9 Out of 10 Filipinos Say Fake News Is a Problem in the Philippines - Pulse Asia

Eighty-six percent (86%) or around nine out of 10 Filipino adults believed that false or fake news is a problem in the Philippines, an opinion reflected across the whole country and in all socioeconomic classes.

This was according to Pulse Asia Research's September 2022 Ulat ng Bayan Survey released yesterday, Oct. 11, which was conducted from Sept. 17-21, via face-to-face interviews. The nationwide survey had a sample of 1,200 representative adults 18 years old and above.

An overwhelming majority of the Philippine adult population or 90% said they have also read, heard, and/or watched fake political news.

The survey has shown that the internet or social media (68%) and television (67%) are the leading sources of fake news concerning the government and politics. These were followed by radio and friends/acquaintances with 32% and 28%, respectively, and family/relatives (21%). Community leaders (4%), newspapers (3%), and religious leaders (1%) were the least often mentioned sources of fake news by the respondents.

Asked who they saw as peddlers of fake news about government and politics, 58% or a small majority of the respondents identified social media influencers, bloggers, and/or vloggers. This sentiment was shared by most Metro Manilans (69%), the rest of Luzon (67%), and those from Class ABC and D (69% and 58%, respectively).

Meanwhile, most respondents from Visayas or 67% identified national level politicians as fake news peddlers. Mindanaoans, on the other hand, mentioned social media influencers (43%) and journalists (41%). Those in Class E, the survey has shown, also considered social media influencers, bloggers and/or vloggers, as well as national level politicians as fake news peddlers (49% and 40%, respectively).

Moreover, 44% of Filipinos said they are certain the political news they read is not false, although another 44% were unable to say if the news they consume is indeed false or not.

Lastly, 55% expressed confidence that Filipinos are able to discern the truthfulness of the political news they consume. This was reflected among those from Metro Manila (63%), the rest of Luzon (60%), Class ABC (56%), and Class D (57%).

In Visayas, Mindanao, and Class E, about the same percentages share in this sentiment (46% to 49%) or are undecided (38% or 49%). Nationally, 37% of Filipino adults are also undecided, while 7% expressed lack of confidence in their fellow Filipinos’ ability to verify if the news they consume is false or true.

Read the results of Pulse Asia's September 2022 Nationwide Survey on Fake News.