Home > Spotlight ‘To amplify, avert, attack’: Why online trolls are valuable in election campaigns Mico Abarro, ABS-CBN News Posted at Feb 26 2022 10:32 AM Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Viber Watch more on iWantTFC MANILA—It is no longer possible to run an effective national election campaign without using online trolls, according to a campaign strategist. Alan German told ABS-CBN's Teleradyo on Saturday that so-called online trolls were important in election campaigns because not only did they attack rivals for a specific candidate, but also promoted that candidate to other people. "Tatlo po ang role ng troll sa isang kampanya," German said. "Una sila ang taga-upload, taga-amplify ng ’yung mga magagandang ginawa. Pangalawa, sila ’yung taga-avert. Kapag binabanatan ka, sila po ang maglilihis ng usapan para maiba ang topic. At ’yung huli, sila ang taga-attack o taga-upak sa iyong mga kalaban upang mailabas ang hindi kagandahan tungkol sa iyong mga katunggali." But German added that the unfortunate casualty in the use of online trolls was the truth. "Ang problema po, social media, tinatawag natin democratization of the internet, ay kadalasan nagiging weaponization of the internet," he said. "Nagiging sanhi ng napakadaming fake news at disinformation. Malungkot nga po na itong fake news at disinformation na ito, hindi na malaman ng tao o kadalasan tinatamad sila magsuri at alamin kung ano ba ang totoo." READ: 'Find me one': Marcos Jr. denies troll farms in campaign READ: Pacquiao to boost social media presence to fight online trolls READ: Disinformation attempts to rehabilitate the Marcoses, disparage EDSA Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Viber Halalan 2022, 2022 Elections, Online Trolls, Fake News, Disinformation, Social Media Read More: Halalan 2022 2022 Elections Online Trolls Fake News Disinformation Social Media online surveys campaigning