# Games and Web Disinformation

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/games-and-web-disinformation/982430>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [April 10, 2023, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/games-and-web-disinformation/982430 "2023-04-10T02:02:37Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\
**Post date:** [April 10, 2023, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/games-and-web-disinformation/982430/1 "2023-04-10T02:02:37Z")

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This _Economist_ article on some governments sponsoring entertaining games to teach people how to spot dubious online information claims:

Quote:  
_”Games such as “Cat Park” are an ingenious response to a widespread problem… internet users often struggle to discern legitimate sources from nefarious ones. Last year a study by Ofcom, a British regulator, **found that 30% of the country’s adults hardly consider the truthfulness of information they read online. About 6% give no thought to the veracity of stories.** Around a quarter failed to spot fake social-media accounts.”_

Are these numbers true? Wow. Do these games work? Kind of reminds me of “Papers Please”.

> **[Games are a weapon in the war on disinformation](https://www.economist.com/culture/2023/04/05/games-are-a-weapon-in-the-war-on-disinformation)**
>
> They are effective at teaching players how to spot falsehoods online

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**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\
**Post date:** [April 10, 2023, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/games-and-web-disinformation/982430/2 "2023-04-10T03:03:03Z")

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I suppose it would also be possible to make games as a weapon **for** disinformation. I’m not sure how that would work, but I’m sure there are people who are motivated enough to figure it out.