DAMI MONG ALAM!: The Prevalence of Disinformation Through Anti-Intellectualism.
Everyone agrees that knowledge is power. Even so, why are there so many people proud of being stupid? Or simply put: Why does the Philippines seem to have a culture of anti-intellectualism and normalizing it? Filipinos are known for having such a great sense of humor, if you are Filipino or have lived in the Philippines for some time, you might have enjoyed some of the Filipino sense of humor about many things, especially about turning serious situations into meaningless jokes.
Anti-intellectualism is the dislike of intellectual pursuits and critical thinking. Academic self-efficacy is the belief in one's ability to complete academic tasks. As predicted, anti-intellectual students with low academic confidence were less likely to see those who share knowledge as arrogant. Smart shaming, also known as anti-intellectualism, is the act of making fun of someone who is smarter than others. To think about it, it's mind-boggling. Aren't we meant to encourage people to improve their IQ rather than humiliate them? How can you be criticized for studying a bit harder, providing a little more information, reading more thoroughly, or stating your thoughts a little louder?
According to Broughton (2022), social media is the primary source of news for the majority of voters, providing a chance for anti-democratic forces to use the space and spread mis- and disinformation. Anti-democratic actors have flooded social media with misleading narratives about candidates, distorting democratic discussion and misinforming voters. The integrity of information, as well as democratic norms and processes, are jeopardized in the Philippine elections. As more people obtain information through digital channels, bad actors will have an easier time spreading misinformation and manipulating stories. For the sixth year in a row, the Philippines continues to top the world in social media usage. The average Filipino now spends four hours per day on social media, representing a considerable rise over prior years. Facebook is the leading news source for 44% of adult Filipinos.
Philippines civil society organizations (CSOs) are turning to digital platforms to protect democratic ideals against growing mis/disinformation threats ahead of May 9, 2022, elections. Social media is a primary news source for voters and an easy target for anti-democratic forces. Misleading actors use social media to distort democratic debates and deceive voters. IRI supports CSOs in countering digital manipulation campaigns through disinformation training and subawards for information integrity (Broughton, 2022). Fake news gave birth to new trolls promoting and defending unverified news/articles. Alternatively, the increasing number of trolls may have led to new fake news outlets in social media. They complement each other and, in the Philippines, defending what's right often results in the response, "Eh di ikaw na." "Having the right information makes you an intellectual, which is seen as being superior by trolls." In retaliation, they'll expose you for boasting your intellect, implying that you don't belong to their society (Manaig, 2017). Education in our country is mainly viewed as a means to acquire skills that will lead to financial success in a capitalist society. The masses or the citizens do not consider critical thinking as a trait of an educated person. They do it due to crab mentality, and that undermining your intellect as an answer due to the fact that they can't beat you in terms of intelligence. It's petty and inflates their ego. Nonetheless, this kind of mindset should be put to its end.
1. Fight the ideology, not the individuals. It only gives them martyrdom and supports anti-intellectualism. Don't justify their view - facts cannot be denied. Your truth cannot be personalized.
2. It's about attitude, not wealth or education. Some are getting defensive about college degrees and their perceived significance. The issue is not education but the rejection of intelligence.
They should realize that a country's growth is intrinsically related to its people. Intelligent minds imply a people's ongoing growth and progress (Dela Cruz, 2018).
REMEMBER, IGNORANCE IS NOT AN EXCUSE FOR BEING IGNORANT!
