SIGNATURE WORK
CONFERENCE & EXHIBITION 2023

As the use of social media continues to grow, so do concerns about its impact on society. Social media algorithms are designed to keep users engaged by presenting them with content that matches their previous online behavior, leading to the filter bubble effect. This can limit critical thinking and lead to problems such as the spread of misinformation, political polarization, and social unrest. To address these issues, the author created a card game called Social Media, which aims to encourage players to think from different perspectives and engage in critical discussion. The game’s themes reflect real-world social controversies that occur on social media platforms, enabling players to understand how social media works and to become more critical consumers of information. To some extent, Social Media can help players reflect on their real-life social media behavior and build empathy for others. The game can also serve as an educational tool to address societal challenges posed by filter bubbles. This paper details the author’s process of researching, designing, developing, playtesting, and analyzing the serious game Social Media in order to explore game design and development as a possible method for educating users about appropriate social media behavior.