Malaysia web game teaches young voters to identify disinformation
KUALA LUMPUR — With Malaysia lowering the eligible voting age to 18 years old for the 15th general election on Saturday (19 November), there have certainly been concerns and confusion among young voters on whom they will vote for when the time comes to use that indelible ink.
With candidates trying to push unverified news, statistics and quotes all over the social media, it can be extra tough for these first-time voters to tell what is fact, and what is well-disguised misinformation.
To combat this, the Malaysia Information Literacy Education (MILE) has created a simple browser game aimed at helping young first-time voters navigate the spread of misleading false information, extensive politicking and propaganda in the lead up to the general election.
Funded by the Google News Initiative and illustrated by Studio Behind 90, "Are you Yang Bijak?" is an expansion of MILE’s popular 2021 “Choices I Make” game, which was originally created to help Malaysians navigate the COVID-19 infodemic.
“This time, ‘Are you Yang Bijak?’ will address electoral dis- and mis-information, as well as political and divisive propaganda,” MILE co-founder Darshini Kandasamy told Yahoo Malaysia.
The web game also aims to educate voters on fact-checking and the presences of "cybertroopers" - people who are paid to disseminate political propaganda on the internet.
"We aim to teach game users to identify related personal biases that could affect their ability to discern false or misleading information, and educate them on the consequences of believing and spreading them,” Darshini said.
She added that the group was motivated to expand on its original game based on feedback received from the first game during the height of the pandemic late last year, so that they can help first-time voters become informed electorates.
"Although aimed at young and first-time voters, the game can be beneficial to everyone, of various age groups and voting experience," she added.
The web game is available in English, Malay and Chinese. There are two remaining scenarios for the web game that are still being crafted, due to the rushed nature of the elections, and will only be released at a later date.
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