Ateneo School of Government launches new ‘What the Fake?!’ news quiz

The Ateneo School of Government, through the Boses, Opinyon, Siyasat, at Siyensya para sa Pilipinas (BOSES Pilipinas) research unit, on Tuesday announced it had launched a new version of its online quiz that tests users’ ability to identify fake news and disinformation.

First launched in 2021, “What the Fake?!: Ang Fake News Challenge ng Bayan” is a university-based web application that aims to serve as a misinformation and disinformation diagnostic tool among voting-age Filipinos.

Dr. Imelda Deinla, BOSES Pilipinas convenor and Ateneo School of Government Associate Professor, underscored the importance of such tests in preparation for the 2022 May polls saying it would help voters amid 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 the capacity to distinguish real from fake news and vice versa,” said Deinla.

“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.”

(Mis/disinformation can be likened to obstruction or a blindfold that prevents voters from scrutinizing candidates.)

Apart from challenging users’ knowledge, the virtual quiz provides tips on how to spot fake news. Users can share their test results on social media and challenge friends to also try it.

These fresh features were created as a result of an earlier fake news study conducted by the group that showed a wide margin between respondents’ knowledge and confidence in spotting false information.

According to BOSES Pilipinas, only 38 percent of the respondents from various academic institutions nationwide were able to get a passing score of 75 percent and above despite a majority of them sharing that they are confident that they can identify fake news from real news.

Dr. Deinla hopes 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,” said Deinla.

She added that being self-aware of our vulnerability to fake news was the first step in ensuring that we are receiving credible and truthful information about our candidates. Hopefully, this awareness will serve as a guide for us to know our candidates based on their experience, character, and vision for the country.

“Sana, tayo ay maging ‘truth bearers’, hindi fake news facilitators, dahil nakasalalay ang kinabukasan nating lahat sa eleksyong ito,” she added.

(I hope we can all be ‘truth bearers’ and not fake news facilitators because our future lies in this election.)

Those who are interested in taking the quiz may take it here: www.inclusivedemocracy.ph/fakenewschallenge. — DVM, GMA News