Blythe's Blog

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Misinformation Education Tools


RumorGuard

RumorGuard is a fact-checking website created by The News Literacy Project that aims to educate users on how to identify misinformation online. It focuses on teaching participants how to evaluate the credibility of information based on five key factors: source, evidence, context, reasoning, and authenticity. The platform provides real-world examples of viral misinformation and offers concise summaries of fact-checks to help users distinguish between true and false information.

Users can visit the RumorGuard website and access recent fact checks displayed on the homepage. By clicking on a specific topic or story, they can dive deeper into the analysis of the information based on the five credibility factors. RumorGuard guides participants through understanding why a rumor might be false by encouraging critical thinking and evaluation skills.

RumorGuard teaches participants how to critically assess information they encounter online by considering the credibility of its source, the presence of evidence supporting claims, the accuracy of context provided, the validity of reasoning behind statements, and the authenticity of the information presented. By engaging with real examples and walking users through the process of evaluating misinformation, RumorGuard empowers individuals to become more discerning consumers of news and online content.

RumorGuard is effective in teaching participants about misinformation by providing practical tools and a structured approach to evaluating information online. By focusing on key credibility factors and offering clear explanations, RumorGuard equips users with essential skills to identify false or misleading content. The platform’s emphasis on critical thinking and fact-checking techniques contributes to improving news literacy and empowering individuals to combat misinformation effectively.

Harmony Square

Harmony Square is an online game where players take on the role of Chief Misinformation Officer in a peaceful town obsessed with democracy. The game tasks players with spreading misinformation to create internal divisions and gather likes and followers while causing chaos in the town. Players progress through four stages, learning about manipulation techniques such as trolling, emotional language exploitation, amplification of messages, spreading conspiracy theories, and polarizing audiences.

Players can access Harmony Square for free via any web browser. The game guides participants through interactive scenarios where they engage in creating and spreading misinformation to understand how it influences public opinion and behavior. By actively participating in the game’s challenges, players gain insights into the tactics used to manipulate information online.

Harmony Square aims to educate players about common manipulation techniques employed in political misinformation campaigns. Through gameplay, participants learn how misinformation can be used to polarize communities, evoke emotional responses, spread conspiracy theories, and amplify misleading content. By experiencing these tactics firsthand within a controlled environment, players develop a resistance against falling victim to similar strategies when encountering misinformation online.

Research conducted on Harmony Square indicates its effectiveness in teaching participants about misinformation. Players who engage with the game demonstrate improved abilities to spot manipulative content, increased confidence in identifying such content on social media platforms, and a reduced likelihood of sharing misleading information with others. These findings suggest that Harmony Square serves as an impactful tool for protecting individuals against online manipulation tactics.


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