Examining Misinformation and Disinformation Games Through Inoculation Theory and Transportation Theory

Abstract

Media misinformation and disinformation continue to threaten the foundation on which scientific, political, and other socially relevant decisions are made. This paper examines games designed to serve as interventions for changing player’s behaviors in misinformation and disinformation media. It analyzes the games formally through two common communication intervention theories for behavior modification and education: inoculation theory and transportation theory. The media theories are first framed in the context of games generally, then they are applied across six research focused games ; Harmony Square, Bad News, Fake It To Make It, Factitious and FakeYou!. The work offers theory-informed observations and recommendations to support improved efficacy for existing and future playable media.