Popularity over Credibility

Paul Bamba October 18, 2023

BulSU Rizal Park, in which most of the picture taking events, BulSU Capture or any Official Student Publication happen.(Photo courtesy of Vittorio Paul Oliver B. Bamba)

MALOLOS CITY— In every university, there is a student publication, and in every college department, there is also a designated one. Student publications are the designated official media arm of an organization which aims to spread stories and information happening within the proximity of its respectful area of effect. Each and every one of it has an identity, credibility, and an identification card for every bonafide members it has, but in the context of Bulacan State University (BulSU) what is really happening right now is something getting out of hand.

BulSU Capture, based in BulSU Main Campus, is a community page for campus captures, stories and thoughts of BulSU students and alumnis are famous for taking random shots of students with photo quotes without their consent, seems to face backlash on some students.

According to Mind Maze, she stated her words of disagreement due to the fact that sometimes, we want moments of being private and in solitude, and it is "hard to get laughed at in social media". The verdict is, it is unethical in some cases, and in some students.

There are some things that people aren't comfortable showing in public, or even in their homes. When a content becomes posted in social media, everyone now has the chance to see what that content is, and it may affect the person in the post, or photo, positively or negatively. It is true that sometimes, people tend not to tell things to others to work alone and in peace, but if some found their selves on the bad side, they're busted, hence, they'll probably blow their cover, ruining the privacy they wanted.

Some official student publication (e.g. The Communiqué, CAFA Sketch, The Mechatronicles) on the other hand, however, stated that they are sometimes identified mistakenly as BulSU Capture members.

According to Bert, it is hard to accept that people like to consume information more from an unverified community rather than the credible student publications. In a statement provided by Ice, she stated that it is a "form of discrimination" to unpopular student publications because of BulSU Capture's famous standing.

She added, students nowadays do base on a particular publication's popularity or clout than the essence of one's information and news dissemination.

It is a battle of ethical application and credibility, popularity and usefulness. It is a call for people to be watchful in their surroundings, and in the news and facts they consume. *** Keywords:

• student publication

• media

• organization

• identity

• credibility

• BulSU Capture

• information

• BulSU

• campus

• members