Facebook Fascination: Security and Privacy Issues Behind Filipino Values of Socialization Engaging in Facebook, or any social site for that matter, is a process of conflict of interest within the individual. The conflict being, will the advantages outweigh the risks? Expounding on this idea reveals which values the individual or a group of individuals accords greater importance to, and thus reflects culture. I think the popularity of Facebook among Filipinos can be explained by two core values that uniquely identify us as a culture: quite directly, sakop (inclusion) and indirectly, utang na loob (indebtedness). These values, as any other human value, are ambivalent depending on the context. Quito describes sakop in her book[1]: Negative, because one never learns to be on one's own but relies on one's family and relatives. This trait stunts growth and prevents a person from growing on one's own. Generating a life of parasitism, this trait is very non-existential. Blaring music, loud tones are a result of this mentality. We wrongly think that all people like the music we play or the stories we tell. This mentality also makes us consider the world as one vast comfort room. Positive, because one cares for the family and clan; one stands or falls with them. This trait makes a person show concern for the family to which he belongs. Either way you look at it, the Filipino’s attitude of inclusion helps explain our fondness of social networking sites. We think that all people, especially our friends and kins, like the same media products that interest us. Facebook’s “like” feature works most effectively in rewarding this motivation, as we find delight when we see that some people explicitly tag our posting to their liking. Considering the world as one’s “vast comfort room”, as Quito put it, makes us comfortable sharing our private and trivial thoughts in Facebook for all the world to see. Inclusion is also a restatement of barkada, pakikisama, and pakikipagkapwa-tao, values that motivate us to interact with others cordially, especially with other fellow Filipinos. On the other hand, utang na loob also helps in this explanation by using the following description from Dancel’s book[2]: Utang na loob binds the Filipino to his kapwa, his fellowman. It forms the foundations of his loyalty, his religiosity, his fellowship with the people around him. With it, and through it, he expresses in a thoroughly unique way, his heartfelt gratitude for a deed that springs from the wellspring of goodness that Filipinos believe to be living within each and every one of us. Because of it, the Filipino preserves his identity. At no other time is a Filipino truly a Filipino as when he takes it upon himself to fulfill any and all obligations arising out of utang na loob. The trait of indebtedness most explains the sustainability of our social relationships, especially the virtual ones. From my actual observations in FB, most of my friends who share the same conditions (wives of a foreigner and living abroad, domestic workers, single workers), are the ones most likely to express their liking of another’s FB postings. A Filipino working abroad and who shares similar conditions has an utang na loob to his fellow countryman to support each other in any way. Another Filipino residing here has the same moral obligation to offer support to those far away, even if it takes the form of a simple, “Kumusta?”, after which the wall posting will grow from other supporters. When a housewife expresses a frustrated sigh from the costs of the incoming school-year, a friend is bound to offer appeasement, which is then considered a social contract to expect the same in kind when her troublesome time comes. There are other Filipino values that define our culture besides those described above. But in the context of privacy and security, these are the attitudes that put us in great risk. Close family and kinship ties, inherent desire to be connected towards other Filipinos, pakikiramay and pakikisama, are what motivates us to enjoy the conveniences of Facebook. A family member working abroad will proudly post his whereabouts and goings-on in the foreign land. Friendliness is equated to transparency and honesty, hence posting personal information about oneself – real name, birth date, address, affiliations, interests, whereabouts – is out of the question. And when online friendships are already established, Facebook becomes the receptacle of the minutest of problems, the grandest of successes and leisure, the weirdest of interests, and the most trivial of everyday happenings, all of which are not possible without sharing of personal information that are easy prey for malicious attackers. Of course, a newer trait that is becoming more observable among Filipino FB users is the craving for attention. It may take the form of showing off, such as when one is promoted or just offered a better job, or when one is currently on vacation, or when a party or fiesta is ongoing. FB becomes an avenue for image-building in order to show how fun one’s life is off-line, how cool one is based on his offline activities, how successful one is as shown by his social affiliations, etc. This attention-grabbing trait is a huge contrast to old studies about Filipino classic values (at least according to Quito) of humbleness and meekness. If this is so, then it is deducible that this attitude is a result of Facebook ‘culture’. A consequence of this egotism is the shallowing of the term “friend”. When popularity is equated to the number of friends one acquires, we become more susceptible