Solve the Mystery: What's Real & Fake on the Internet?

Solve the mystery:

What’s real & fake on the internet?

Start

Instructions

On each page (like this), start by clicking on the yellow lightbulb button to listen to the audio & view the instructions, like this:

When you see buttons with icons or text on the pages, click on each of them to access more information or content, like these:

+ info

INFO

When you see buttons with icons on the flip cards or windows, hold your mouse over each of them to access more information, like this:

Note: In a card stack, when you click (desktop) or swipe (mobile) on a card, it moves to the next card. You can’t go back.

Remember: You can click the hand icon in the upper right corner to show the interactive elements! Use the top navigation bar to click on the desired page if you want to go backward or forward.

identifying the problem

Problem: Information isn't always accurate or controlled

Problem: Misinformation & disinformation spreads quickly

Problem: Difficult to tell fact from opinion or manipulation

Problem: Personal privacy is at risk & your attention is viewed as a valuable resource to capture & monetize

Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.

Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.

Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.

Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.

Difference between entertainment vs news & real media vs fake media

Companies constantly collect personal information about you & use it in unclear ways

Huge amounts of content are shared online constantly & rapidly

Anyone can find, create, & share information

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Identifying the information

What do they have in common?

Misinformation

• False or inaccurate information spread unintentionally
• Not intended to deceive

Disinformation

• False information spread intentionally
• Intended to deceive, manipulate, or cause harm

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Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.

Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.

Who am I?

Who am I?

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A fake news article created to sway public opinion or influence elections

Sharing a news story that is inaccurate because of a mistake or misunderstanding

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Uncovering the Traps

I'm trapped in an epistemic bubble!

I think I'm trapped in an echo chamber.

I'm trapped in a confirmation bias bubble.

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Unmasking the suspects

Deepfakes

Generative AI & Synthetic Media

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

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Bots

Trolls

Algorithms

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Finding the Preventative measures

Deepfake & AI Cues

Website Cues

SIFT Method

Multiple Perspectives

Escape the Chamber

Burst the Bubble

Language

Emotions

solving more mysteries

Mystery #2: Practice Identifying What's Real & Fake

Mystery #1: Practice Fact-Checking

Start

Start

Mysteries Solved!

Partners

Website

Sources

Escape the Echo Chamber

What to do:

• Realize you are in a chamber
• Temporarily pause your beliefs & start fresh
• Consider other perspectives, even if you’re unsure
• Reconsider sources with an open mind & without prior judgments
• Trust that things are as they seem

• Verify information by checking multiple sources
• Consult sources that represent different political, cultural, or ideological viewpoints

Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.

Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.

Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.

What not to do:

Supporting Someone in an Echo Chamber

To Escape an Echo Chamber

To Limit an Echo Chamber:

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Clue #7: Burst the Bubble

• Epistemic bubbles are relatively fragile

• Expose members to new information or arguments they haven't encountered to burst the bubble

Clue #2: Look for Visual Cues on Websites

• Are there exaggerated “facts”?
• Are there fake sources & references?
• Are there a lot of spelling & grammar mistakes?
• Is the text emotionless, formal, & robotic?

• Are there words or phrases that are overused?

• Does the website look fishy?
• Is the web address odd? (ABCNews.com.co imitates ABC News; the .co ending is often used by fake websites)
• Is the website authenticated & secure? (Authenticated & secure websites start with https:// instead of http://)
• Is it an old article being reposted? Is the information outdated?

Suspect #6: Algorithms

• Definition: Step-by-step process or set of rules a computer uses to solve a problem or finish a task
• Example: Uses your past searches & interactions to provide personalized responses & content
• Problem: It can cause confirmation bias & create epistemic bubbles & echo chambers

Suspect #5: Trolls

• Definition: Individuals who intentionally post inflammatory, upsetting, or misleading content online
• Example: Coordinates attacks against individuals, organizations, or movements
• Problem: Force their agenda into mainstream news feeds to provoke others, create chaos, or manipulate public opinion

You are probably wondering, “Why do I need to know this?” As a community organizer, being aware of misinformation and disinformation:

• Builds your community’s resilience against future misinformation/disinformation
• Prevents manipulation, division, & conflict in your community
• Supports informed decision-making & effective action
• Strengthens informed civic & democratic participation

Instructions:

1. Click on the arrow on the cards to flip them and learn more about the type of information it is.
2. Click on the blue +Info button to see the shared characteristics of misinformation and disinformation.

Supporting Handout: For more information about the impacts of misinformation and disinformation on communities, see the handout on the website.

