QUEZON CITY - Get ready to test your skills in identifying fake news! The Ateneo School of Government, through Boses, Opinyon, Siyasat, at Siyensya para sa Pilipinas (BOSES Pilipinas), launched a more exciting and challenging What the Fake?!: Ang Fake News Challenge ng Bayan, an online quiz that tests users’ ability to spot fake news in less than five minutes.
What the Fake?! (WTF?!): Ang Fake News Challenge ng Bayan is the first university-based web application that aims to serve as a misinformation and disinformation diagnostic tool among voting-age Filipinos. The fake news quiz challenges respondents to identify if the quote cards or infographics of public officials were real or fake news. The first version was launched in November 2021.
In the new version of WTF?!, users can expect new and more challenging fake news quiz items that are timely, relevant, and helpful in their preparation for the May 2022 National Elections.
To help strengthen the skills of users in identifying misinformation and disinformation, the new WTF?! version will provide tips on how to spot fake news after every fake item. It also allows users to share the results of their fake news quiz on social media and even challenge friends to take the same test.
BOSES Pilipinas convenor and Ateneo School of Government Associate Professor Dr. Imelda Deinla said fake news tests like WTF?! are necessary and very helpful to voters because of the “pervasive, insidious, and vile forms of misinformation and disinformation proliferating in the current 2022 election landscape”.
“We observed in our previous research that constant exposure to fake news hinders capacity to distinguish real from fake news, and vice versa. This is now the effect we are seeing in our electorate – the inability to receive truthful information that can assist them in assessing the character and experience of the candidates. Parang ang mis/disinformation ay maihahambing sa ‘obstruction’ or piring sa mga mata ng taumbayan na nakakasagabal sa masusing pagkilatis sa mga kandidato,” Dr. Deinla explained.
Results from an earlier BOSES Pilipinas fake news study conducted in July 2021 show that only 38% of the respondents from various academic institutions nationwide were able to get a passing score of 75% and above despite a majority of them sharing that they are confident that they can identify fake news from real news.
Dr. Deinla hopes that the fake news quiz would lead to voters’ openness to receive and process other information – especially from credible sources, that can guide their voting decision come election day.
“Being self-aware of our vulnerability to fall for fake news is the first step in ensuring that we are receiving credible and truthful information about our candidates. Sana yung awareness natin ng fake news ay magsilbing ilaw sa ating mga kaisipan na suriin ang mga kandidato base sa kanilang mga experience, karakter, at vision para sa bayan,” Dr. Deinla said.
“Sana, tayo ay maging ‘truth bearers’, hindi fake news facilitators, dahil nakasalalay ang kinabukasan nating lahat sa eleksyong ito,” she added.
In the age of social media, it is important now more than ever to fight disinformation and misinformation particularly in the online sphere. Try the new version of the “What the Fake?!”, Ang Fake News Challenge ng Bayan, open to the public and accessible to anyone through www.inclusivedemocracy.ph/fakenewschallenge.