Trolling America

  • Kdo trolí Ameriku
  • Spojené státy
  • 2018
  • 12 min.
  • 14—21 let
Audio-visual lessons

Lesson objectives

  1. To realise the impact of the media on our decision-making
  2. To differentiate and decipher media messages
  3. To keep oneself from being manipulated

Did the managers of the most powerful social media know it had been used to affect the US presidential election? Some theories claim that Facebook not only knew but even profited from fake news relating to the election of Donald Trump. This short documentary aims to explore the centre of fake news – Macedonia, where there is a so-called clickbait coach, Mirko Ceselkoski, who teaches people how to create content that looks trustworthy. Also, he shows them how to attract Americans to this questionable content. According to him, there are two key components in each viral hit: a shocking title and a picture. For Macedonians, fake news can be a fast way to make money. They are not quite preoccupied with ethics, as one of them claims that he can “write anything that Americans want to hear”. The film depicts real causes connected to fake news because of the power of social media. It also warns about elections in 2020. 

 

 You can turn on English subtitles for this video. 

Recommended age group

14—21 years

Thematic area

Výuka jazyků

Theme

Angličtina / English

Teaching materials

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Deciphering a media message

Activity / B1+ / 90 min

Students will: 

  • Practise vocabulary related to media and online space 
  • Read for general information 
  • Critically think about the influence of media messages

 

Questions and Answers

Informational texts

  • How Facebook advertising works 
  • How social networks and media influence elections
  • What social networks do to stop the spread of fake news 

UPDATED: How to reflect on emotions after the film screening

Informational texts

  • Why is it important to reflect on emotions?
  • Basic methods of reflection
  • From reflection to discussion

Jak pracovat s audiovizuálními materiály

  • instruktážní film
  • rady a doporučení
  • manuál
  • obecné aktivity

Accompanying and recommended materials

Why do people troll and what can you do about it?

BBC article on the topic of trolling.

How to Identify a Troll on Social Media?

Article provoding tips on how to spot a troll on social media.

Lesson partners