Real or fake?

The long weekend took an unexpected turn for me when I received multiple messages about a case of identity theft. My photo had been manipulated to appear in a family photo, with me depicted as the mother. In the fabricated image, the daughter was portrayed as a graduate of the University of the Philippines Diliman. On the other side of the photo was ABS-CBN reporter Adrian Ayalin, who was cast as the father. I scoffed at the woman's imagination, but I was also alarmed that my photo had been stolen for her own agenda.

Recent graduates from the College of Mass Communication quickly called her out for faking her story. She claimed to be a graduate of the college, with Magna Cum Laude honors, no less. She even had photos taken at the recognition venue, making it seem like she had earned her Bachelor's Degree from this prestigious institution. Fortunately, the college promptly issued a statement debunking her claim. She was never part of the college, thus she is not a graduate.

What concerns me most is the state of security in social media. It’s alarmingly easy to take someone’s photo, edit it, and use it as if it were one's own. As of this writing, my face is all over TikTok alongside this impersonator. This is a downside of modern technology: we can be dragged into issues we have no part in. Generative artificial intelligence, in this context, is dangerous as it can tarnish one's image and reputation. Therefore, it’s crucial to stay vigilant and ensure that the content we consume isn’t a product of disinformation.

At the same time, I feel sorry for this woman. She felt compelled to fabricate a story about graduating from UP when she never attended the university. I wonder what drove her to this. Was it peer or family pressure to obtain a degree from such a prestigious institution? Perhaps, she sought clout that came with a fabricated narrative she couldn't retract. I also discovered that she had tried to gain entry into the graduation venue but was turned away because her name was not on the list. This is something we must be concerned about. The young generation is willing to do anything to look good on the internet.

Moving forward, parents should keep a close eye on their children as they transition from teenagers to adults. Who knows what kinds of stories they might fabricate? Worse, these tendencies could follow them into their professional lives. Such traits are undesirable and would be frowned upon by any employer. The key to succeeding in life is to be authentic and to embrace one's true experiences. If I could talk to this person I would urge her to stop living a blatant lie. I would have appreciated it if she had reached out for help. The gravity of her mistake is significant and overboard. It’s one action never to be done again.