A new study from the University of Batangas (UB) Research and Publications Office (RPO) reveals that while Facebook is the dominant news source for its College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) students, “credibility” and “fact-checking” are the most critical factors in building their trust.
The research, titled “Level of Trust in Digital News Platform of CAS Students at University of Batangas,” was published in the KALINANGAN Research Journal. The study was submitted by the RPO, headed by Director Dr. Romell A. Ramos, and aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goal 16, which focuses on public access to information.
The study, authored by a team from the College of Arts and Sciences, employed a descriptive research design, using a survey of 100 students and a focus group discussion with 12 participants.
Key findings from the UB RPO study include:
- Facebook Dominance: The “vast majority of students from CAS use Facebook as their main digital news platform access”.
- Credibility is Key: “Credibility is the main factor” for students to trust a news platform. Students “prioritize the process of fact-checking” to determine if news or information is credible. The top-ranked factor for building trust was “Fact-checking the platform itself to guarantee credibility”.
- Demographics Matter: The research found a “significant role” and “significant relationship” between the students’ course and age and their level of trust in digital news platforms.
To combat the risks of “false information,” the researchers proposed the creation of a “Media Blog” as a communication campaign. This proposed output, named “Smart-fACT,” is designed to help students and the public “assess their trustworthiness of digital news platforms”.
The study recommends that students should “practice proper consumption of information” and that fact-checking “should be encouraged and taught” to improve responsible news consumption.