[DECODED] EDSA at 40: Are we better off now?

2026-02-25 - 10:14

Where were you in February 1986? I had not been born yet, but I’ve grown up in the political landscape shaped by that moment. Forty years ago, Filipinos marched to join sustained demonstrations at EDSA to oust then-president Ferdinand Marcos Sr. This was a time when there was no social media yet, no hashtags, no Facebook groups, or group chats on messaging apps. And yet, hundreds of thousands of people were mobilized over a course of four days. I find this remarkable, as someone who grew up with constant connectivity. To commemorate the peaceful revolution, Rappler produced a film featuring three veterans who were on the streets during the uprising in 1986. A Gen Z participant was also in the film and served as the bridge between generations by reflecting on how People Power is understood by those who did not live through it. You can watch their discussion here. One moment that stood out for me was when the veterans asked themselves, “Are we better off [now]?” This was a heavy question, because four decades after they marched on EDSA, the Philippines once again has a Marcos in Malacañang. It is difficult to consider the question without thinking about the current state of Philippine politics. From September to November 2025, the Filipino people again took to the streets to protest government corruption and political dynasties, against the backdrop of flood control anomalies. Several other protests are also taking place today, continuing to demand accountability from people in power. Like in the EDSA People Power, the youth also plays a huge role in mobilizing support and organizing these demonstrations. The difference this time is that instead of relying on radio frequencies, they are navigating digital networks and social media feeds. And they are using the digital culture they’ve been accustomed to to their advantage — from funny memes to pop culture symbols that became viral on social media. Play Video [READ: [DECODED] Gen Z rising in the streets and online] There is, however, a stark contrast between the generation that fought against regime violence and electoral fraud four decades ago and the young people today scrolling through an infinite stream of online content. If People Power demonstrated the importance of collective action, the present moment underscores the importance of critical engagement. Because, unlike in 1986, when people had no internet and access to information was tightly controlled, today’s youth face the challenge of navigating an endless swarm of content and narratives at the mercy of Big Tech algorithms. Our study on the digital habits of Filipino Gen Zs reflects this reality. We found that 73% of our Gen Z respondents consider social media to be their primary gateway to news and information. This is even consistent with our previous findings in another study on the US information ecosystem, where 6 in 10 American Gen Zs reported getting information from social media. Yet, despite relying on social media for access, around 66% of the Filipino Gen Z respondents reported placing greater trust in traditional news organizations than in content creators or influencers. That’s the silver lining. [DOWNLOAD: Decoding Gen Z: Digital habits, money moves, and relationships] So, are we better off now? I’m conflicted. Information is more accessible than ever, yet there is no guarantee that everything we consume is accurate or harmless. We do have the freedom to choose our information sources, but we often struggle to hold them accountable when they cross the line. So perhaps one way to answer this question is to reflect on whether we, as a collective, are using the freedoms won in 1986 with the care they require today. In The Nerve’s most recent study on US President Donald Trump’s second term, we highlighted how the lack of meaningful collective action in the US is driven by a polarized information ecosystem. That also applies here in the Philippines, where we have experienced first-hand how Big Tech mechanisms facilitated the erosion of democracy. Maria Ressa, The Nerve’s Head of Global Strategy, calls it “information armageddon.” [DOWNLOAD: First 100 days of Trump 2.0: Narrative warfare and the breakdown of reality] There is a need to confront today’s challenges to fully reap the Filipino people’s victories in 1986. Reinvesting in independent journalism and public tech stacks is a good start. These efforts promote platform accountability and cultivate community-level resilience, both of which are essential to ensuring our democratic gains endure for future generations. – Rappler.com