Nine out of 10 Filipino adults believe that fake news or false news is a problem in the country, according to the recent Ulat ng Bayan poll by Pulse Asia released on Tuesday, Oct. 11.

In its latest survey, conducted from Sept. 17 to 21, the majority of the respondents, or 86 percent said that fake news is the country's problem.

The survey results also found that the majority of the population or 90 percent is exposed to fake political news.

Almost 26 percent said they have read, heard, and/or watched false news about government and politics a few times a week, 25 percent said they experience the same a few times a month, and 21 percent said at least once a day.

About 17 percent are aware of fake news and have read, heard, and/or watched fake political news once a week. While about 10 percent are not aware of untrue news regarding government and politics.

The results showed that the leading sources of fake news about government and politics are the internet or social media with 68 percent and television with 67 percent.

Other sources of fake news are:

• Radio (32 percent)

• Friends/acquaintances make up a second group of fake news sources (28 percent)

• Obtained such news from family/relatives (21 percent)

• Community leaders (4 percent)

• Newspapers (3 percent)

• Religious leader (3 percent)

At least 58 percent of the respondents said the fake news peddlers are mostly social media influencers and/or vloggers, followed by journalists at 40 percent, and national-level politicians at 37 percent.

Other fake news peddlers are local politicians at 30 percent, followed by civic leaders/NGO leaders at 15 percent, businessmen at 11 percent, and academics, professors, or teachers at 4 percent.

Also considered as fake news peddlers are neighborhood/ordinary citizens at 3 percent, New People’s Army at 1 percent, and friends/acquaintances at 1 percent.

The survey was conducted on 1,200 adults aged 18 years old and above using face-to-face interviews.