Accelerating Development: Ideas for Impact

Episode 39 How a WhatsApp Game Helped People Resist Health Misinformation

Accelerating Development: Ideas for Impact

Show Notes

Health misinformation is now ranked among the world's 32 most severe global risks, with an estimated economic cost of US$78 billion in 2019. But what if governments could help people recognize misleading information before they encounter it? In this episode, we explore a randomized study from Jordan that tested a WhatsApp chatbot game designed to build resistance to health misinformation. We discuss why interactive "prebunking" outperformed passive information campaigns, how it improved people's ability to distinguish credible from misleading content, and what policymakers can learn about designing scalable digital interventions that strengthen public trust. Generated with AI using wondercraft.ai and guided by our experts. Read more at: https://documents.worldbank.org/en/publication/documents-reports/documentdetail/099227409302412051

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