How `Chaos Corp.` Teaches Digital Literacy by Gamifying Disinformation

The Challenge

In 2024, Spencer Striker, PhD, a digital media professor at Northwestern University in Qatar, secured a grant from the University of the Philippines. He was tasked with creating an educational experience to teach young Filipinos how troll farms weaponize social media. This grant was born out of necessity: the Philippines had been hit hard by online manipulation during the 2016 and 2022 elections, when troll farms played a major role in shaping the results.

While Dr. Striker knew he needed a tool to demonstrate how trolls twist public opinion, the specific format (an online curriculum, a mobile app, etc.) was not defined. One thing was certain: it had to captivate a young audience.

With this mission in mind, Dr. Striker approached Visual UniVRs.

The Troll Farm Playbook

Midway through development, Dr. Striker raised a concern: while the game was a great simulator, it lacked a clear educational edge.

To bridge this gap, the team embedded a comprehensive glossary of “Disinformation Tactics” into the game. Terms such as Authority Substitution, Sentiment Reversal, and Astroturfing were pulled straight from academic research:

• Using Social Media in Community-Based Protection: A Guide;
• Architects of Networked Disinformation: Behind the Scenes of Troll Accounts and Fake News Production in the Philippines.

A glossary entry would unlock each time you deploy a new tactic to silence investigators or twist news cycles. 

To make the learning process more rewarding, the team added over 20 unique achievements for both App Store and Google Play, rewarding players who master the entire curriculum of manipulation

“That glossary turned a clever game into something genuinely educational,” Dr. Striker told the team during a feedback session. “Players won’t just be having fun; they will be learning the language of manipulation.”