Thread by @rapplerdotcom

Sa #RapplerTalk episode na ito, kakausapin ni Rappler reporter @ramboreports si University of the Philippines assistant professor @fatimagaw para pag-usapan ang mundo ng mga vlogger. rappler.com/nation/rappler…

@ramboreports @fatimagaw .@fatimagaw: Ang aking pinag-aaralan ay ang disinformation. Buzz word 'yan ngayon.

"Disinformation is the intentional [production] and distribution of false, inaccurate, and misleading information." #RapplerTalk

.@fatimagaw: Maraming mga aktor na involve sa disinformation ecosystem. May mga trolls, na alam na alam natin. May mga fake accounts. Pero, ang pinaka-interest ko bilang researcher ay mga influencer. #RapplerTalk

.@fatimagaw: Influencer ang umbrella term na ginagamit natin to refer to anyone online who is natively posting content – native, meaning walang estasyon ng radyo o TV. Ginagawa lamang nila ito sa platform of their choice. #RapplerTalk

.@fatimagaw: Vloggers are just one of the many influencers I'm talking about here.... Napakalumang konsepto na ng blog eh. Noong nauso ang web cam, nauso ang vlogging. Dati, blogger lang 'yan eh. #RapplerTalk

.@fatimagaw: Parte ng aking research ang content creators. Sila 'yung mga channels, accounts na walang persona na ipinapakita. Hindi nakikita ang mukha nila o [naririnig] ang boses nila. #RapplerTalk

.@fatimagaw: 'Yung bloggers talaga, initially, lifestyle siya. 'Yung buhay ko, I often shoot inside my bedroom or intimate places na 'di mo nakikita sa commercial versions of celebrities posting about themselves. Curated kasi 'yon. #RapplerTalk

.@fatimagaw: Itong vloggers, feeling natin very authentic siya. Walang filters, they're just speaking their minds. Napaka-profitable ng vlogging dahil sa authenticity na ito. #RapplerTalk

.@fatimagaw on how her research interest started: Interested kaming aralin ang disinformation about the Marcos Sr. regime noong 1970s. When we put the keywords "Marcos history," which is in fact a top search keyword...nakita namin na may spike sa searches about Marcos history.

.@fatimagaw: Possibly mga estudyante eto na nagri-research ng assignment nila. Instead of authoritative sources...ipinakita natin sa YouTube na top results ay 'yung mga vloggers na ito. 'Di mo iisipin na hindi naman sila eksperto sa history, ano bang katunayan nila dito?

.@fatimagaw: Parte na ang mga vlogger ng political machinery noon pa – bago pa ang election, post-2016. Malalaking vloggers na ito ay libo-libong subscribers. Posible na mayroon silang certain partnership with politicians to promote whatever political message they have.

.@fatimagaw says a limitation to their study of the disinformation ecosystem is the lack of paper trail connecting big-time vloggers and politicians. She points out the confidential nature of the partnership between the two parties.

.@fatimagaw: Naging normalized na ang pagsama ng mga vloggers sa mga political activities.... Ang currency dito ay content – mas maraming puwedeng makuhang content from the Marcos family. #RapplerTalk

.@fatimagaw: Hindi ko sinasabing walang content na puwedeng makuha from Robredo [camp]. I'm sure mayroon. Pero ang content ba na ito ay controversial enough? Juicy and gossipy enough para panoorin? #RapplerTalk

.@fatimagaw: We have to establish that Marcos was a frontrunner, and in fact, he won. There was demand for Marcos content. From there alone, may incentive na to cover Marcos Jr. #RapplerTalk

.@fatimagaw adds that the Marcos popularity is not only absolute, but also exponential.

"Ang gagawin ng YouTube, as algorithmic system, ay bibigyan ng reward 'yung mga videos na mataas ang views, engagement, madalas na pinapanood paulit-ulit."

.@fatimagaw points out that video production by vloggers is more than the messaging itself, but also includes how engaging the videos can be because YouTube gives rewards to content that is highly engaging, frequently watched, etc.

.@fatimagaw adds that there's precedent because historically, it already worked for "older" vloggers. New vloggers can simply try out vlogging because those who earlier tried vlogging did it successfully. #RapplerTalk

.@fatimagaw: Kung gustong i-professionalize ang vlogging, dapat mayroon silang sariling code of ethics at standards na fina-follow. This is to make sure na may accountability from them. #RapplerTalk

.@fatimagaw adds that while it is true that reliable information is now more accessible to vloggers, there are instances where information can be hard to obtain, such as when there is a need to interview sources, experts, etc. #RapplerTalk

.@fatimagaw says the current information environment incentivizes vloggers who produce fast-moving content, and this contradicts with slow and conscientious nature of doing research. #RapplerTalk

On accountability, @fatimagaw says addressing the problem includes many stakeholders, including platforms themselves and their content moderation policies. #RapplerTalk

.@fatimagaw: Ang mga policies na 'to ay "westernized" – issues of race, gender, sexuality.... Hindi siya apples to apples with our own battles in PH. No incentives for platforms here because we are in the economic periphery. #RapplerTalk

.@fatimagaw says government is complicit and "not serious" in fighting disinformation. She adds that anti-fake news law and other regulatory policies can be weaponized against perceived enemies of politicians. #RapplerTalk

.@fatimagaw says civil society organizations should get more support because they help in maintaining checks and balances in the information ecosystem. #RapplerTalk

.@fatimagaw on anti-vlogger claims: 'Yung tanong paano natin mame-maintain 'yung healthy environment natin, mahirap sagutin...vloggers are individuals. Since marami na sila, nagkakaroon ng impact, maaaring magkaroon na ng framework on how they operate.

.@fatimagaw: They (vloggers) have to have a set of code of ethics.

Gaw says vloggers cannot simply copy and paste the code of ethics adopted by journalists. She also calls on vloggers to be transparent about their dealings with public figures.

.@fatimagaw on "bias": Objectivity is a myth. Walang objective individual, lahat tayo may belief systems. Ang tanong, nakanino ang bias na ito? Vloggers and journalists have bias, but the bias should be for the public interest, hindi for the government. #RapplerTalk

.@fatimagaw on the incoming Marcos administration: Vloggers are gonna part of the new admin's way of communicating with the public. Ang kailangan nating isipin...how do we make sure that we are in a healthy discourse with vloggers, na hindi siya combative? #RapplerTalk

.@fatimagaw: Medyo mahirap siya in a politically polarized environment, but I think this documentary is a step forward in humanizing relationship – na hindi naman ito mga robot, mga walang puso. Mayroon tayong humanity to share. #RapplerTalk

Panoorin ang buong episode ng #RapplerTalk dito: