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Truth or Trap?
Truth or Trap?
Content
Wait… Saudi scientists just ‘discovered’ women are mammals?
If that headline made you react before you questioned it, then stay with us.
This headline was designed to make you angry, shocked, or laugh instantly. But why? Why use sexism, outrage, and absurdity instead of facts? Did you react emotionally before checking if it was real? And if you did… How many other fake headlines have done the same to you?
Fake news doesn’t want you to think first — it wants you to feel first. Anger spreads faster than facts. Shock gets more clicks than truth. But ask yourself: Who benefits when people react without questioning? Why are extreme words used? Why does the headline sound unbelievable yet tempting to share? And most importantly… What happens to society when emotions become stronger than critical thinking?
Every day, social media and other news outlets fight for your attention using shock, fear, anger, humor, and emotion — and fake news knows exactly how to use them. In this interactive playlist, you’ll explore real examples, viral headlines, flash mobs, games, and challenges that reveal how misinformation spreads and why people believe it.
You’ll learn how to:
- spot manipulation online,
- recognize emotional triggers,
- uncover fake news in 5 simple steps,
- fact-check like a digital detective,
- and think critically before sharing content.
By the end of the playlist, you won’t just scroll differently — you’ll see the internet differently.
Activities to complete
Finish all activities to earn the playlist badge
Complete the following activities, earn badges and you will see your playlist progress updatedContent
Want to debunk fake news? Let's learn 6 essential elements & become a fake news detective!
Step 1 — Origin
Does your answer match the exercise 1b from Activity 1: Escape the Algorithm?
Ready to practice? Take the quiz and identify the fake webpages. Share your results with us under Task 1 below.
Step 2 — Source
Check out this web pages:
What do you think about them? DId you visit the “About us” section to verify the source? Write your analysis in a few sentences under Taks 2.
Important Element — Dates
Another important habit is checking the date of the information you see online. Old photos, videos, or news stories are often reshared as if they are recent events, which can create confusion and spread misinformation. A quick look at when content was originally published can help you better understand the context and avoid being misled.
Step 3 — Clickbait or a joke
Act as a fake news detective. Based on the picture above, which news story (A or B) do you think is fake? Share your thoughts under Task 3 and explain your reasoning.
Step 4 — Author
You have two examples of authors and the messages they want to share with their audience. Analyse both and decide which one you believe is fake: A or B. Write your answer and reasoning under Task 4.
Step 5 — Photo/video
We have a task for you! Take your phone and open Google, find this place:
Write down your answer under tasks 5.
Get activity badge
Fact-Check Hero Get this badge
By completing this activity, you will learn how to identify and analyse fake news using six essential verification elements: origin, source, dates, clickbait, authors, and visual content. They will develop critical thinking, media literacy, and digital safety skills by evaluating websites, headlines, authors, and images to determine whether information is trustworthy or misleading.
You will gain practical experience in:
- recognising fake or suspicious webpages,
- verifying news sources and “About Us” sections,
- identifying clickbait and emotionally manipulative content,
- analysing author credibility and intent,
- checking photos and videos for authenticity,
- explaining and justifying their conclusions using evidence.
After completing the activity, you will be better prepared to navigate online information responsibly and act as informed digital citizens and fake news detectives.
You have to finish 1 task to get the badge
Tasks
Task no.1
Evidence verified by: one activity organiser
Task 1. Origin
Task no.2
Evidence verified by: one activity organiser
Task 2. Source
Check out this web pages:
What do you think about them? Did you visit the “About us” section to verify the source? Write your analysis in a few sentences.
Task no.3
Evidence verified by: one activity organiser
Task 3. Clickbait
Act as a fake news detective. Based on the picture above, which news story (A or B) do you think is fake? Share your thoughts under Task 3 and explain your reasoning.
Task no.4
Evidence verified by: one activity organiser
Task 4. Author
You have two examples of authors and the messages they want to share with their audience. Analyse both and decide which one you believe is fake: A or B. Write your answer and reasoning.
Task no.5
Evidence verified by: one activity organiser
Task 5. Photo
We have a task for you! Take your phone and open Goolge, find this place:
Write down what did you find about this place
Task no.6
Evidence verified by: one activity organiser
Task 6. Migration
Write down your analysis.
Task no.7
Evidence verified by: one activity organiser
Task 7. Climate change
Activities: 3
Started: 1
Completed playlist: 0
Time to complete: 1 hour 30 minutes
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Organisers
TiPovej!
Badge issuer recognized with
Awero not-for-profit organisation manages this platform and develops it together with leading educational organisations. The European Union's programme Erasmus+ granted co-funding for building the first version of this platform. Contact support@awero.org.
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