INDIVIDUALS who play video games are more likely than non-players to watch online content intently, which allows them to notice even the smallest details more frequently, a new study has shown.
A brand-new game called Bad News was developed by researchers from Uppsala University in Sweden, the University of Cambridge, and video game firms to test their theory on players.
516 Swedish upper secondary school students from four different schools participated in the experiment. In Bad News, players take on the role of a fake news propagandist, giving them the opportunity to learn about common manipulation strategies used to trick viewers.
READ: How to help children spot fake news
The game focuses on six common misinformation-spreading techniques: trolling, emotion, polarization, conspiracy, impersonation and discredit.
According to Thomas Nygren, an education professor at Uppsala University in Sweden and one of the study’s authors, this is a critical step in giving young people the tools they need to navigate a world full with misinformation.
“This is an important step towards equipping young people with the tools they need to navigate in a world full of disinformation.
“We all need to become better at identifying manipulative strategies since it is virtually impossible to discern deep fakes, for example, and other AI-generated disinformation with the naked eye,” Nygren added.
Seasoned fact-checker and researcher Fatimah Quadri has written numerous fact-checks, explainers, and media literacy pieces for The FactCheckHub in an effort to combat information disorder. She can be reached at sunmibola_q on X or [email protected].