17/05/2026
"Should Influencers Be Held to the Same Standards as Journalists?"
And I think the perfect way to start this is through a line I once encountered online,
βAnyone can be an influencer, but not everyone can be a journalist.β
And honestly, that single sentence already reflects the kind of digital generation we live in today.
This generationβ and, if we are being completely honest, even older generations as well has become deeply consumed by social media, particularly, doom scrolling, making people extremely vulnerable to misinformation and manipulated content. If we truly examine the situation, mas marami na talaga ang influencers kaysa journalists because becoming an influencer is far more accessible than becoming a journalist. And truthfully, I cannot entirely blame people for becoming like that, even I doom scroll a lot.
I cannot even fully blame influencers themselves.
Most of them were inspired by the same cycle they are now participating in. Hindi ko sila masisisi kung minsan they edit, post, and upload content without thoroughly verifying whether the information is factual, manipulated, AI-generated, or entirely misleading. Because once content becomes viral, they earn more from a single upload than an ordinary Filipino worker earning β±600 minimum wage after exhausting themselves for an entire day.
And that alone already reveals the deeper social issue behind all of this.
I understand why many people from lower-income communities dream of becoming influencers. Social media continuously presents stories of content creators who did not finish school, did not obtain diplomas, yet eventually achieved financial stability, businesses, houses, and a life many people can only hope for. I have witnessed countless influencers become living representations of that βsuccess story,β and I am not saying they are automatically part of the problem.
However, what many people fail to realize is that every successful influencer unintentionally sparks hope among individuals already exhausted by labor β people who have spent years working relentlessly for salaries that still cannot sustain entire families.
As Coriolanus Snow mentioned in The Hunger Games :
βHope. It is the only thing stronger than fear. A little hope is effective, a lot of hope is dangerous.β
And what influencers consistently provide to Filipino audiences is exactly that: hope.
A spark of hope powerful enough to influence decisions, perspectives, and even political beliefs. Yet, it is being contained. Just enough spark to keep them contained as too much hope is dangerous.
I firmly believe corporations, businesses, and even political institutions understand this very well.
Because influence without responsibility is one of the most dangerous forms of power.
And we've become a capitalist nation, influence itself has become marketable. Instead of investing heavily in traditional advertising and commercial campaigns, companies now invest in influencers because they understand modern audiences better than anyone else does: people are addicted to scrolling.
A short video with an aesthetic editing, relatable humor, trending sounds, and emotionally appealing captions can instantly capture millions of viewers within hours.
People are now more emotionally responsive to content than they are critical of information.
And perhaps the saddest reality of all is that many people today prefer receiving information from influencers rather than from skilled, educated journalists.
This becomes especially visible within political cult-like spaces particularly among supporters obsessed with certain political families. I have personally encountered individuals who completely distrust journalism because some social media creators have already convinced them that mainstream news outlets are inherently βbiased.β
I once asked someone I was debating with whether they had seen reports regarding human rights violations connected to a politician they strongly admired, and their response genuinely made my heart sink:
βPansin mo bang hindi na ako nanonood ng balita? Kasi bias sila eh. Hindi rin naman totoo lahat ng binabalita nila, nakakatamad lang."
And during that moment, I realized how dangerous digital influence becomes once people begin treating facts as optional.
People, especially, the less educated ones, have become increasingly vulnerable to creators who use their platforms irresponsibly. And to be fair, of course, not every influencer spreads misinformation. Many simply create aesthetic content, promote brands, or avoid political discussions entirely to protect the careers they are building. But even by not participating in those political contents, it shows how little you care. It shows how you are part of the corrupted system, by tolerating and by staying silent when your influence could've fix a thousand minds.
But even then, influence remains influence.
And it is far more concerning when it reaches children.
A five-year-old child today can probably recognize more influencers than cartoon characters. At that age, children should be outside playing, socializing, and being guided by parents and not growing emotionally attached to internet personalities they have never even met.
And that alone already says something deeply concerning about what kinds of children we are raising in today's society
So yes, I do believe influencers should be held to the same standards as journalists β though not necessarily that they must be granted the same level of respect society "should" be giving to journalists.
Because when I say βstandards,β I am referring to accountability, ethical responsibility, proper fact-checking, and awareness of the influence they hold over millions of viewers.
Sobrang laki ng impluwensya ng bawat influencer sa bawat manonood. Their title alone already implies responsibility.
Every upload shapes opinions. Every repost affects public perception. Every careless statement has the capacity to spread misinformation faster than truth itself.
Sadly, we now live in a society where influence is easier to gain than credibility.
And because of that, we are forced to adapt to a reality where the loudest voices are not always the most informed ones.
Written by: Lara AcuΓ±a, Opinion Writer
Layout by: Yza Aradaza, Opinion Editor
