In a world dominated by social media, the Philippines is dealing with an alarming increase in cases of oral defamation perpetrated via platforms such as Facebook and other social networking sites. While online platforms have indisputably brought people closer, they have also opened up a new channel for people to distribute false information, ruin reputations, and cause violence. Photo: Ulysses Nemeno A Web of Deception The rise of online defamation has not been ignored. The ability of the virtual world to transmit knowledge at breakneck speed frequently comes at a cost. This takes the form of unrestrained oral defamation in the Philippines. A Different Approach to an Old Problem Oral defamation, also known as "paninira" in Filipino, is not something new in the culture. The growth of social media platforms, on the other hand, has given it a more modern and strong touch. Unfounded rumors, false charges, and character assassinations can now reach a large audience with a few mous...