Learn the mechanisms of misinformation with Bad News

In a digital world where millions of pieces of information are published every minute, it's hard to keep track. Disinformation specialists have therefore seen an interesting seam to exploit in order to create strong emotions and rally people to their side. For these people, the question of truth takes second place.

Playing the propagator of fake news

So Cambridge University decided to work with a serious games studio to create an interactive adventure on the subject. Here, however, there's no question of being the one to expose the lies. On the contrary, you'll have to do your bit to gain popularity online. They'll be invited by a mysterious online colleague to start by uploading small pieces of misinformation and denunciatory memes. Then came the time to create his own independent media to protest "political correctness" and reveal what the press "doesn't want to tell the people".

Campaigns against GMOs, vaccines, climate change and more; the simulation seeks to provoke by explaining why misinformation swarms on the networks. Because it's so much easier and more attractive when it comes to popularity. It doesn't take long to become the holder of the "truth" among other users, all without verifying anything and sharing only elements that will arouse fear, rage and indignation.

The game is aimed at teenagers aged 14 and over, as the simulation includes occasionally violent language (without obscenities or unbearable images). However, you'll need a basic knowledge of English to play, as the experience is offered in several languages (22!), but not in French. Nevertheless, with the help of real cases and a teacher, for example, who will be following this adventure into misinformation, it will be easy to understand the different strategies of fake news, and to look at ways of preventing it.

Bad News