Stand up for truth and decency in social media
Credit to Author: RICARDO SALUDO| Date: Wed, 03 Apr 2019 20:40:59 +0000
THE maliciously and unlawfully posted Jim Paredes sex video holds hard lessons for Facebookers and other denizens of the wild and woolly world of social media.
First, one commends the Apo Hiking Society star for reversing his initial denial and publicly admitting and regretting the masturbation video gone viral. That’s the way to handle scandals: tell the truth and face the mob, relying on the Lord’s protection and grace to overcome any ensuing pain and tribulation.
Second, the episode shows what not to do if one means to be a credible advocate of morally upright governance and politics. Actions proscribed by the prevailing social mores would erode one’s moral ascendancy in the public arena.
Video makes disturbing behavior even more destructive to credibility, conjuring unsavory images whenever people see or hear the erring advocate. That’s why companies drop celebrity endorsers if they get involved in scandals.
Thirdly and of main import for this article, if the pernicious exploitation of social media for partisan politics is getting worse, it’s mainly because people accept or even relish it, gleefully sharing material without bothering with decency and truth.
Sharing without caring
Paredes suspects that “in this ugly season of toxic politics, muckrakers determined to neutralize my influence by violating my privacy and digging up dirt on me are at work.” If that is true, unfortunately, misuse of social media (soc-med) for partisan politics cuts across partisan lines.
Take the latest anti-Duterte video canard being spread. It features a purported hooded whistleblower claiming to be a former drug syndicate pay-off or “tara” bookkeeper now in hiding.
The video alleges that tens of millions of pesos were paid to a brother of President Rodrigo Duterte’s son-in-law Mans Carpio, with a supposed page from the tara books showing the bagman’s code name.
Then, the tale continues, some P170 million was wired to a Hong Kong bank account, again with a supposed list of deposits with an authenticating signature. And whose name appears as account holder? “Paolo Duterte.”
As bankers and journalists know, such money transfers are impossible to pull off without alerting financial regulators in both the Philippines and Hong Kong, not to mention the global task force against money laundering. That’s why no reputable media has reported the purported payoffs.
But the schemers who concocted the deceiving video are not aiming for headline news. Rather, they are targeting ordinary folks lacking in financial knowledge and keen to share sensational stuff without verification.
Some of these clueless or careless netizens graduated from topnotch universities, and should know better. But maybe because of their political leanings, they are quick to believe and share such material.
And if some Duterte opponents take the trouble to manufacture and spread a deceptive video for political gain, there could well be supporters expending much time and effort to obtain a private video and viral it.
A plea for prudence and decency
Can this online exchange of lies and lewdness be stopped?
Facebook is trying, by suspending or banning users who spread fake news or violate privacy. Among them were FB accounts temporarily deactivated months ago for sharing a video that reportedly showed a youth bullying and engaging in sexual activity with a victim.
This week the social media behemoth banned about 200 accounts of a former Duterte soc-med consultant for activities giving the false impression that countless users were liking, sharing, and commenting on certain news.
But really, unless netizens want and accept draconian controls on social media, only responsible and prudent behavior can counter false or indecent content going viral.
Plainly, netizens must exercise prudence in assessing online posts, checking with reputable news media and other expert websites before sharing or liking. Such due diligence would help stop and discourage fake news.
As for private and indecent content, FB and other soc-med users should institute chat and posting rules against lewd material. If some chat users want to keep posting crass content, then leave and set up another group for those of wholesome preferences.
This may generate animosity, but that’s better than allowing, if not abetting indecency in the social media one uses. Otherwise, expect objectionable videos and pictures to keep invading one’s space.
Speak up for truth and privacy
Will soc-med users buck lies and lurid posts in their chats? It will take determined efforts by upright users, who may not be in the majority.
These advocates of truth, balance, and decency online must constantly seek validation and raise basic questions and concerns about posted claims.
What is the source, and is it credible and unbiased? Are there several reputable websites corroborating the report? What do experts in the field think about the news?
And most important, is there solid, valid proof or basis provided for the assertions? So many politicians’ statements get in the news with nil verification, as this column recently warned (https://www.manilatimes.net/why-filipino-politicians-lie-its-the-medias-fault/524316/).
This writer regularly adds factual clarifications in response to posted opinions and claims in one chat, and this has made fellow users more circumspect with their posts. But in another group, one has kept silent due to a user who reacts nastily to opposing views, no matter how true and well-argued.
As for indecent material, there is really zero justification for the morally upright to tolerate lewdness. And people must stand up for decency and privacy.
In one alumni chat group, this writer pointed out that posting and sharing pornography was sinful, going by the teachings of their Catholic alma mater. A couple of users took umbrage, but eventually a separate chat for sharing explicit sexual content was set up.
For sure, deceptive or invasive material will continue to crop up, and there will always be users keen to make sensational posts, no matter how untrue, baseless, or indecent. Which is why those of us who want truth and decency must demand balance, proof, and wholesomeness in our social media. Don’t let truth and morality lose by default.
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