The University of Cambridge created an online game called Bad News to help people identify fake news. Players act as a “propaganda maker” and learn to recognize false information. The game improved users’ ability to identify truth from fiction by 21%.
If you’re in the habit of believing all the information you come across on social media, there’s a good chance you’re confusing “fake news” with the truth. But don’t worry, there’s an online game that might help you. In 2018, researchers at the University of Cambridge launched an online game called Bad News, then analyzed data from 15,000 people who completed the task. The game puts you in the role of a “propaganda maker” who can distribute Twitter bots, Photoshop proofs, and spread conspiracy theories to attract online followers. The makers of the game hope to inoculate people against believing false information and their research found that, on average, 21% of users improved their ability to identify truth from fiction.
Fake news, otherwise known as outright lies:
The game reduced the polarizing effect of fake headlines by about 10%, the researchers said, and saw players improve their skills in identifying attempts to discredit legitimate news sources with false accusations of bias.
Gamers were also able to improve their skepticism of conspiracy theories designed to blame society’s woes on nebulous secret groups — such as the so-called “deep state” — by about 20 percent. You can find the game here.
“Research suggests that fake news spreads faster and deeper than the truth, so fighting disinformation in retrospect can be like fighting a losing battle,” said Sander van der Linden, director of the Cambridge Social Decision-Making Lab.
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