Becoming the 'Spreader' of Conspiracy Theories? Learning Media Literacy Through the Experience of Being Trolled

Have you ever wondered, "Why do fake news and conspiracy theories get shared so much?" In reality, those who spread misinformation have 'techniques' that stir people's emotions. The game we are introducing today, 'Harmony Square', is a free online game where you can experience these tactics by intentionally playing the role of a 'villain spreading conspiracy theories.' Developed by a research group at the University of Cambridge and supported by the U.S. Department of State, this game functions as a 'cognitive vaccine' after just 10 minutes of play. By dividing a peaceful town, inciting outrage, and gaining followers... through this experience of 'evil,' we can acquire the power to see through real fake news.

Trying out being a 'villain' who divides a peaceful town

The setting of 'Harmony Square' is a peaceful town that values democracy. As a player, you take on the title of 'Chief Disinformation Officer,' tasked with bringing chaos to this town.

The game consists of four short stages, and the goal is simple: divide the entire town over issues like elections while pitting residents against each other to gain followers and 'likes'.

At first, you might feel hesitant, thinking, 'Wait, am I really doing this?' But that is exactly the point of the game. By actually performing the actions of spreading misinformation, you begin to see the mechanisms behind it.

The 'four techniques' for spreading conspiracy theories

In the game, you are intentionally made to experience techniques of misinformation that are actually used. The main ones are the following four:

1. Trolling (provoking outrage)

You trigger people's anger with provocative posts to intentionally cause an uproar. The more emotionally charged people are, the easier it is for them to spread information.

2. Choosing emotionally charged language

You use words that emphasize anxiety and anger, such as 'crisis,' 'betrayal,' and 'scandal.' The goal is to elicit an emotional reaction rather than a calm discussion.

3. Artificial amplification of reach

You use bots and fake accounts to make it look as if many people support the message. It's a tactic to make people think, 'It must be true because everyone is saying it.'

4. Creating conspiracy theories and emphasizing intergroup conflict

You craft a story about a 'secret group pulling the strings behind the scenes' and extremely incite conflict between groups. By creating an 'us vs. them' dynamic, you deepen the division.

Haven't you seen this on social media? Yes, it is a scene we witness in our daily lives.

Why is the 'villain experience' effective?

The concept behind this game is the idea of a 'cognitive vaccine' (inoculation).

In medical vaccinations, you build immunity by introducing a weakened virus into the body. In the same way, by 'getting used' to weakened misinformation techniques in advance, you can develop the ability to see through real conspiracy theories and fake news when you encounter them.

Including the game 'Bad News' which served as the basis for 'Harmony Square', development has been carried out jointly by research groups such as the University of Cambridge and DROG in the Netherlands. In actual research, the following effects have been confirmed in people who played the game.

• Decreased trust when seeing misinformation

• Increased confidence in spotting fake news

• Reduced desire to spread misinformation

In other words, just 10 minutes of gameplay can change the way we look at information.

Anyone can play for free, right now

'Harmony Square' can be played for free in your browser. It takes about 10 minutes. The interface is relatively simple, so although the language is only English, it is not that difficult.

It is also supported by the U.S. Department of State and is attracting attention around the world in the context of countermeasures against 'election hacking' and 'misinformation from Russia, China, etc.' In Japan, it has also been introduced in media such as the Nikkei as an example of media literacy teaching material for citizens.

It could be used for school classes, corporate training, or even as a conversation starter with family.

What I felt after actually playing it

What surprised me when I played this game myself was the guilt of becoming a 'villain,' and at the same time, the simplicity of the mechanism.

Stirring up people's emotions, inciting conflict, and inflating numbers with bots. Just by doing that, information spreads on its own. And after learning those tactics, there were many moments when I looked at social media and realized, 'Oh, this is what I did in the game.'

Fake news and conspiracy theories are by no means things that 'stupid people get tricked by.' Rather, all of us can become targets, and we can even become the ones spreading them without knowing it. Understanding that firsthand was the biggest takeaway.

Conclusion

In this age overflowing with information, the 'ability to discern correct information' is now an essential skill. However, even when people say 'be careful of fake news,' it is often hard to grasp exactly what you should do.

'Harmony Square' is a tool that allows you to learn that abstract concept of 'media literacy' in a fun way through a game. In a short time of 10 minutes, you can peek behind the scenes of misinformation and experience its tactics. There may be no more efficient way to learn.

If you haven't played it yet, please give it a try. It will surely change the way you look at social media starting tomorrow.

#FakeNews #MediaLiteracy #ConspiracyTheoryCountermeasures #InformationLiteracy #HarmonySquare