Sources

• Clark College Library. (2026, January 15). Evaluating information: SIFT method (The four moves). Clark College Library. https://clark.libguides.com/evaluating-information/SIFT
• Clear, J. (n.d.). Why facts don’t change minds. James Clear. https://jamesclear.com/why-facts-dont-change-minds
• Government of Canada. (2024, August 30). Recognize artificial intelligence (AI): 9 ways to spot AI content online. Get Cyber Safe. https://www.getcybersafe.gc.ca/en/resources/recognize-artificial-intelligence-ai-9-ways-spot-ai-content-online
• Gupta, A., & Reinhardt, J. (2022, October 26). Doublespeak. In Language power techniques and English grammar. University of Arizona Open Textbooks. https://opentextbooks.library.arizona.edu/doublespeak/chapter/doublespeak/
• Harris, M. (2022). Critical thinking pedagogy in the age of conspiracies. The Interdisciplinary Journal of Student Success, 71–72.
• Napolitano, M. G. (2025). Conspiracy theories, resistance to evidence, and propaganda: How conspiracy theories advance political causes. Social Epistemology, 1–19. https://doi.org/10.1080/02691728.2025.2505459
• Nguyen, C. T. (2020). Echo chambers and epistemic bubbles. Episteme, 17(2), 141–161. https://doi.org/10.1017/epi.2018.32
• Pangrazio, L., & Selwyn, N. (2019). ‘Personal data literacies’: A critical literacies approach to enhancing understandings of personal digital data. New Media & Society, 21(2), 419–437. https://doi.org/10.1177/1461444818799523
• Pangrazio, L., & Selwyn, N. (2023). Managing, accessing, and protecting data: Strategies for living in a datafied society. In Critical data literacies: Rethinking data and everyday life (pp. 117–135). The MIT Press. https://doi.org/10.7551/mitpress/14155.001.0001
• Pangrazio, L., & Selwyn, N. (2023). Toward a new approach: Critical data literacies. In Critical data literacies: Rethinking data and everyday life (pp. 75–94). The MIT Press. https://doi.org/10.7551/mitpress/14155.001.0001
• University of Chicago Library. (2025, June 30). Evaluating resources and misinformation. University of Chicago Library. https://guides.lib.uchicago.edu/c.php?g=1241077&p=9082322

Suspect #2: Generative AI & Synthetic Media

• Definition: Generates new content (known as synthetic media) with human-like creativity
• Examples: Synthetic voices, face-swapped videos, automatically generated images
• Problem: Faster, cheaper, & more believable false & manipulated content can be created

Clue #1: SIFT the Information

• We can help prevent misinformation & disinformation from spreading by using the SIFT method
• Information can become distorted as it moves away from its original source

• Verify the source's credibility before assessing their claim
• Google the source & review their social media (if applicable) to confirm legitimacy
• Question all suspicious information

• Go to the original source when something cites an expert or study
• Check the references for primary sources
• Ensure the original context wasn’t misrepresented

• Notice your emotional reaction to headlines since they're designed to attract clicks
• Ask yourself if you know the website, author, or their reputation

Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.

• Check for other coverage on the topic
• Choose reliable & credible sources
• Use fact-checkers

Find Better or Other Coverage

Trace Claims to the Original Context

Stop Before You Read or Share

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Investigate the Source

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Example

A window like this will open with more information for you to explore.

Suspect #1: Artificial Intelligence (AI)

• Definition: Computer systems that perform complex tasks & mimic human cognitive functions
• Example: ChatGPT provides false facts, statistics, or sources
• Problem: Changes how information is created & spread

Echo Chambers

How do I know if I am in an echo chamber?

• Requires agreement with strict core beliefs
• Boosts insider credibility & discredits outsiders
• Actively excludes & limits exposure to other voices/sources
• Isolates members
• Often intentional

Why are echo chambers constructed?

• Social, political, or ideological motivations
• Desire for power
• Distrust of external institutions or voices/sources
• Perceived threat from opposing viewpoints

Competition for Our Attention

Attention Economy:Digital platforms, businesses, & content creators compete for your limited attention, which is seen as a valuable resource to capture & monetize through:

1. Personalized recommendations
2. Constant notifications
3. Infinite scrolling
4. Dynamic feeds filled with visually appealing content

Epistemic Bubble

How are epistemic bubbles formed?

• Exclusion of relevant information, evidence, & different views/sources

• Lack of exposure to relevant information
• Insufficient coverage of perspectives
• Often unintentional/accidental

How did I get trapped in an epistemic bubble?

• Your own tendency to seek like-minded sources (Selective Exposure)
• Search engines track your personal data to customize search results based on your interests & preferences (Algorithmic Personal Filtering)
• External factors (e.g., censorship)

Clue #3: Consider Multiple Perspectives

• Consider diverse perspectives
• Listen to & respect others’ viewpoints

• Check opposing evidence & counterarguments

• Question your assumptions & sources
• Confront information that challenges your beliefs rather than only seeking confirmation

Clue #4: Look for Visual Cues to Spot Deepfakes & AI Generated Images & Videos

• Are there extra/missing fingers?
• Is there a mismatch in the speech & mouth movements?
• Do their teeth shift around when they're speaking?
• Is the person blinking?

• Are there unrealistic textures for skin & fabric?
• Do the humans appear glossy or have unusual, smooth skin or clothing?
• Is the image smooth, crisp, with a heavily blurred background?

• Are there any incorrect shadows & lighting?
• Are the reflective surfaces accurate?
• Are there glitches or flickering in the footage?
• Are there missing or misplaced objects?

