Surveys, Elections, and the Numbers Game: Are We All Playing a Real-Life “Squid Game”?

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

Surveys and elections often resemble a high-stakes game, much like the hit TV series Squid Game, where the outcomes seem to be driven by the numbers but hide deeper layers of manipulation, power struggles, and individual vulnerabilities. In both cases, the players—whether citizens responding to surveys or voters in elections—are thrust into a system where their decisions impact the final outcome, but not always with full knowledge or understanding of the rules.

The recent Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey on Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment underscores this dynamic. According to the results, 41% of respondents supported her removal from office, 35% opposed it, and 19% remained undecided. The impeachment complaints stem from allegations of anomalous spending of confidential funds, prompting calls for transparency and accountability from public officials.

For Pampanga Representative Dong Gonzales, the survey reflects public clamor for government transparency. “Ipinapakita ng survey na ang karamihan sa ating mga kababayan ay naghahangad ng pananagutan mula sa ating mga lider. Dapat nang ipaliwanag at linawin ni VP Duterte kung saan napunta at paano ginamit ang daang milyong confidential funds ng kanyang tanggapan,” Gonzales said.

But just like the Squid Game, where the players' survival depends not only on skill but also on their awareness of hidden traps, the accuracy of surveys depends on how informed and educated the public is. Are the numbers truly reflective of public sentiment, or are they shaped by the circumstances surrounding the respondents?

Numbers as the Game Master

Surveys, like the challenges in Squid Game, are driven by numbers. In the show, every step taken by the players is calculated to whittle down the competition. Similarly, surveys are designed to gauge public opinion but are influenced by various factors, including methodology, sample size, and public awareness.

Surveys in Past Elections: The Bandwagon Effect

The 2016 Philippine presidential elections mirror the first Squid Game challenge—the Red Light, Green Light game. Pre-election surveys consistently showed Rodrigo Duterte as the frontrunner, creating a bandwagon effect where undecided voters were swayed to support the perceived "winner." The final election results aligned with the surveys, but the process highlighted how public perception could be manipulated by projecting inevitability.

In contrast, the 2004 elections resembled the chaos of the Squid Game’s Glass Bridge challenge. Surveys predicted a close fight between Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Fernando Poe Jr., but the final results, marred by allegations of electoral fraud, showed how fragile and uncertain the numbers game can be when trust in the system is compromised.

Beyond Elections: The Misinformation Maze

Surveys on public issues also reveal how easily respondents can be misled, much like the deceptive games in Squid Game. For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, polls on the government’s response painted a favorable picture, even as many citizens struggled with inadequate healthcare services. The framing of questions and the respondents’ limited access to reliable information contributed to skewed results, akin to players in the series being forced to make life-altering decisions based on incomplete knowledge.

The Role of Awareness and Education: The Knowledge Divide

One of the most striking parallels between Squid Game and real-life surveys is the divide between the informed and the uninformed. In the SWS survey on Duterte’s impeachment, 19% of respondents were undecided—akin to Squid Game players hesitating before their next move. This highlights the role of public awareness in shaping survey results.

In societies with unequal access to education and credible information, public opinion can be swayed by misinformation, propaganda, or emotional appeals. This lack of awareness mirrors the desperation and manipulation faced by Squid Game players, who often find themselves at the mercy of external forces they can’t control or fully understand.

Transparency and Accountability: The People’s Demand

The Squid Game players eventually realize that the key to survival lies in collective action and transparency. Similarly, the survey on Vice President Duterte reflects a growing public demand for accountability. From the Pork Barrel Scam to the misuse of confidential funds, Filipinos have consistently called for their leaders to explain how public resources are used.

Surveys can amplify these calls for transparency, but only if they are conducted with integrity and responded to meaningfully by leaders. Otherwise, they risk becoming another rigged game in which the public are mere pawns.

Fixing the Numbers Game: Leveling the Playing Field

To ensure that surveys and elections truly reflect the will of the people—rather than mimic the chaos of Squid Game—several changes are necessary:

Promote Civic Education: Equip citizens with the knowledge to critically evaluate issues and participate meaningfully in democratic processes.

Combat Misinformation: Strengthen media literacy programs to help people discern credible sources of information.

Ensure Methodological Integrity: Polling agencies must adopt rigorous standards to avoid bias and ensure fair representation.

Foster Transparency: Leaders must communicate openly and address public concerns to rebuild trust in governance.

Surveys, Elections, and the Real-Life “Game”

Much like the Squid Game, surveys and elections are about survival—not of individuals but of democracy itself. They reveal public sentiment but also expose vulnerabilities in the system.

The challenge lies in transforming these numbers games into meaningful exercises in empowerment. For this to happen, the rules must be fair, the players well-informed, and the outcomes transparent.

In the end, the numbers tell a story, but the people behind those numbers hold the real power. It’s up to everyone—citizens, leaders, and institutions—to ensure that democracy is not a zero-sum game but a collective journey toward progress and justice.

About "WazzupPilipinas.com"

WazzupPilipinas.com is the fastest growing and most awarded blog and social media community that has transcended beyond online media. It has successfully collaborated with all forms of media namely print, radio and television making it the most diverse multimedia organization. The numerous collaborations with hundreds of brands and organizations as online media partner and brand ambassador makes WazzupPilipinas.com a truly successful advocate of everything about the Philippines, and even more since its support extends further to even international organizations including startups and SMEs that have made our country their second home.