Astroturf and Manipulation of Media Messages (VJI-M2-01-EN)

• Promote critical thinking about news articles.
• Stimulate information verification and source-checking.

• Students
• Adolescent youth
• Any citizen

Step 1: The facilitator starts the activity by introducing the topic of mis-and disinformation, and media literacy. This introduction should be concise.

Step 2: The facilitator screens the TED Talk "Astroturf and manipulation of media messages". This video demonstrates the need for ethical investigation of news and the harm from not doing such ethical investigations. It explains what “astroturfing” and propaganda is and what this might look like in practice. It ends with tips on how a person can recognise these media manipulations by themself.

Step 3: Following the TED Talk, the students are assigned to small groups. Give each group a real world example of astroturfing and let them explain why and how this is the case. These real world examples of astroturfing should be prepared beforehand. Discuss the answers in class.

For example: In 2008 in Osaka, Japan, around 1000 people were paid queue up outside a McDonalds as a promotional stunt. Is this astroturfing? Why is it or is it not? Explain your answer.

Ask the students in-depth questions about their reasoning. While there are supposed to be “right” answers to the questions, it could be the case that their argumentation is very good. Afterwards, discuss the “right” answers in the classroom.

• Projector connected to device with an internet connection
• Students need their own laptops/computers
• The fake news articles from fake news websites, which the students will examine.

• Varied and active engagement
• Fact-checking
• Reflection
• Discussion

• Prepare beforehand which examples of astroturfing you will hand out between the groups. There are many astroturfing examples easily accessible online in many free articles. You can also implement examples you found yourself.

For example:

• • fake reviews on products companies or websites;
  • influencers who do not disclose sponsors when praising products of those sponsors;
  • Fake social media accounts;
  • Etc.
• Remember the group about the mode of conduct – respect, tolerance, listening without interruption.

Japan Today. (2008, December 26). McDonald’s admits 1,000 people paid to join queue for Quarter Pounder debut in Osaka. https://japantoday.com/category/business/mcdonalds-admits-1000-people-paid-to-join-queue-for-quarter-pounder-debut-in-osaka

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. (2018, September). Teaching Guide for lecturers using the E4J University Modules on Integrity & Ethics. The Doha Declaration: Promoting a Culture of Lawfulness. https://www.unodc.org/e4j/en/integrity-ethics/teaching-guide/table-of-exercises.html

The fake news articles could be printed out or assigned digitally.