The Philippines Grapples with a Deluge of Typhoon Misinformation
The Philippines, a nation perennially braced for the onslaught of typhoons, faces a growing threat beyond the destructive forces of nature: the rampant spread of misinformation online. The typhoon season, spanning from July to September, not only brought its usual share of casualties, economic damage, and disruptions to daily life, but also a surge of false and misleading information circulating across social media platforms. This digital storm of misinformation ranges from exaggerated typhoon counts and strengths to fabricated super typhoon warnings and clickbait disguised as weather advisories.
VERA Files Fact Check, in collaboration with Meta’s Third-Party Fact-Checking Program, has been diligently combating this tide of false information. From January 1st to December 9th, they published 386 fact-checks, eight of which specifically addressed typhoon-related misinformation. These fact-checks debunked claims that either embellished or directly contradicted official updates from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), the country’s authoritative source for weather information. The proliferation of such misinformation has experts deeply concerned about the potential for "disaster fatigue," a phenomenon where the public becomes desensitized to genuine threats due to constant exposure to false alarms.
Experts warn that the constant barrage of misinformation can lead to public complacency, hindering preparedness for actual typhoons. Ariel Rojas, a meteorologist with ABS-CBN, emphasizes that this constant exposure to false alarms can create a sense of fatigue and indifference, leading people to disregard genuine warnings. Simultaneously, the allure of virality on platforms like TikTok incentivizes content creators to sensationalize information, often exaggerating the severity of weather events to capture attention. Samuel Cabbuag, a sociology professor at the University of the Philippines Diliman, notes that the pursuit of viral fame often leads to the creation of extreme and misleading content, further exacerbating the problem.
The consequences of this misinformation are tangible. A false claim about an impending super typhoon, debunked by VERA Files Fact Check, garnered over 1.6 million views and nearly 50,000 reactions across TikTok and Facebook. Another fabricated post predicting 25 tropical cyclones in 2024 spread widely despite being based on a simple list of potential typhoon names. Experts point to anxiety as a driving force behind the sharing of such information. Jose Mari Lanuza, a political science professor, explains that during periods of heightened anxiety and anticipation for official information, people are more susceptible to clicking on and sharing unverified information, even if it doesn’t originate from a credible source.
A significant portion of this misinformation originates from Facebook pages. VERA Files identified 24 sources of typhoon-related misinformation, half of which were Facebook pages, many masquerading as legitimate news or weather update sources. These pages often employ a mix of trending stories, clickbait leading to affiliate links, and entertainment news, interspersed with misleading weather information. Other sources include individual "digital creators" with substantial followings and content repurposed from various online platforms.
The challenge of combating this misinformation is compounded by the limitations of social media platforms in addressing the problem. Rojas expresses frustration with the lack of effective reporting mechanisms on platforms like Facebook and YouTube, which discourages users from flagging misleading content. Lanuza criticizes platforms like Facebook for shifting the burden of information quality control onto users and content creators instead of proactively addressing the spread of misinformation at its source. While Meta partners with third-party fact-checkers like VERA Files, the current measures, while helpful in flagging false content, do not prevent its continued circulation.
Furthermore, the sheer volume of misinformation poses a significant challenge. Rojas highlights the imbalance between the limited number of experts available to debunk false claims and the overwhelming amount of misinformation circulating online. He recounts instances where requests for clarification arrived too late to prevent the widespread dissemination of false information. To address this, Rojas utilizes live streams on ABS-CBN’s news channel to proactively warn the public against misinformation, reaching tens of thousands of viewers. However, he acknowledges that this is insufficient to counter the rapid spread of false information, citing a recent example of a fabricated typhoon warning shared nearly 1,000 times on Facebook before being debunked.
Rojas advises netizens to exercise caution and refrain from engaging with anxiety-inducing posts related to typhoons, emphasizing that any interaction, even negative reactions, can inadvertently contribute to their virality. He recommends following official sources like PAGASA and reputable media organizations for accurate information. He also stresses the importance of early media literacy education to equip individuals with the skills to navigate the complex digital landscape and differentiate between credible information and misinformation. This, he believes, is crucial to prevent individuals from being overwhelmed by the deluge of false information online.
