Lying on the internet just for clout? We could never.
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Social media is truly a double-edged sword. On one hand, it has democratized the way people connect and let their voices be heard with their platform. But, on the other hand, it has also unleashed a horde of content that bends and twists the truth. A simple lie can be treated as a fact when spun in a certain way on social media, and it has led to an abundance of misinformation and hoaxes running rampant online. We operate in a time where we need to take certain things we see on social media with a grain of salt because we might end up in a scenario like the whole Taragis debacle.
WE’RE NOT LAUGHING
In case you aren’t aware, local takoyaki shop Taragis recently got themselves in the headlines when they posted for April Fool’s Day that if someone got their logo tattooed on their forehead, they’d receive a cash prize of 100,000 pesos. Well, someone by the name of Ramil Albano actually did it, which got netizens buzzing for days. All the talk not only had Taragis give the guy his cash prize, but so did other brands who pitched in with their own donations. The moment took a turn though when Taragis’ owner, Carl Quion, revealed that the whole prank was staged and faked and was in the works for over a year.
Aside from the fact that the whole episode played on our spirit of bayanihan, the act also reeks of exploitation because even if Albano gave his consent to get the tattoo, he did so because he was in desperate need to help his son, making him more vulnerable to do certain acts. But what this debacle also serves as another reminder that people are more than willing to contort the truth just for engagement and reach on social media.
THINK BEFORE YOU CLICK
Fake news has sadly been a regular occurrence in social media for years. Distorted depictions of the truth were a problem then, and clearly, it’s still a problem now. The Philippines is a hive for this kind of content. And with the rise of AI and deepfakes, it has become easier for people to make things up that aren’t real and fake something that never happened.
Whether for the lols (which is still not a valid excuse) or more nefarious reasons, it’s a problem. This is why it is important to be discerning when it comes to what you see, comment, like, share, watch, and read on social media. Be cautious because, as we’ve seen, there are individuals out there who don’t have the best interests at heart.
Taragis’s frankly sad effort to promote their brand might seem like an isolated incident, but it speaks to a wider discourse on the internet still being rife with misleading content. It’s an issue that has plagued us for a while, and sadly, shows little sign of abating anytime soon. But, that doesn’t mean we are defenseless against it. Media literacy isn’t just a buzzword you see online, it’s a needed skill to prevent yourself from falling into a trap on social media. So, take this as a reminder that, before you press anything, check to see if it is legit and think if it is something worth giving attention to.
Continue Reading: Some Things To Keep In Mind When We Raise Issues on Social Media
