Learn media literacy in Malaysia through the eyes of a first-time election reporter
The organisation MILE introduced a new storyline in its 'Are you Yang Bijak' browser game to educate players about media influence and biases in elections.
MALAYSIA – With the anticipation of the upcoming state elections and the fervour of political campaigns in full swing, Malaysia Information Literacy Education (MILE) has again take to gaming to empower young voters.
In a media release on Tuesday (1 August), MILE, a local organisation dedicated to promoting critical thinking and information literacy education, has released a new character and storyline in its browser game, "Are you Yang Bijak?".
Experience the life of a first-time election reporter
Building on the first "Are you Yang Bijak?" storyline, which allowed players to experience the challenges of being a first-time voter, MILE's latest addition to the game features a reporter covering their first major election.
This new character aims to provide players with insights into the pressures journalists face during such events.
"We hope players will understand the challenges and pressures faced by reporters in such situations, on top of what drives various media coverage of election news and its weaknesses," said MILE co-founder Darshini Kandasamy.
The primary objective of "Are you Yang Bijak?" is to help young voters comprehend the role of the media and bots in shaping public opinion during elections, MILE said in its release.
Additionally, the game intends to cultivate an awareness of personal biases, propaganda, and divisive agendas that may influence voter decision-making.
"All of these are common features in politics, more so during election season. If left unchecked, these can colour a person's opinions, even their votes," Darshini added.
Empowering informed voters
Funded by the Google News Initiative and brought to life by Studio Behind 90, "Are you Yang Bijak?" was initially launched last November ahead of the 15th general election.
The game was designed to assist Malaysians in navigating through the maze of misleading information and divisive campaigns that tend to escalate during political events.
Although the game targets young voters, Darshini said that "Are you Yang Bijak?" can be beneficial for individuals of all ages and levels of voting experience.
The game is available in English, Malay, and Chinese, accessible on both desktop and mobile platforms, making it accessible to the public.
Looking ahead, the MILE team said they were already working on a third character and storyline for the game, and aimed to release it in the near future.
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