This is the real story behind the incident between Rep. Rodante Marcoleta and vlogger Atty. Ricky Tomotorgo during the Tricomm joint inquiry or probe on fake news held at the House of Representatives on February 4, 2025:
The vlogger, Atty Ricky, meant to say on his vlog that Rep. Marcoleta was claiming to be a "statesman"—meeting with anyone (in this particular, former Vice President Leni Robredo), regardless of differences.
But Atty. Ricky isn’t buying it by saying or putting on his vlog title "Huwag maniwala sa pakulo at panlilinlang" or "Don’t fall for the deception and political theatrics," he warns as his vlog title.
He wanted to say that it was just another calculated move, a mere publicity stunt of Rep. Marcoleta to appear open-minded. A strategic illusion rather than true statesmanship.
The fault of Atty. Ricky, during that specific moment, is that he couldn't remember the specific reason why he branded Rep. Marcoleta as such. Sa dami kasi ng mga vlogs (over 9,000 yata) niya ay nakalimutan na niya which specific video at yung exact details of the video that Rep. Marcoleta was referring to.
Alam naman natin na passionate ang Ibang vloggers sa kanilang pag vlog, sinasabi on the spot, lalo na kung Livestream, kung ano ang kanilang nararamdaman that very moment. Our feelings or emotions often gets us too carried away. We sometimes go overboard. Lalo na kung walang script prepared in advance.
Also, most social media personalities bank on clickbait titles and captions to shape the narrative. Mainly because people are enticed by similar teleserye style antics.The more dramatically compelling, the more audience.
Do you believe it's about time we make this as part of how social media personalities, including mainstream media, create their content or news?
Come out with news or stories that are clear, specific or on point.
Enough with all the click-baits and vague descriptions?
Enough with all the teasers and cliffhangers?
Do we all deserve and need only straight-to-the-point clarity, not misleading news and vlog, blog headlines, titles and captions?
In a recent House hearing, SAGIP Representative Rodante Marcoleta confronted lawyer-vlogger Ricky Tomotorgo over a video titled "Huwag Maniniwala sa Pakulo at Panlilinlang ni Marcoleta" ("Don't Fall for Marcoleta's Deception and Political Theatrics"). Marcoleta accused Tomotorgo of disseminating false information, while Tomotorgo defended his content as opinion-based and declined to apologize.
This incident underscores the pervasive issue of clickbait in both social media and mainstream media. Clickbait refers to sensationalized headlines designed to entice users to click on links, often leading to content that may be misleading or of low quality.
The rise of clickbait has been linked to the need for media outlets to attract attention in an increasingly crowded digital landscape. A study found that 33.54% of headlines from mainstream media could be considered clickbait, highlighting its prevalence beyond just unreliable sources.
The psychology behind clickbait leverages human curiosity and the brain's response to novelty. Sensational headlines tap into our desire for unexpected information, triggering dopamine release and encouraging clicks.
However, the reliance on clickbait has significant implications for public discourse. It can erode trust in media, contribute to the spread of misinformation, and prioritize engagement over accuracy. As seen in the Marcoleta-Tomotorgo confrontation, sensationalized content can lead to public disputes and distract from substantive issues.
There is a growing call for media creators to prioritize clarity and specificity in their content. Moving away from clickbait and towards straightforward, accurate reporting can help rebuild trust with audiences and ensure that information serves the public good. As media consumption evolves, both creators and consumers must advocate for content that informs rather than misleads.
In conclusion, the incident between Rep. Marcoleta and Atty. Ricky Tomotorgo highlights the broader challenges posed by clickbait in media. It serves as a reminder of the need for responsible content creation and the importance of fostering an informed and engaged public.
Also, I believe that "fake news" only results due to the lack of easy or convenient access to these personalities involved in the issue. Unlike mainstream media, most of these social media personalities only rely on what they've watched or read in the news, not all would exert the extra effort to contact the concerned parties directly to interview or ask for more details about the issue.
Ross is known as the Pambansang Blogger ng Pilipinas - An Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Professional by profession and a Social Media Evangelist by heart.
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