Family Investigative Game Launches to Combat Online Misinformation
A new investigative family game titled Sulle tracce della notizia invites parents, daughters, and sons to cooperate in verifying news and understanding how online misinformation spreads, Dataninja reported. Designed to bridge the gap between schools and households, the activity aims to teach participants how to spot misleading content and identify the tools needed to prevent the spread of false information.
How the Investigation Works in Practice
The collaborative experience requires groups of two to five participants and takes between 60 and 90 minutes to complete. Recommended for children aged 8 to 13, the game operates either in a printable format or through a digital version. Families begin their investigation by reading a letter from a fictional investigative agency named Mis and Dis, which outlines step-by-step instructions on how to evaluate online content.
Participants can engage with the material in two primary ways. Teachers and educators can run shared classroom sessions or assign the kit as homework to be discussed later in school. Alternatively, parents can lead independent sessions at home to tackle digital literacy through teamwork.
European Funding and Collaborative Design
The project stems from Open Parents, an initiative funded by the European Union program REINFORCING to improve media literacy within families. Dataninja and Bomberos Design curated the development of the game. More than 200 parents, teachers, and library educators contributed to the design through online questionnaires, focus groups, and play-testing sessions.
Upcoming Public Webinar Scheduled for October
An online event is scheduled for Monday, October 19, from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Organizers will host a free webinar titled Sulle tracce della notizia: un gioco in famiglia per prevenire la disinformazione to explain the origins of the project, demonstrate how the investigation works, and outline strategies for using the toolkit in classrooms and living rooms.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Investigation Kit
What materials are required to play the game at home?
Participants only need access to either the printable version of the materials or the digital format provided by the Open Parents project.
Who is eligible to participate in the upcoming webinar?
Teachers, educators, and parents interested in learning how to use the toolkit can attend the free online session on October 19.
How long does a typical family investigation session last?
A complete session takes between 60 and 90 minutes, depending on the group size and the chosen format.
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