Equipping the Competency Level of Taysan Senior High School Students on Detecting Online Fake News

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

In a digital society where information depends on everyone's click of fingertips, being victimized of multiple online threats is definitely at the highest level. One of these is how the fake news threatens the online environment, most especially the education aspect. Due to the extent of its damage, it is currently being recognized as the reigning concern of individuals nowadays. Considering the listed aspects, students, as an avid fan of performing diverse online activities, being victimized of fake news is not impossible. Looking on a larger scale, particularly on the outcomes of the destructive effect of fake news, the need for further equipping them with information will surely provide guidance on opposing the prevalence of fake news.The researcher focused on equipping the competency level of grade 12 students on detecting online fake news with an end view of designing information dissemination paraphernalia. This study aimed to achieve these objectives: 1) identify the common online platform sources of fake news, 2) identify the types of online threat being met by the students on the suggested online sources, 3) determine the extent of its effects, and 4) develop the strategies on detecting online fake news.

METHODS

The conducted study involved the descriptive survey method of research where questionnaires were used as data gathering instruments. There were 178 respondents selected randomly from the Grade 12 students of TSHS. Meanwhile, frequency, ranking, and percentage were used to analyze the data. Weighted mean was used to determine the extent of effects of fake news to an individual or students and the strategies on detecting online fake news.

RESULTS

Results revealed that the leading online platform that serves as the common source of fake news was Facebook. It was also found out that the biased fake news was the most frequent type of online threat. Furthermore, students verified that fake news affects a person's belief towards a particular topic and causes confusion about current issues and events. Moreover, among the strategies listed, evaluating the author's profile and investigating the sources of fake news were the most leading way of the students to detect online fake news.

DISCUSSIONS

The results showed that there was a need to enhance students' competency in determining fake news on diverse online platforms. This could be achieved through proposed information dissemination paraphernalia and most significantly through having initiatives on applying the learning recommended by the researchers.