Anti-Rumour

We applied for the Anti-Rumour project to address the urgent need to empower youth through media literacy, fostering their active participation in combating disinformation and conspiracy theories. The increasing prevalence of fake news and conspiracy theories has created a pressing need for initiatives that equip youth with the tools to critically evaluate information and resist ideological polarization. Yound people were highly vulnerable to its effects due to their significant engagement with social media and digital platforms. Additionally, declining trust in democratic institutions and the exclusion of marginalized groups highlighted the necessity of fostering media literacy and promoting active citizenship among youth. Social inclusion and awareness of environmental issues were also critical gaps, with misinformation exacerbating discrimination and undermining the fight against climate change. Youth work and educators need tools and strategies to address the growing challenges of misinformation and its impact on young people. These tools need to be interactive, engaging, and close to the digital realities of youth's media usage.

The Anti-Rumour project aimed to raise awareness among young people about the features and risks of fake news and conspiracy theories while fostering their engagement in democratic and civic life. The project sought to integrate youth into political discourses by developing engaging tools and resources that can help young people to identify and combat disinformation, transforming them from passive media consumers into active media producers. With a focus on social inclusion and environmental awareness, the project aimed to address misinformation surrounding marginalized groups and climate change, strengthening European values of inclusion, tolerance, and justice.

PR1 Guidebook: - Conducted desk research to source references for the Guidebook content. - Designed the structure of the Guidebook with chapters and subdivisions for partner collaboration. - Created and circulated a questionnaire for national reports on conspiracy theories and disinformation. - Developed and compiled the content for the Anti-Rumour Guidebook. - Conducted a first review of the Guidebook content and published the English version on the project website. - Translated the Guidebook into national languages by all partners. PR2 Toolkit: - Designed the structure of the toolkit - Set up and circultate questionnaire for youth workers and educators in partner countries to learn about their needs regarding the use of online tools and games in their work - Conducted desk research for online tools - developed evaluation rubrics based on survey and evaluated each researched tool to decide which tools to include in the kit - Created written tutorials and video tutorials for each tool - Compiled and refined toolkit components into a unified document as well as interactive web based version - Conducted a second review of the Toolkit based on user feedback at local lesson sessions PR3 Serious Game: - Developed frame and game mechanics for the serious game - scripted and refined a beta version of the Anti-Rumour Serious Game - Developed game materials as print-at-home version and a digital version on Tabletopia - Translated the game into national languages - organized playtesting sessions in each partner country and revised game material based on feedback - Conducted a second review of the Toolkit based on user feedback at local lesson sessions PR4 Learning Modules: - Researched and designed the structure and methodology for the Learning Modules. - Created and reviewed the content for the Learning Modules. - Translated the Learning Modules into partner languages. - Tested Learning Modules and other outputs with youth workers in local sessions. - Compiled and finalized all outputs, including feedback-driven modifications. Multiplier Events: - organized one mulitplier event in each partner country to present the project's methodology and results as well as showcase some interactive elements of the project material Dissemination: - Dissemination and exploitation activities during the whole project, including social media communication, newsletters, presentations at events and conferences, website articles

The project produced several resources to combat misinformation. The Anti-Rumour Guidebook serves as a comprehensive tool for youth workers and young people, exploring the psychology of disinformation, emphasizing media literacy, and providing techniques to debunk myths. It addresses critical topics such as climate misinformation, social inclusion, and AI's dual role in spreading and combating falsehoods. Another key output, the Anti-Rumour Toolkit, includes 20 practical tools like chatbots, fact-checking websites, and AI content detectors to identify fake news and enhance media literacy. These tools come with detailed instructions, strengths, and tutorial videos to ensure usability. Additionally, the Anti-Rumour Serious Game promotes media literacy through a cooperative role-playing approach, challenging players to verify or create fake news in interactive scenarios. Finally, the Anti-Rumour Learning Modules provide structured workshop materials for educators and youth professionals, focusing on disinformation, marginalized groups, climate misinformation, and media literacy, using real-life case studies and engaging activities.