to the prying eyes of those who can not really be considered as a friend, in the classic sense. Frankly, it is unimaginable for me to have more than one thousand ‘friends’; twenty is hard work as it is. More likely, the bulk of friends that one gets from the desire to have as many as he can are just meaningless affiliations. The more one has friends of this kind, the bigger is the possibility for that person’s security and privacy to be compromised. The authorities in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) understand these risks fully; they have recently expressed their intention to ban the usage of Facebook and other social networking sites from their intranet[3] as reported in an online news bureau. Despite the heated objections of outspoken Filipinos in the comments area below the article, it still is a strong rationale to put national security above the fulfilment and pleasure that our soldiers derive from their social interactions in Facebook. But it is an altogether different argument to impose such restriction on online Filipino civilians, especially when most do not consider their days complete without facebooking (yes, it is a verb now as a matter of course). That’s because placing security and cautiousness on top of honest socialization will have deep repercussions to our core Filipino values. How confusing will it be if we are to use fake names? How can we collect or impose utang na loob if we are not sure about the true identities of our FB friends? How can we build an ideal image of social attractiveness if we are wary of posting our true social activities and affiliations? The cultural significance of Facebook are the features that align it to Filipino values of socialization. But when the Filipino is confronted with the security and privacy risks attributed to his/her virtual interactions, will he/she compromise the values that distinguish his/her cultural identity? With the astounding numbers of Filipino participation in Facebook, perhaps it is an opportune time for a radical multimedia solution that will strike a balance between the two. [1]Quito, Emerita S. (1994). The Ambivalence of Filipino Traits and Values, Values in Philippine Culture and Education, Philippine Philosophical Studies I. Manuel B. Dy, Jr., (ed.) Washington, D.C.: Council for Research in Values and Philosophy, 1994. 205p [2]Dancel, Francis. (2005). Utang na Loob: A Philosophical Analysis, Filipino Cultural Traits: Claro R. Ceniza Lectures. Rolando M. Gripaldo, (ed.) Washington, D.C.: Council for Research in Values and Philosophy, 2005. 205p [3] Gorospe, Marjorie. “AFP wants to limit use of Facebook, social networks.” Yahoo Philippines News. Accessed Sep. 23, 2010. < http://ph.promo.yahoo.com/purple-thumb/editors-log-article?blogid=editors_log&postid=442&viewPost=1#mwpphu-container>
Security and Privacy Issues Behind Filipino Values of Socialization
Engaging in Facebook, or any social site for that matter, is a process of conflict of interest within the individual. The conflict being, will the advantages outweigh the risks? Expounding on this idea reveals which values the individual or a group of individuals accords greater importance to, and thus reflects culture.
I think the popularity of Facebook among Filipinos can be explained by two core values that uniquely identify us as a culture: quite directly, sakop (inclusion) and indirectly, utang na loob (indebtedness). These values, as any other human value, are ambivalent depending on the context. Quito describes sakop in her book[1]:
Negative, because one never learns to be on one's own but relies on one's family and relatives. This trait stunts growth and prevents a person from growing on one's own. Generating a life of parasitism, this trait is very non-existential. Blaring music, loud tones are a result of this mentality. We wrongly think that all people like the music we play or the stories we tell. This mentality also makes us consider the world as one vast comfort room.
Positive, because one cares for the family and clan; one stands or falls with them. This trait makes a person show concern for the family to which he belongs.
Either way you look at it, the Filipino’s attitude of inclusion helps explain our fondness of social networking sites. We think that all people, especially our friends and kins, like the same media products that interest us. Facebook’s “like” feature works most effectively in rewarding this motivation, as we find delight when we see that some people explicitly tag our posting to their liking. Considering the world as one’s “vast comfort room”, as Quito put it, makes us comfortable sharing our private and trivial thoughts in Facebook for all the world to see. Inclusion is also a restatement of barkada, pakikisama, and pakikipagkapwa-tao, values that motivate us to interact with others cordially, especially with other fellow Filipinos.
On the other hand, utang na loob also helps in this explanation by using the following description from Dancel’s book[2]:
Utang na loob binds the Filipino to his kapwa, his fellowman. It forms the foundations of his loyalty, his religiosity, his fellowship with the people around him. With it, and through it, he expresses in a thoroughly unique way, his heartfelt gratitude for a deed that springs from the wellspring of goodness that Filipinos believe to be living within each and every one of us. Because of it, the Filipino preserves his identity. At no other time is a Filipino truly a Filipino as when he takes it upon himself to fulfill any and all obligations arising out of utang na loob.
