20 / Myanmar's media from an audience perspective Some have developed their own ways of dealing with the issue and found ways to try to fact-check the information that they encounter. As a 44-year-old woman from urban Rakhine explains: “As soon as I read a post, I don’t decide whether it is true or fake. I continue reading the comments. Based on the comments, I can decide whether the post is reliable or not. Sometimes, I even chase a person’s account who made comment in order to check what type of person he/she is.” But far from everyone has the capabilities to do this type of fact-checking. And despite the skepticism towards Facebook, it seems as if most people would rather rely on information from the social media than live in the dark. In the absence of better information channels, Facebook can give them the updates that they so desperately need – in addition to the other functions of the networking platform. Facebook is acknowledged to be far more than just a news and information sharing tool. For many people, the youth in particular, the main purpose of the platform is social networking and keeping track of friends and family. Not surprisingly, the older generations seem somewhat more apprehensive of the social networking site. Not only due to the fact that the platform is being exploited by some to spread false information and induce hatred among different groups in society, but also because people are concerned about what impact the platform may have on cultural traditions and social norms. Many recounted stories of young women being seduced online and snared into sexual relationships with elderly men. This had led some to refuse their wives and/or daughters to use the platform out of fear of what could happen to them. Regardless of these concerns, Facebook has in a very short time gotten a dominant role in Myanmar society. A role that needs to be acknowledged by not only the media but also by learning institutions and development organizations. No other social media comes near the popularity and reach of the platform and with no other alternatives that match the immediacy of the platform, and no ways of fact-checking information, people often have to settle for what they read, see and watch on Facebook. Even with the natural skepticism seemingly present with many people, there is a clear need for media literacy efforts to enhance the understanding of online news and information consumption.