Because of the social networking sites, people had the opportunity express their adherence, praise as well as disgust and rants to some of the institutions, people and government body. The issue of paid trolls, or a person who makes unnecessary remarks and deliberately bashing a certain individual, group or body became an issue.
The Oxford University published a paper which tackles social media trolls. In the said study, it says that Duterte has paid trolls of which the detractors of the President took advantage of.
However, retired serviceman Abe Purugganan said that the people were empowered to express their own opinion since the technology is just at the tip of their fingers. Not only that, Purugganan believes that people seemed to be open to their own opinion, unlike the paid journalist, because these people can post, say and express what they want to convey, unlike the those hired journalists who has limitations and confinement. “They write their thoughts and feelings, and post them in the internet which gives them the opportunity to publish for the whole world to see,” Purugganan said.
Purugganan further stated that the citizens played a very vital role in communication media as they can influence, inspire and share their thoughts without fear of getting fired or being scolded by the bosses. While the journalists are being paid with salaries, the netizens, gets only a like, a share or a comment for what they write.
“Are not journalists the real paid trolls? The mere fact that they are paid to write, they are the trolls in the mass media,” Purugganan ended.
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Some people cannot accept the fact that technology has changed the political landscape. They refuse to believe that thru technology, citizens have been empowered to challenge traditional political institutions. Citizens can express their individual observations, opinions, and sentiments without being paid to do so, unlike journalist. They write their thoughts and feelings, and post them in the internet which gives them the opportunity to publish for the whole world to see.
The internet / social media has levelled the political playing field. Citizens have become major players in the communication media. In fact, they have not only challenged the politicians and those in the traditional media who previously dominated national discourse, but they are beating them and exposing their lies and anomalies.
Are not journalists the real paid trolls? The mere fact that they are paid to write, they are the trolls in the mass media.
Source: Abe Purugganan
