A few weeks back, Kris Aquino went live on Facebook to speak against PCOO Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson’s statements defending the controversial kiss of President Rodrigo Duterte with an OFW in South Korea. The statement, made to refute Uson’s earlier blog posts using archived footage of two women kissing Ninoy Aquino hours before he was shot and killed on the tarmac of what was then called the Manila International Airport, was made from a smartphone to Facebook, far from the usual pomp and circumstance of a televised press con.
https://www.facebook.com/krisaquino/videos/2044875555831169/
That unscripted broadcast drew in over two million views, and prompted a similar response from Uson as well, which also drew views in the millions.
https://www.facebook.com/Mochablogger/videos/10156620235701522/
Facebook has become the new platform for media personalities to air grievances, give their opinions on a particularly hot-button issue and to vent frustration and anger. Gone are the days where publicists are able to sit down and hammer a well-thought-out response to problems and issues, replaced by the immediacy of a quick retort in front of millions of users in Facebook.
It’s the natural progression of things, as Facebook, YouTube, and other social media platforms began to offer the ability to go live a few years ago. Kris and Mocha’s very public spat using Facebook, not broadcast media as the platform is the new norm, and has its own pros and cons.
Being able to quickly craft a reply to hot-button issues and topics, in a medium that’s easily accessible to millions has never been possible before Facebook. Celebrities, politicians and even Manong guard can now give their two cents on any topic they want, and as long as they have their audience, their views will be heard however insane they may be to some.
The problem there is just that: sometimes some thoughts and views are better left to oneself. There’s an ever-expanding list of famous people that have forgotten the adage “If you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say anything at all”. The internet is quick to praise and even quicker to condemn, context be damned.
https://www.facebook.com/laqui.starr/videos/10157400786234256/
*Case in point: When Gretchen admitted that she’s a mistress
But that’s the reality nowadays, and you can expect more catfights from famous people beamed straight to your smartphone. Facebook and instant gratification go hand-in-hand, and the challenge now isn’t how to use it, but how to use it properly without making yourself look like a villain in a Disney movie.
