‘Know the candidates’: Veteran stars warn young celebs, social media users vs misinformation

With the 2022 national elections approaching, more and more people are taking to social media to express their political views and rally behind their candidates of choice.

But while being vocal about political and societal issues can be healthy, it does come with a responsibility, the veteran stars of the GMA 7 series “First Lady” said in a virtual conference. This is especially true, they pointed out, for young celebrities who have big platforms or followings on social media.

And if they can give their younger show biz colleagues—and other internet users, for that matter—a piece of advice, it would be this: Read up, do research about the candidates, and be vigilant about misinformation online.

GABBY CONCEPCION

Social media is stronger now—sometimes, stronger than reporters’ media, because it’s always out there and more people are on the internet. So they do have a responsibility to their audience. Once they have done their research, then it all boils down to their trust and how well they know the candidates … where their heart is.

PILAR PILAPIL

Having opinions is very good. It’s good for people to voice out what they think and feel. But what’s important is for the people, especially the young ones, to focus more on the substance of the candidates—what kind of people they are, what kind of values, principles, experience and knowledge they have about running a country. These are the things we need to focus more on, the capabilities of a candidate: How honest they are, how real they are, and how selfless they are in serving the people.

BUBOY GAROVILLO

Young people can be very vocal and opinionated. But before you give your opinion or express courage, you should always study and think about where your beliefs are coming from. Because sometimes, those who know little can be the loudest… Just make sure you study, read and know about history, because there are some who just repeat what they see on social media.

You can also draw from experience [to form opinions], but also keep in mind that the world doesn’t revolve around us. There are other things happening in the world that we need to be aware of. Let’s seek other people’s experiences and compare them to ours, before coming up with opinions.

ALICE DIXSON

There’s so much information on social media, but also a lot of misinformation. Back then, we had television and radio. But these days, there’s more internet-driven information. And it has become part of the machinery of people running for office.

You have to take a closer look at the candidates and see who they really are as persons; look at their backgrounds and not just their promises. Sometimes, promises are just that. So those are some of the things I would look for.

There’s also a lot of money that goes into social media to promote a candidate, so you have to look beyond the hype and look at the sincerity of the candidate as a person, and as someone who’s going to serve our country.

SANDY ANDOLONG

If I have the time, I watch the interviews and debates. Don’t base your opinions just on what you see on social media; sometimes, they just repeat what they see. Know the facts, and know the candidates well. By watching their interviews, you can get a sense of whether they’re honest or not, of if they’re just being like the usual politician. Look at what they have accomplished.

And if you must post your opinion, choose your words well—make sure they’re not insulting or hurtful.