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Can you outsmart a troll (by thinking like one)? - Claire Wardle

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  • TEDEd Animation

Let’s Begin…

Your town is holding a mayoral election and the stakes have never been higher. You suspect one of the candidates will begin pushing false information to swing the election. As the cybersecurity expert, your job is to inoculate the townspeople against false information. First, you must learn the strategies of disinformation trolls. Claire Wardle explores the tactics of disinformation campaigns.


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TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Educator Claire Wardle
  • Director Gavin Edwards
  • Narrator Susan Zimmerman
  • Sound Designer Stephen LaRosa
  • Music Stephen LaRosa
  • Director of Production Gerta Xhelo
  • Editorial Director Alex Rosenthal
  • Producer Bethany Cutmore-Scott
  • Script Editor Cella Wright
  • Fact-Checker Joseph Isaac
Additional Resources for you to Explore
Misinformation is impacting all aspects of our life today. Researchers tell us that the best way to prepare ourselves is by learning the tactics and techniques used by those trying to manipulate us. And the best way to learn those tactics and techniques is to put yourself in the shoes of those doing the manipulating. Do you have what it takes to disrupt an election?

If you want to learn more about disinformation, there are plenty of resources online. For example this SMS course sends you small ‘nuggets’ of content every day for 14 days. It’s designed to teach people how to prepare for deception. Or this short course is designed to help people navigate all the information that is bombarding us today around the coronavirus. This bad news game is a fun way to think about tactics and techniques that people are trying to use. Additionally, Checkology is a platform designed to teach young people how to tell the difference between fact and fiction.


Customize this lesson

Create and share a new lesson based on this one.

About TED-Ed Animations

TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

  • Educator Claire Wardle
  • Director Gavin Edwards
  • Narrator Susan Zimmerman
  • Sound Designer Stephen LaRosa
  • Music Stephen LaRosa
  • Director of Production Gerta Xhelo
  • Editorial Director Alex Rosenthal
  • Producer Bethany Cutmore-Scott
  • Script Editor Cella Wright
  • Fact-Checker Joseph Isaac

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