# Discussion Prompts Answer Key This answer key supports the [Rumor Impact Talk Guide](#rumor-impact-talk) by providing facilitation notes, sample responses, and key takeaways for each discussion question. Use these notes to guide the conversation, validate participant input, and ensure core learning objectives are met. --- ## Question 1: Have you ever encountered a rumor about yourself or someone you know online? What happened? Facilitation Notes: - Purpose: Personalize the concept of rumor-spreading and surface emotional reactions. - Encourage one‐voice‐at‐a‐time; affirm each contribution. Sample Responses: - “Someone posted that I cheated on a test. I felt embarrassed and couldn’t focus for days.” - “My friend was removed from our group chat and didn’t know why. She felt confused and left out.” - “I heard a rumor that a colleague said something mean about me in private—turned out it was false, but it damaged our trust.” Teacher Probes: - “How did the person targeted find out, and what was their immediate reaction?” - “What did observers do—did anyone step in to help?” Key Takeaways: - Rumors often leave targets feeling anxious, isolated, and mistrustful. - Bystanders play a critical role: silence can feel like complicity, while intervention can halt spread.

## Question 2: What are some reasons people might spread or believe a rumor on social platforms? Facilitation Notes: - Purpose: Identify underlying motivations (social, emotional, cognitive). - Normalize that rumors tap into common biases. Sample Responses: - “Seeking attention or social status—spreading gossip makes you seem ‘in the know.’” - “Misunderstanding or misreading tone—people assume the worst without checking.” - “Groupthink or peer pressure: if everyone else believes it, it must be true.” Teacher Probes: - “How might anonymity or distance online amplify these motivations?” - “Where have you seen fact-checking or a ‘pause and think’ prompt work effectively?” Key Takeaways: - Common drivers include desire for social capital, confirmation bias, and lack of context. - Introducing simple fact-checking routines (e.g., “take a breath, verify source”) can disrupt rumor cycles.

## Question 3: What are the immediate and lasting impacts of rumor-spreading on an individual’s digital wellbeing? Facilitation Notes: - Purpose: Link behaviors to emotional and behavioral outcomes. - Highlight that indirect harms can be as damaging as direct insults. Sample Responses: - Immediate: anxiety, blush of shame, panic about online presence. - Lasting: withdrawal from online communities, avoidance of social media, lowered self-esteem. - Behavioral: reluctance to post, distrust of peers, hyper-vigilance in chats. Teacher Probes: - “How might someone’s posting patterns change after being gossiped about?” - “Why do you think subtle harms are harder for observers to spot?” Key Takeaways: - Rumors can trigger cycles of anxiety and isolation that erode trust over time. - Because there’s no direct insult, others may minimize the impact—raising need for awareness.

## Question 4: As a group, what are two concrete steps we can take when we see a rumor spreading? Facilitation Notes: - Purpose: Move from reflection to action. - Encourage specificity: Who, what, when, and how? Sample Responses: 1. “Privately message the target to offer support and verify facts.” 2. “Post a calm, factual clarification in the group and ask members to pause sharing.” 3. “Enlist an ally—someone with influence in the group—to co-sign the correction.” 4. “Report or flag posts that break platform guidelines on harassment.” Teacher Probes: - “Who in your network could help amplify the correction?” - “How can you frame a public response to avoid escalating the conflict?” Key Takeaways: - Combining private outreach with a public correction balances empathy and transparency. - Mobilizing allies increases credibility and reach of the accurate information.

## Question 5: How can we proactively build an online culture that resists rumors and supports inclusion? Facilitation Notes: - Purpose: Establish shared norms and preventive rituals. - Anchor back to session objectives: prevent indirect harms. Sample Responses: - “Set group guidelines: no forwarding unverified info; tag the source.” - “Implement brief ‘check-in’ rituals at the start of chats—share wins and concerns.” - “Rotate a ‘digital wellness champion’ who reminds everyone about kindness standards.” - “Use a dedicated channel for fact-checking questions before rumors take off.” Teacher Probes: - “What simple ritual could you commit to this week?” - “How will you remind each other to uphold these norms?” Key Takeaways: - Proactive norms (e.g., regular check-ins, fact-check channels) build trust and slow rumor momentum. - Accountability rituals—like a weekly digital wellbeing check—reinforce inclusive behaviors. --- End of Discussion Prompts Answer Key

Dylan Jacobs

1 Lessons

Invisible Wounds

1 Lessons

Invisible Wounds