As “A Minecraft Movie” smashes box office records, Seattle researchers are riding the wave to help kids navigate something a little trickier than Creepers — disinformation.
The film, which premiered April 4, had a record-breaking opening weekend, grossing $157 million in the U.S. and Canada and $301 million globally. That makes it the biggest opening for a video game adaptation ever, far surpassing expectations.
Now, with so much buzz in the air, educators and parents have a chance to connect the game many kids love with essential media literacy skills. Enter: “Starbound Secrets: Down the Rabbit Hole.”
The game hopes to help kids with essential media literacy skills. (Image courtesy foundry10)
Developed by University of Washington Kids’ Team and local education research organization foundry10, Starbound Secrets is an escape-room-style adventure video game for kids ages 10-15. It teaches players how to spot misleading information, and make smarter decisions online.
Set in Minecraft world, players follow a group of friends looking for a cure for their friend — until they’re derailed by alien conspiracy theories and conflicting sources. As they explore, players are challenged to question what they read and hear, and to distinguish fact from fiction using logic and teamwork.
The game dives into what researchers call the “rabbit hole effect” — how one innocent click online can spiral into a flood of unreliable information.
One “innocent” click is all it can take somtimes. (Image courtesy foundry10)
“Starbound Secrets is designed to not only entertain but also to educate kids on how to recognize and handle disinformation in their everyday lives,” said Travis Windleharth, a senior researcher at foundry10. “With disinformation becoming an ever-growing challenge, especially for younger audiences, our goal is to foster critical thinking and equip kids with the tools to make informed decisions.”
The game was recently showcased at Seattle’s Pacific Science Center and is now available for free through Minecraft Education. The downloadable game kit includes facilitation guides, puzzles, and activities to help players connect scenarios from the game, to their own real-life digital experiences.
So parents, if your kids are begging for more Minecraft after the movie, here’s a chance to lean in — with a purpose.
