In the age where Fake News is an Epidemic, Experts have been Searching for Ways to Combat its Spread.

To that end, a Team from the University of Cambridge developed an Online Game that acts like a Fake News Vaccine.

For 15 minutes, Players assume the Role of Propaganda Producers in order to Learn to Spot the Red Flags of Online Disinformation.

In the Game, Players Learn to Master Six documented Techniques commonly used in the Production of Misinformation:

- Polarisation

- Invoking Emotions

- Spreading Conspiracy Theories

- Trolling People Online

- Deflecting Blame

- Impersonating Fake Accounts

The Game Draws on an Inoculation Metaphor, where preemptively Exposing, Warning, and Familiarizing People with the Strategies used in the Production of Fake News helps confer Cognitive Immunity when Exposed to Real Misinformation.

In their Report in the Journal Palgrave Communications, the Researches say that the 15,000 Players they Studied were Better at Spoting Fake News after running through the Game.

They provide Initial Evidence that People’s Ability to Spot and Resist Misinformation Improves after Gameplay, Irrespective of: Age, cognitive Style, Education, and Political Ideology.

Though their Tool can't Stop Current Fake News in its tracks, the Team Hopes to at least Learn more about how the Disingenuous Content can Hoodwink People.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker