BAD NEWS for COVID-deniers & anti-vaxxers: to counter their viral #misinformation at a time when #COVID19 vaccines are being rolled out, new research has produced a “psychological vaccine” against misinformation, in the form of online games (links below).
theconversation.com/covid-19-misin…
theconversation.com/covid-19-misin…
Rather than simply exposing #misinformation, new research focuses on the more general ways in which people are misled – #manipulation techniques such as the use of excessively emotional language, the construction of conspiracy theories, & the false testimony of fake experts.
In a series of online games, players learn how #misinformation works from the inside by being encouraged to create their own fake news: Bad News is about misinformation in general, Harmony Square is about political misinformation, & Go Viral! about misinformation around #COVID19.
A powerful way to induce resistance to #persuasion is to make people aware of their own vulnerabilities.
The games forewarn players about the dangers of fake news & encourages them to generate their own antibodies through gradual exposure to weakened examples of misinformation.
The games forewarn players about the dangers of fake news & encourages them to generate their own antibodies through gradual exposure to weakened examples of misinformation.
Playing a #misinformation game reduces the perceived reliability of misinformation; increases people’s confidence in their ability to assess the reliability of misinformation; & reduces their self-reported willingness to share misinformation with other people in their network.
People remained significantly better at spotting #manipulation techniques in social media content for at least a week after playing Bad News. This “immunity” lasted up to three months.
The games have been played over a million times & have been shared by Govts, @WHO, & the #UN.
The games have been played over a million times & have been shared by Govts, @WHO, & the #UN.
As the pandemic continues to wreak havoc worldwide, a successful vaccine rollout is of vital interest to the global community.
Preventing the spread of #misinformation about the virus & the vaccines that have been developed against it is a crucial component of this effort.
Preventing the spread of #misinformation about the virus & the vaccines that have been developed against it is a crucial component of this effort.
Although it is not possible to inoculate everyone against #misinformation on a permanent basis, if enough people have gained a sufficient level of psychological immunity to misinformation, fake news won’t have a chance to spread as far & as wide as it does currently.
Here's another excellent initiative in the fight against #disinformation: @crankyuncles - an online game teaching resilience against #misinformation.
Details at crankyuncle.com/game.
Game available directly from the App Store via:
sks.to/crankyiphone
Details at crankyuncle.com/game.
Game available directly from the App Store via:
sks.to/crankyiphone
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