Jon Roozenbeek|Sander van der Linden
Fake news game confers psychological resistance against online misinformation
University of Cambridge|University of Cambridge
abstract spread online misinformation poses serious challenges societies worldwide novel attempt address issue designed psychological intervention form online browser game game players take role fake news producer learn master six documented techniques commonly used production misinformation polarisation invoking emotions spreading conspiracy theories trolling people online deflecting blame impersonating fake accounts game draws inoculation metaphor preemptively exposing warning familiarising people strategies used production fake news helps confer cognitive immunity exposed real misinformation conducted largescale evaluation game n 15000 participants prepost gameplay design provide initial evidence peoples ability spot resist misinformation improves gameplay irrespective education age political ideology cognitive style