• Is there a credit for a photographer/videographer?
• What happens when you do a reverse image search?
• Is the audio unnatural & with a flat tone?
• Are there unexpected background noises? Are there choppy sentences?

Example

A window like this will open with more information for you to explore.

Shared Characteristics

• Both involve false or misleading information
• Both can spread quickly in digital spaces
• Both can harm public perception & decision-making
• Both appear in all media types (from printed articles to online blogs)

Example

A window like this will open with more information for you to explore.

Now that you have gone through to understand:

• the mystery behind the problem (i.e., volume, speed, accessibility of creating & sharing content, uncertainty around facts & opinions, & data collection)
• the mystery of distinguishing between different types of information, such as misinformation & disinformation
• the traps of epistemic bubbles, echo chambers, & confirmation bias bubbles
• unmasking the suspects of evolving tools & tactics utilized to create & spread false & manipulated information

Here are preventative measures (listed as clues) for you to explore and apply to solving mysteries! Instructions:

1. Click on each image to reveal the name of the clue.
2. Click on all the orange magnifying glass buttons to learn more about the clues.
3. Click on the arrow on the cards to flip them and learn more.

Supporting Handout: For a summary of these measures, see the worksheet on the website, where you can add your own strategies!

Example

Click play to listen to the audio.

Clue #6: Identify Manipulative & Confusing Language

• Uses euphemisms
• Uses vague or softened language to hide negative meaning
• Twists meanings to make them sound better

• Examples: "climate change" instead of "global warming"

• Uses specialized terms (e.g., medical or legal language)
• Can be used to confuse you or hide meaning
• Information with lots of jargon is often repetitive and unclear

If you learn to identify manipulative or confusing language, which is designed to hide intent, you can resist manipulation and avoid being misled! You’ll be resilient against disinformation and misinformation.

• Subtly communicates messages to specific audiences
• Example: "family values" to imply only traditional heterosexual families

• Replaces offensive or unpleasant words with neutral ones
• Pushes certain political or cultural views (e.g., coded “dog whistle” language)

Use this side of the card to provide more information about a topic. Focus on one concept. Make learning and communication more efficient.

Jargon

Doublespeak

Dog Whistle Language

Euphemisms

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You don’t need to become a tech expert, but understanding how these tools and tactics (listed as suspects) are used is important. All of these affect what people believe, whom they trust, and whether they take action. The harms from these make community building harder. Instructions:

1. Click on each avatar (image) to reveal the suspect's name.
2. Click on all the blue +INFO buttons to learn more about the suspects.
3. Click on the blue + button to learn more about the attention economy.

Role of Confirmation Bias

1. We look for information that supports our existing beliefs & perspectives
2. We ignore conflicting information
3. Our views feel validated as facts
4. This creates a confirmation bias bubble, especially on social media

Remember: False or manipulated information spreads when opinions are prioritized over factual evidence (opinions are personal views, not facts)

Becoming aware of epistemic bubbles and echo chambers allows you to understand how community members get exposed to limited or one-sided information and why manipulated and false information spreads easily. By becoming aware, you can improve outreach to community members outside their usual beliefs, encourage being open to different perspectives, and reduce “us vs. them” thinking. Instructions:

1. Click on the blue +INFO buttons to learn more about epistemic bubbles, echo chambers, and confirmation bias.

Clue #5: Understand & Manage Your Emotions

• Media often appeals to our feelings to influence our beliefs & actions

• Recognize your emotional triggers
• Notice when content is designed to provoke strong reactions
• Notice when emotional words are being used
• Embrace discomfort & explore what you've missed with openness & trust

Now that you have gone through the clues, it’s time for you to solve more mysteries! Instructions:

1. Click on the start button to be directed to a new tab to solve Mystery #1: Practice Fact-Checking
2. Click on the start button to be directed to a new tab to solve Mystery #2: Practice Identifying What's Real & Fake
3. When you’re done solving these mysteries, return back to this tab on your browser

Suspect #3: Deepfakes

• Definition: Hyper-realistic, digitally altered videos, images, or recordings
• Example: Falsely places people or objects in situations that never happened to embarrass or impersonate them
• Problem: False events can look real & real evidence can be dismissed as fake

Even though this feels abstract, these factors directly affect your community work! You may become a trusted source and filter for determining what’s real for your community. Instructions:

1. Click on the arrow on the cards to flip them and learn more.

Suspect #4: Bots

• Definition: Automated software that acts like a human online
• Example: Automatically liking or sharing content related to certain topics, products, or hashtags
• Problem: Bots try to drown real facts by flooding the discussion with false & manipulated information

More Mysteries to Solve

If the start button doesn't work, copy and paste these links into your browser:

1. To solve Mystery #1: Practice Fact-Checking: https://mediasmarts.ca/sites/mediasmarts/files/games/reality-check/#/
2. To solve Mystery #2: Practice Identifying What's Real & Fake: https://mediasmarts.ca/quiz/break-fake-news