The course is completely free and consists of four modules that can be completed from a computer, mobile phone, or tablet. Between April and June, the four modules will be released, each made up of short explanatory videos and a quiz to test your knowledge. To take the course, users must complete a simple registration process.
The full course is designed to be completed in 90 minutes. Here is what you will learn in each module.
How to tell different types of digital content apart
The first part of the MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) helps us better identify online and social media advertising and understand that not everything we see on the internet is information: there is opinion content, entertainment, humor, and more, and it is not always easy to tell the difference.
What hoaxes are and how to recognize them
In the second module, we look at the different types of disinformation we may encounter and how they spread. Hoaxes can reach us as manipulated images, WhatsApp audios, fake tweets, and more, because a hoax is not only something that looks like a news story, which is why at Maldita.es we do not like to use the expression “fake news”. This section also explains the importance of critical thinking and how to train it.
Verify using simple tools
Do you want to check suspicious content yourself? The third module is full of tips and tools to help you do it. The first step is to pay close attention to details, and we explain this with real examples. You will also learn how to trace suspicious images (including those generated by artificial intelligence) and how to check whether a striking tweet was actually published.
Watch out for phishing and online scams
You know those suspicious emails or SMS messages that supposedly come from a bank or a delivery company? They are often scam attempts (phishing), and although we may recognize some of them, scammers use many different strategies to try to trick us. That is why the last module of this course reviews the different types of phishing and the key signs to recognize and avoid it. We also explain what to do if you get scammed, because it can happen to anyone and it is important to know how to react.
This project was developed by Maldita.es at the request of Orange Digital Center, which aims to provide its users with tools and content to create healthier digital environments.