Debunking Conspiracy Theories (IMI-M2-02-EN)

• To showcase how information disorder works
• To raise awareness on the main elements in text/message that distinguish untruthful information in the public domain
• To stimulate critical thinking

• Students
• Adolescent youth
• Educators, trainers, councillors, youth workers
• Any citizen

The activity is designed to showcase and analyze examples of popular conspiracy theories and emphasize the elements that that indicate the untruthfulness of the information. The participants are to experiment with debunking a conspiracy theory on their own.

Introduction (5 minutes)

The facilitator explains the purpose of the activity and divides the participants into small groups. S/he provides a list of web-sites with examples of conspiracy theories from which each group choses one to work on.

Debunking a conspiracy theory (40 minutes)

The group studies the selected conspiracy theory to identify the following elements in the text:

• author and information sources
• tone and style of the language
• arguments that reinforce the rhetoric (e.g. us vs. them; many people think like us; prove that we are wrong; no smoke without fire; emotional presentation and interpretation; etc.)
• track how the effect of the theory is amplified (e.g. social media posts, sharing…)
• review and analyze the associated images (if any) in the publication/web-site about the theory

Then the group verifies the theory statement with a fact-checking tool on their choice. Finally, they elaborate (write down) a refutation argument against the theory)

Debriefing (10 minutes)

The facilitator gathers the groups together. Each group presents the conspiracy theory they analyzed, its approach as well as the refutation argument.

• Flipchart or in-class screen – for sketching the rules of the activity
• Note-pads and pens/pencils
• Electronic devices with internet connection

• Analysis
• Argumentative writing
• Reflection
• Discussion

• Start the activity with a 5-munute introduction, explaining the mode of conduct within the group – respect, tolerance, listening without interruption
• Have a list with conspiracy-theories websites ready as well as a list on-line fact-checking tools

European Commission (2020), Retrieved from https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/coronavirus-response/fighting-disinformation/identifying-conspiracy-theories_en#prebunking-and-debunking-conspiracy-theories

Yes, please download it from here.