Scroll wisely, Vote Wisely—be Informed than to be Influenced

As another election period sweeps the country,

the atmosphere grows charged with renewed tension, rising noise, and political passion. From the jarring campaign slogans blaring over barangay streets to the never-ending barrage of political commercials on every medium, it's an era characterized by heightened emotions and endless argumentation.

Election season is not just a political exercise—it's a social event. It ignites heated debates over dinner tables, social media pages, and neighborhood gatherings. Everybody has an opinion. While some citizens make the effort to drill down—examining candidates' platforms and fact-checking their credentials—others are influenced by catchy tunes, name recognition, celebrity endorsements, or word-of-mouth from friends and family members.

With today's digital age, the internet can be a powerful but dangerous tool. The swift accessibility of social media has provided fertile ground for the spread of misinformation—particularly at politically charged times such as election seasons. A single tweet, posted in sincerity, can deceive thousands if based on misinformation—that is, any false or incorrect information, regardless of whether or not it's posted intentionally.

However, many individuals unknowingly spread misinformation, unaware that the content they share may be inaccurate. This raises a critical question: how can voters protect themselves from being misled?

According to UNICEF, misinformation is inaccurate or false information that's usually passed on without a deliberate attempt to mislead.

Because of this individuals who pass on misinformation typically think it is true. But even unintentional transmission of incorrect information can still mislead or confuse voters.

With every scroll, like, share, or comment on social media, we’re shaping conversations and influencing others—often more than we realize. These seemingly small actions highlight just how crucial our role is in the broader flow of information. Rather than staying on the sidelines as passive observers, let’s ask ourselves: how can we take responsibility and become smarter, more intentional voters?

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐨 𝐝𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧?

𝟏. 𝐃𝐨𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐞-𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐜𝐤 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐭.

If it looks suspicious or too sensational, attempt to track it down to a credible source. Ask yourself: Where did this originate from? Is it based on facts? Was it published by a credible journalist or expert?

𝟐. 𝐄𝐱𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐰𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐛𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐬.

There should be an author's name, examine it for any spelling or grammatical errors, and check the site's URL. Reliable sites usually end in “.com,” “.org,” or “.gov.” Also, make sure the story is recent—old news is often recycled and presented as new.

𝟑. 𝐁𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐈 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬.

The advent of artificial intelligence adds a new dimension. Whereas AI can help campaigns create messages effectively, it also has the potential to create content that is not factually correct. Platforms such as ChatGPT have been observed to "hallucinate," creating seemingly realistic but inaccurate information without realizing it.

In the era of information overload, the onus of making a wise choice on the ballot has never been greater. It's not about who blares the loudest ad or has the most fans. It's about making a decision grounded in facts, not noise.

Election season, of course, is more than a calendar date—it's a snapshot of democracy in action. It's messy, it's emotional, and it's often polarizing. But at its core, it's still a living expression of the nation's voice. The power rests with the people—but only if they will use it wisely.

REFERENCES

https://www.unicef.org/eca/stories/quick-guide-spotting-misinformation

https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/generative-ai-political-advertising