A Game-Based Approach to Countering COVID-19 Misinformation

• In Event: Motivation in the Age of COVID-19

Abstract

The Covid-19 pandemic has led to an online "infodemic" of misinformation. This study examined a game-based approach to teaching middle-school students about Covid-19 misinformation. A misinformation game was designed based on several principles for mitigating misinformation: accuracy nudging, inoculation against misleading communication techniques, and instruction of information verification strategies. Playing the misinformation game improved students' discernment between true and false Covid-19 information in terms of sharing intentions and veracity judgments, in comparison to a control group that played a language game. Players of the misinformation game also improved their knowledge about misinformation detection strategies and were increasingly aware of the importance of corroborating information. These results suggest that online games can enable a scalable response to misinformation.

Authors

• Sarit Barzilai, University of Haifa

• Danna Tal-Savir, University of Haifa

• Fayez Abed, University of Haifa

• Shiri Mor-Hagani, University of Haifa

• Na'ama Goldik, University of Haifa

• Ohad Davidow, University of Haifa

• Ina Talmon, University of Haifa