Fake News & Misinfo
Memes & Culture
Influencers & Ads
Youth Social Media Bans
Terms
Conspiracy theories
100
What is misinformation?
False information shared without the intention to cause harm.
100
Who is Pepe the Frog?
The cartoon character whose innocent comic strip origins were stolen and reappropriated into a hate symbol.
100
What is product placement?
Secretly placing a brand or item inside entertainment content without making it look like a traditional commercial.
100
Which political party in NZ wants to bring in an Under-16 social media ban?
National
100
What is brainrot?
Internet slang term that describes low-quality online content
100
Name 3 red flags of conspiracy theories
Emotional Language and Headlines
Lack of Credible Sources/Evidence
Inconsistencies & Outdated Information
Questionable Authors / Organisations
Fake Images or Videos
Appeals to distrust
200
What is disinformation?
False information deliberately created and shared to deceive or manipulate people.
200
How can memes teach us about history?
They are often created when the historical events happen
200
What is the difference between direct and indrect marketing?
Direct = directly giving you an ad
Indirect = product placement, less obvious, e.g. influencer using a coke can in their video
200
When did Australia pass their Under-16 Social Media ban? (Month and year)
December 2025
200
What is an algorithm?
The hidden lines of computer code that decide what content appears on your "For You" page.
200
Steal 200 points from another team to buy some new tinfoil hats
Sorry not sorry
300
What is an echo chamber?
An online space where algorithms ensure you only encounter ideas and opinions that match your own.
300
Steal 300 points from another team
Yoink!
300
What is the Two-Step Flow Theory?
Theory stating that media messages reach the general public through trusted "opinion leaders" rather than directly from big media.
300
Name two addictive app design features that are engineered to keep people engaged in their feeds
Infinite scroll, auto-play, algorithmic recommendations, push notifications, likes
300
Steal 300 points from a group
Mwahahha
300
What is clickbait?
Dramatic, shocking, or exaggerated headlines written purely to get users to click on a link.
400
What is confirmation bias?
The psychological tendency to only seek out and believe information that agrees with what you already think.
400
How do memes reflect the fears of a society at a specific moment?
They are created to quickly show people's reactions to something
400
What is a parasocial relationship?
A one-sided emotional connection where a follower feels like an influencer is their genuine personal friend.
400
What 4 things has Meta promised to do as part of their settlement with some American states?
1. Pay $18m
2. Stop push-notifications during the school hours
3. Bring in a digital curfew from midnight - 6am (for under 18s)
4. 2 hours of FB/Instagram time only for under 18s
400
Define conspiracy theory
A belief that a secret, powerful group is orchestrating events behind the scenes.
400
What was Pizzagate?
"Pizzagate" is a conspiracy theory that went viral during the 2016 United States presidential election cycle, falsely claiming that the New York City Police Department (NYPD) had discovered a pedophile ring linked to members of the Democratic Party while searching through Anthony Weiner's emails.
500
Why did more disinformation spread around the pandemic than in other times?
Russia, more people were online and people were scared and feeling powerless so easier to believe in anything
500
What was the name of the website where people spread Pepe images?
4chan
500
Name two products (and the movies) which had a huge surge in sales thanks to product placement
Varied answers e.g. E.T. and Reeses Pieces, Transformers + camaro cars, Toy Story and Etch a Sketch
500
Steal 500 points from another team
500
What is an opinion leader?
A person whose social status or audience trust allows them to shape public opinion (e.g., creators, athletes, streamers).
500
Why did the creator of the 'Birds aren't real' conspiracy come up with it?
To prove how stupid conspiracy theories actually are
600
What is an algorithm, and how can it create a filter bubble - which leads to an echo chamber?
Algorithm - social media tracks what you like/click/watch - gives you the same.
This creates a filter 'bubble' where you only see what you agree with.
This results in an echo chamber - where you think your view is correct because it is all you see
600
How are memes now being used as a weapon in war?
Governments are sharing memes to poke fun at other countries (e.g. America vs Iran) and ridiculing each other.
600
Name a problematic influencer and why they are problematic
Varied responses!
600
What is dopamine and how does it connect to social media addiction?
The brain chemical triggered by social media likes and notifications that reinforces screen addiction.
600
What is satire?
A joke that deliberately pokes fun at somebody/something to criticise them
600
Give two reasons why people tend to believe in, or fall for, conspiracy theories?
They are seeking a sense of control, they are scared, they feel powerless, they do not trust institutions in power, a lack of education