Instead of acceding to Gina Alajar’s demand for public apology over the use of her Facebook shout-out in one of its segments, ABS-CBN Sunday talk show, “The Buzz,” held its ground and aired the opinions of media practitioners and celebrities alike---as with that of a lawyer---about using Facebook.
 
The show defined the term “shout-out” that is used in the social networking site according to Merriam-Webster.

“Shout-out,” as defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary, is “a brief expression of greeting or praise given especially on a broadcast or audio recording.” Its synonyms, if used as a verb, are “announce” and “make public.”
 
It is recalled that Gina posted on her Facebook account the following shout-out about husband and wife Manny and Jinkee Pacquiao and starlet Krista Ranillo.
 
“If I were Jinkee Pacquiao, I would not give up Manny… Krista Ranillo is not at all worth it!”
 
To bolster their argument, “The Buzz” featured celebrities invariably agreeing with the Merriam-Webster definition of “shout-out.” Some, including Diether Ocampo, Lea Salonga, Ai-Ai de las Alas and Nikki Gil, said that the social networking site is “public property, so I guess we just have to be responsible.”
 
Writer Lolit Solis, who is also a host of GMA-7’s “Startalk,” indirectly reprimanded Gina for her judgment over posting shout-outs.
 
“Ikaw, ang responsibildad mo, pag meron kang isinulat, kung ano man ‘yung consequence ng iyong isinulat, kailangan i-expect mo.
 
“Kaya kung may Facebook ako, may sinulat akong ganito, kinopya ng ano [media], so, why will I take it against them, eh trabaho nila ‘yun? Kung alam mong masama, o alam mong pagmumulan ng intriga, wag mong i-post,” said Solis.
 
Ricky Lo, a veteran scribe who also hosts “Startalk”, said that the media can’t be blamed for reporting on something of public interest.

“Wag ‘yung media ‘yung ibe-blame, [kasi] ni-report lang natin.

“Sa mga celebrities, kung gusto nilang wag mapag-usapan sila, kung di nila ma-control kung ano ‘yung ginagawa nila, mag-ingat sila. Be discreet. Pag di sila discreet [ay] panindigan nila ‘yung ginagawa nila,” Lo advised.
 
He directly addressed Gina, saying: “Gina, next time na may gusto kang sabihin kung kanino man, wag na sa Facebook [kundi] i-diretso mo na sa kanila.”
 
UP Diliman College of Mass Communication Journalism Department Chairman and Media Law Professor Atty. Marichu Lambino said private content from social media may be broadcast if it satisfies certain conditions.

“Una, kung ‘yung paksa ay pampublikong paksa. [Meaning] kung ‘yung paksa ay mga public figures, o ‘yung mga lumalabas sa balita.
 
“Pangalawa, kung accurate o totoo ‘yung ulat, kung na-verify mo na totoo at kino-quote mo lang.”
 
Lambino added that meeting these conditions protects the press from a libel case as per the principles of Media Law.
 
As a rejoinder, “The Buzz” quoted section seven of Facebook’s Privacy Policy, which states that “no security measures are perfect or impenetrable. We cannot control the actions of other users with whom you share your information. We cannot guarantee that only authorized persons will view your information.”
 
Lambino supported the statement, saying, “‘Yung apat na bilyong kasapi [ng Facebook] maaari siyang magkaron ng access sa mga pinopost ng kahit sinong may Facebook account.

“Ibig sabihin kahit meron kang control dun sa mga friends na maaaring mag-access sa’yong Facebook, ‘yung mga friends mo naman, puwede nilang pagpasa-pasahan sa maraming-maraming Facebook account users ‘yung mga pinost mo. So hindi mo na siya matatawag na pribado kasi malawak ang audience.”

“The Buzz” concluded the segment with the following statement:
 
“Kung ayaw mong mapag-usapan at madawit sa anumang gulo o intriga, mag-ingat ka sa mga binibitiwan mong pahayag na impormasyon sa Internet.
 
“Pero kung sadyang matapang kang ilabas ang iyong mga saloobin at naiisip, siguruhin mong ito ay kaya mong panindigan.”