Internet Dependency

Internet has been the fastest source of all kinds of information nowadays. We can just visit the net, type, click search then we can get what we need and learn what we consider as necessary in our life. Some even look up the latest news neither in the television nor in radio but instead in the internet already. Yes indeed it is one of the easiest and quickest ways to get news. But, the question is, is it accurate enough to believe?

People in this generation are very dependent on the web because of the variety of things that the internet can do. It is very easy for them to spread the news through the use of web sites, forums, and blogging without undergoing security measures or even verifications. An information about an event occurred here in the Philippines can even reach the whole world in no time. This has somehow brought danger in the condition of Philippine news media in talking about the context of how it is formed.

The internet affects the precision of news concerning crucial events happening in the country and other places globally. And when a critical incident is taking place, all eyes are focused on it since it has become abundant and circulating freely in the net that everyone can have an access with it. Just like what is happening in Twitter and Face book, which are social networking sites where people starts to update their accounts regarding issues of their lives, fabricating various posts on the latest happening. They post whatever they hear on the radio and watch on the television though it’s not yet final and confirmed that eventually makes people to start exchanging unproved details thus forming up altered news. These situation leads to the weakening of the news media’s credibility in terms of propagating news stories.

It’s now then hard to control the spreading out of news to whomever in the net. Random people, even people outside the country can read it and in the long run would believe it and have, more or less the wrong perception of the issue about our country. The truthfulness is by then changed. In due course, the true and exact details are hard to figure out. Then, confusion follows. Just in the recent hostage drama initiated by Mr. Rolando Mendoza, the web’s role had been tested. I’ve personally seen various reports and statements about the drama. Distinctively, a noticeable change in number of killed people was observed. Some sites said it was 9 some said it was 7. It did not show a clear picture of the truth because of the varied information that were coming out but still, it did shocked its readers and created a great impact towards them which has resulted to different reaction that has worsen or improved the condition of the Philippine news media and society.

Other example of such is the spread of showbiz news in the net. Showbiz has been a hot topic for all season since people love to intrigue and have this passion for rumors about people whom they do not personally know. There are various web sites with the intention of featuring the updates on the lives of the “stars” or “celebrities.” One will say this and the other will interpret it differently and then pass it again to others. The wrong unreliable information that frequently passed on to the internet has caused damage not only to the people involved but also the country where these people involved belongs to. As a result, erroneous and immense issues concerning them were constructed which deteriorate their credibility as a public figure and as a citizen of the country.

Individuals are blaming the Philippine news media whenever they get incorrect reports. They tend to forget that internet can also be the reason for that. Our media’s integrity is now at stake since people’s minds get tangled by the various and altered news. Instead of helping, internet causes further bewilderment. People can’t now figure out the truth. They are misled by anonymous information spreading. Of course, it is good to have assorted source of news but if the meticulousness of details are at risk, better yet have one reliable source. And spend time to get into the core of the issue and grasp what is the truth. What’s the point of having a quick way of spreading news if its straightforwardness is lessened? Accuracy is much more important than speed and it is still better to believe in things that you have actually found out yourself rather than consider things that you have just heard from or read from the internet.