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This computer game makes students better at spotting fake news

This video is part of: Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution

This new computer game, called Bad News, lets players create a dummy social media account and experience firsthand how easy it is to gain attention online using deceptive tactics. Players experiment with 6 common disinformation techniques:

  • Polarizing debate tactics
  • Impersonating a credible news source
  • Conspiracy theories
  • Discrediting opponents
  • Trolling
  • Emotional appeals

Study validates "prebunking" approach to fake news

Researchers testing Bad News on students saw positive results. Players improved at spotting manipulation and fake news. Interestingly, students who trusted reliable sources were even better at identifying misinformation.

This highlights the growing importance of "prebunking" – learning to recognize fake news tactics before encountering them. Another study showed people struggle to identify online bots, raising concerns about disinformation's impact, especially with upcoming elections.

Building digital resilience

To combat this growing threat, the World Economic Forum's Global Coalition for Digital Safety is working to build media and information literacy. Their Digital Trust Initiative works with leaders to ensure that trust remains a priority when developing new technologies.

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