In the pilot episode of “YSpeak 2.0” aired on May 9, hosts Elijah Canlas and Ralph de Leon engaged in a heated yet friendly exchange as captains of the two opposing teams in the “Y or Y Not” segment, wherein they argued about holding influencers to the same standards as journalists.
Each of them led a team of three students from the Lyceum of the Philippines University (LPU), where the episode was filmed. Elijah represented the affirmative side tagged “Y,” while Ralph took the negative side labeled “Y Not.”
Both captains joined their teams after their teammates were done delivering rapid rebuttals in relay fashion to present their respective arguments in the five-minute moderated open forum.
Elijah argued that influencers should be held to the same standards as journalists, stressing that it would be unfair for the latter who have invested years in formal training and ethical practice if influencers were allowed to spread misinformation without accountability. He also highlighted the massive impact that influencers have, with many people now relying on them as their primary source of information.
On the other hand, Ralph asserted that influencers should not be held to the same standards as journalists since journalism is bound by a strict code of ethics and should remain the primary source of credible news and information. This distinction, according to him, helps audiences differentiate between content meant for information, education, or entertainment.
In his closing statement, Elijah reiterated that the vast reach of social media influencers makes it necessary for them to be held to higher standards and even encouraged them to undergo training similar to professional journalists.
Ralph reaffirmed their stance and pointed out how “intrinsically wrong” Elijah’s use of a five-year-old child as an example to explain their side since minors should either be restricted from utilizing social media or be closely guided by adults in their media consumption. He concluded that journalistic standards and ethics exist precisely to help audiences determine which sources are credible for news and current affairs versus those intended for entertainment.
Catch more inspiring conversations, youth-driven stories, and meaningful discussions on “YSpeak 2.0,” Saturdays at 10:45 PM, on ABS-CBN sa ALLTV2, Kapamilya Channel, and Kapamilya Online Live (KOL).