ABSTRACT
The need for widespread media literacy has never been greater. Emerging information technologies have transformed the distribution of persuasive messages in ways that were once unthinkable, and media literacy educators have a vital role to play in combating these developments. After defining the term “computational propaganda,” this chapter explains how Russian propagandists working for the Internet Research Agency (IRA) used bots and sockpuppets to spread misinformation, create false consensus, and muddy the information environment. After fleshing out this scenario, we demonstrate how the media literacy site Propaganda Critic teaches people to detect phony actors online. Although this chapter introduces Propaganda Critic via a case study of Russian disinformation, it is important to note that bots, sockpuppets, and other forms of computational propaganda are used by persuaders on all sides of the political spectrum. The chapter closes by inviting media literacy educators to help develop new modules and case studies for the site.