The trait of indebtedness most explains the sustainability of our social relationships, especially the virtual ones. From my actual observations in FB, most of my friends who share the same conditions (wives of a foreigner and living abroad, domestic workers, single workers), are the ones most likely to express their liking of another’s FB postings. A Filipino working abroad and who shares similar conditions has an utang na loob to his fellow countryman to support each other in any way. Another Filipino residing here has the same moral obligation to offer support to those far away, even if it takes the form of a simple, “Kumusta?”, after which the wall posting will grow from other supporters. When a housewife expresses a frustrated sigh from the costs of the incoming school-year, a friend is bound to offer appeasement, which is then considered a social contract to expect the same in kind when her troublesome time comes.
There are other Filipino values that define our culture besides those described above. But in the context of privacy and security, these are the attitudes that put us in great risk. Close family and kinship ties, inherent desire to be connected towards other Filipinos, pakikiramay and pakikisama, are what motivates us to enjoy the conveniences of Facebook.
A family member working abroad will proudly post his whereabouts and goings-on in the foreign land. Friendliness is equated to transparency and honesty, hence posting personal information about oneself – real name, birth date, address, affiliations, interests, whereabouts – is out of the question. And when online friendships are already established, Facebook becomes the receptacle of the minutest of problems, the grandest of successes and leisure, the weirdest of interests, and the most trivial of everyday happenings, all of which are not possible without sharing of personal information that are easy prey for malicious attackers.
Of course, a newer trait that is becoming more observable among Filipino FB users is the craving for attention. It may take the form of showing off, such as when one is promoted or just offered a better job, or when one is currently on vacation, or when a party or fiesta is ongoing. FB becomes an avenue for image-building in order to show how fun one’s life is off-line, how cool one is based on his offline activities, how successful one is as shown by his social affiliations, etc. This attention-grabbing trait is a huge contrast to old studies about Filipino classic values (at least according to Quito) of humbleness and meekness. If this is so, then it is deducible that this attitude is a result of Facebook ‘culture’.
A consequence of this egotism is the shallowing of the term “friend”. When popularity is equated to the number of friends one acquires, we become more susceptible to the prying eyes of those who can not really be considered as a friend, in the classic sense. Frankly, it is unimaginable for me to have more than one thousand ‘friends’; twenty is hard work as it is. More likely, the bulk of friends that one gets from the desire to have as many as he can are just meaningless affiliations. The more one has friends of this kind, the bigger is the possibility for that person’s security and privacy to be compromised.
The authorities in the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) understand these risks fully; they have recently expressed their intention to ban the usage of Facebook and other social networking sites from their intranet[3] as reported in an online news bureau. Despite the heated objections of outspoken Filipinos in the comments area below the article, it still is a strong rationale to put national security above the fulfilment and pleasure that our soldiers derive from their social interactions in Facebook.
But it is an altogether different argument to impose such restriction on online Filipino civilians, especially when most do not consider their days complete without facebooking (yes, it is a verb now as a matter of course). That’s because placing security and cautiousness on top of honest socialization will have deep repercussions to our core Filipino values. How confusing will it be if we are to use fake names? How can we collect or impose utang na loob if we are not sure about the true identities of our FB friends? How can we build an ideal image of social attractiveness if we are wary of posting our true social activities and affiliations?
The cultural significance of Facebook are the features that align it to Filipino values of socialization. But when the Filipino is confronted with the security and privacy risks attributed to his/her virtual interactions, will he/she compromise the values that distinguish his/her cultural identity? With the astounding numbers of Filipino participation in Facebook, perhaps it is an opportune time for a radical multimedia solution that will strike a balance between the two.
[1] Quito, Emerita S. (1994). The Ambivalence of Filipino Traits and Values, Values in Philippine Culture and Education, Philippine Philosophical Studies I. Manuel B. Dy, Jr., (ed.) Washington, D.C.: Council for Research in Values and Philosophy, 1994. 205p
[2] Dancel, Francis. (2005). Utang na Loob: A Philosophical Analysis, Filipino Cultural Traits: Claro R. Ceniza Lectures. Rolando M. Gripaldo, (ed.) Washington, D.C.: Council for Research in Values and Philosophy, 2005. 205p
[3] Gorospe, Marjorie. “AFP wants to limit use of Facebook, social networks.” Yahoo Philippines News. Accessed Sep. 23, 2010. < http://ph.promo.yahoo.com/purple-thumb/editors-log-article?blogid=editors_log&postid=442&viewPost=1#mwpphu-container>