Young people have been urged to take a more active role in protecting the truth as social media and new technologies make it easier than ever to create, receive and share information.
Veteran journalist and documentary filmmaker Howie Severino delivered the message to communication students from various colleges and universities in Cebu during the Kapuso Campus Talk with iWitness at the University of the Philippines Cebu on September 21, 2026.
Severino shared his experiences in journalism, Philippine history and press freedom while discussing how technology has transformed the way people communicate and consume information.
He traced the evolution of communication from telephones and pagers to smartphones, social media and even drones, noting how technological advances have dramatically accelerated the gathering and distribution of information.
But faster access to information also brings greater responsibility, particularly for young people who are among the most active users of social media.
Students were reminded not to immediately believe or share information without first checking its source and verifying whether the claims are accurate. False or misleading information can spread rapidly online and potentially affect individuals, communities and public understanding.
For communication students, the responsibility goes beyond producing content for social media. They can also help communities access information that is accurate, credible and useful.
Severino also encouraged young people to value truth, learn from history and use communication responsibly for the benefit of others.
As social media continues to blur the line between professional journalism and everyday content creation, the message delivered to Cebu’s students highlights a growing challenge: anyone can now become an information distributor, but not everyone takes the time to verify what they share.
The bigger responsibility may therefore fall on the next generation of communicators — not simply to create content, but to help ensure that truth does not get lost in the speed of the digital world.
