This Creative Online Game Aims To Help Young Voters Navigate Misinformation & Propaganda

With the 15th General Election coming in the next few days, plenty of Malaysians have banded together to help educate first time voters as well as the public in general on what they need to know come November 19.

Malaysians have also in full force, helped to encourage those who are on the fence to just vote and to remind the public that every vote does matter.

In a creative way to encourage young voters to vote as well as help them to navigate the spread of misinformation, extensive politicking and propaganda, the Malaysia Information Literacy Education (MILE) has recently created a browser game.

The game which was funded by the Google News Initiative and illustrated by Studio Behind 90, titled ‘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.

The group was motivated to expand on its original game based on feedback received after the release of the first game during the height of the pandemic late last year, to help first-time voters become more informed electorates.

According to Oriental Daily, MILE co-founder Darshini Kandasamy, the game aims to address misinformation, as well as political and divisive propaganda and educate players on fact-checking and cybertroopers.

Guys! My @milemsia team launched this game to help 1st-time voters and others deal with bias, propaganda and misinfo during elections. It's aimed at helping folks become a more informed electorate.
Try it out & share the ❤️
Also available in BM and Chinesehttps://t.co/dm805YXnf2 pic.twitter.com/jEyg0CWePk

— Darsh Kanda, Between The Lines (@darshkanda) November 15, 2022

“In addition, 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,” she said.

“Although aimed at young and first-time voters, the game can be beneficial to everyone, of various age groups and voting experience. Mile hopes to be able to instil wider critical thinking and information literacy skills in the country.”

The game is available to access in English, Malay and Chinese and is available both on desktop and on mobile.

Will you be giving it a go? Let us know if it taught you anything!

Also read: “Don’t let Malaysia sink” – M’sian Comedians Team up to Urge The Public to Vote