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Fake news game confers psychological resistance against online misinformation

Author

Listed:
  • Jon Roozenbeek

    (University of Cambridge)

  • Sander Linden

    (University of Cambridge)

Abstract

The spread of online misinformation poses serious challenges to societies worldwide. In a novel attempt to address this issue, we designed a psychological intervention in the form of an online browser game. In the game, players take on the role of a fake news producer and learn to master six documented techniques commonly used in the production of misinformation: polarisation, invoking emotions, spreading conspiracy theories, trolling people online, deflecting blame, and impersonating fake accounts. The game draws on an inoculation metaphor, where preemptively exposing, warning, and familiarising people with the strategies used in the production of fake news helps confer cognitive immunity when exposed to real misinformation. We conducted a large-scale evaluation of the game with N = 15,000 participants in a pre-post gameplay design. We provide initial evidence that people’s ability to spot and resist misinformation improves after gameplay, irrespective of education, age, political ideology, and cognitive style.

Suggested Citation

  • Jon Roozenbeek & Sander Linden, 2019. "Fake news game confers psychological resistance against online misinformation," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 5(1), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:palcom:v:5:y:2019:i:1:d:10.1057_s41599-019-0279-9
    DOI: 10.1057/s41599-019-0279-9
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Fabiana Zollo & Petra Kralj Novak & Michela Del Vicario & Alessandro Bessi & Igor Mozetič & Antonio Scala & Guido Caldarelli & Walter Quattrociocchi, 2015. "Emotional Dynamics in the Age of Misinformation," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(9), pages 1-22, September.
    2. Melki, Mickael & Pickering, Andrew, 2014. "Ideological polarization and the media," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 125(1), pages 36-39.
    3. Shane Frederick, 2005. "Cognitive Reflection and Decision Making," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 19(4), pages 25-42, Fall.
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