Social Media: Misinformation and Trustability

The traditional communication system has been revolutionized with the advent of technology and the creation of several social media platform. However, this is joined with its negative side effect. The pressing impact of misinformation that is proliferating online is affecting the current communication ecosystem in almost all areas that the social media can reach. Although there is a decline of trust on digital media channels, the constant exposure and usage of netizens to these channels create a pathway for truth to be twisted and for dubious to be accepted. This study determined the level of usage of social media and the trustability of the respondents to the information on media channels. This descriptive survey used a validated researcher-made questionnaire administered to three hundred thirty-four (354) maritime students of the academic year 2023-2024. The findings revealed a high usage on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram and similarly a high level of trust that is in place for information and contents on these sites. In addition, there is greater trust when information is sourced from celebrities and from famous people. This result yields result of an alarming susceptibility to misinformation that the social media platforms can deliver side by side the entertainment and self-appraisal that they offer the student-netizens. These findings call for a more intensive implementation of media and information literacy education in the academe. Keywords: Social media, misinformation, trustability to social media