With fake news dominating social media and other online platforms, it is becoming increasingly difficult for consumers to differentiate between what is real and what isn't – and the Factitious game helps players determine how good they are at believing the false narratives that are out there.
Although the United States' current president often chooses to claim that major news sources are "fake news," this is a lie, and the majority of fake news can be found online on right-wing websites and discussion boards. Factitious functions in a similar way to the Tinder app, showing players briefs of real articles that went viral, and the player must determine if the articles reveal true content or fake content.
The Factitious game provides an excellent resource to slowly combat the prevalence of fake news that has dominated in recent years.
Fake News-Testing Games
Factitious Tests Players' Ability to Detect False News Articles
Trend Themes
1. Fake News Detection - Opportunity for developing tools and technologies that can effectively detect and combat fake news.
2. Media Literacy - Opportunity to educate and empower consumers with the skills to critically analyze news sources and distinguish between real and fake content.
3. Gamification of Education - Opportunity to leverage gamification strategies to make learning about fake news engaging and interactive.
Industry Implications
1. Technology - Opportunity for tech companies to develop advanced algorithms and AI-powered solutions for detecting and debunking fake news.
2. Education - Opportunity for educational institutions and edtech companies to incorporate media literacy training and fake news detection resources into their curriculum and products.
3. Gaming - Opportunity to create more educational games like Factitious that help users develop critical thinking skills and identify fake news.