Honestly, fake news is now an online game

A COMPUTER game of fake news, said to vaccinate players against misinformation, is being launched today.

Scientists at Cambridge University make players take on the role of fake news producers who score points by winning followers for their conspiracy theories and angry tweets.

They say research has shown that exposing people to propaganda tactics can psychologically immunise them against a growing epidemic of misinformation said to be sweeping across social media and online news outlets.

Dr Sander van der Linden, of Cambridge University’s social decision-making laboratory, said: “A biological vaccine administers a small dose of the disease to build immunity. Similarly, inoculation theory suggests that exposure to a weak or demystified version of an argument makes it easier to refute when confronted with more persuasive claims.

“If you know what it is like to walk in the shoes of someone who is trying to deceive you, it should increase your ability to spot and resist the techniques of deceit.” In the game, players have to set up fake news websites and try to manipulate public reaction to thorny topics.

The study has been accepted for publication in the Journal of Risk Research. The game can be downloaded at fakenewsgame.org