articles, and not on the content itself.
“I see people [who] share the article, then [they] give their long opinion, and then when you read the detail, it has nothing to do with the content of the article,” he said.
He also stated how free Facebook is shaping the public opinion in a negative manner because people “have stopped reading articles on the social media.”
During the open forum, Henares said that giving opinions for advocacy is good for the people, however, they must become constructive when it comes to tackling issues to avoid bashing and other conflicts.
“We should be helping each other find a solution, rather than just giving negative comments,” he said. “We will be a better country if people start looking for solutions.”
User-generated Content
Sarne focused on how Top Gear’s Facebook page went from an automobile website to a page catering to the motoring concerns of the netizens.
He said that initially, he only wanted Top Gear to be a “motoring version” of the website 9Gag, but when it started to address the netizens’ problems, the “personality” of the page had changed completely.
Sarne added that through the submissions of users, the page is able to inform more people about the motorists’ problems.
He said that the page is able to inspire and entertain people through the stories of others, as well as voice out their concerns to the authority and the government.
“Ang maganda [kasi] if you use submissions from your followers is that you are able to create a community where everyone has a voice (What’s great about it is if you use submissions from your followers, you are able to create a community where everyone has a voice,” Sarne said.
Think before we click
Meanwhile, Arcangel discussed the responsibilities users have when it comes to opening social media accounts such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
She said that one must be cautious in making social media posts, for whatever posted in that person’s page, whether it is private or not, will still be shared or reach other people.
Arcangel talked about keeping one’s privacy intact on the social media. “Don’t do or say anything in the social media that you would not do in public.”
“It’s so easy for something to go viral, so always be careful,” she added.
She stressed the importance of being truthful, accurate, and fair on social media, and having the correct information before posting.
“My personal rule is ‘better na mahuli ako, basta tama ‘yung sinabi ko’ (My personal rule is ‘it is okay for me to be late, as long as I said the right things’),” she said. “I don’t want to risk being inaccurate, just for the sake of being first.”
