Campaign season is in full swing and if you’re a cellphone user, you’re most likely to have received text messages from at least one political candidate.
Now, you may be wondering where they got your number. Political analysts revealed that candidates are actually buying names and cellphone numbers to do “text blasts”.
The purpose of the messages can be either to promote themselves or lambast their opponents.
According to analyst Dr. Prospero De Vera III of University of the Philippines, the tactic started in the last presidential elections. He said that candidates are still utilizing text blasts even though they are expensive.
In ABS CBN News report, de Vera said this tactic is neither reliable nor effective. He explained that unlike in other countries, candidates will not be able to send targeted messages to their audiences here because the personal details of mobile users cannot be mined and segregated.
So what do you do about these messages? Treat them like you would chain or scam texts: ignore.
