Solve the Story Episode 4: The Counter
With the rumours spreading and emotions running high, Misha reaches breaking point. Misha, Sam and Aaron post their own video, explaining what really happened exposing the deepfake.
When the video finally goes live, the reaction is immediate. Support floods in, but not everyone is happy.
SAM: Previously on Solve The Story…
INFLUENCER: It feels like this whole thing isn't dying down anytime soon and looks like the skate park might even get shut down on the back of it.
MISHA: Why are they posting this?
AARON: This girl is the queen of clickbait.
MISHA: It's not true.
SAM: Stuck in an echo chamber. The only way out is to look at something else, yeah?
AARON: They're doing it for the money.
SAM: It's Aaron. He's found something from the American Influencer.
(INTRIGUING MUSIC)
AARON: All these posts are just stirring up drama. First it's the library, then the town hall, the pool, some random football pitch, and now the skate park. Mish, it was never about you. They're just using you to get people mad at the park.
SAM: But why is Mish involved?
AARON: It's just about causing drama and getting paid for it.
(EXASPERATED CHUCKLE)
MISHA: This is so messed up. We're just sitting here, not doing anything. I need to actually do something. What? What are you looking at?
(TENSE MUSIC)(MESSAGE BLEEPS)
SAM: Uh-oh! What's this?
(MESSAGE BLEEPS)
AARON: I'm on it. Okay, we've got an idea. We're really worried about you, Mish. We think you need to post something to show everyone what's really been happening.
MISHA: That's what I was trying to do.
SAM: Yeah, but Mish, all you posted just backed up the fake story. It made you look quite angry, like the kind of person that would do what the video shows, at least in other people's minds.
AARON: Let's report all the fake accounts. It's easy to do and we can get rid of some of them.
MISHA: Why bother? It's all out there. We take it off one channel, it's just going to pop up on another.
AARON: You're right, so we need to take control back.
SAM: How do we do that though?
MISHA: We make our own video that tells the truth.
SAM: Yeah, it's a great idea. We need your help again. What do you think we should include in the video? Pick three things from the list that will help us make a video that people believe.
(PENSIVE MUSIC)
MISHA: Guys, I feel sick. I'm so angry. I just want people to know what's really been happening and how anxious it's made me.
AARON: Let's make something slick. A video that walks people through the whole thing, like a true crime documentary. I can present, we'll lay out the facts and let the truth reveal itself.
SAM: I think we need to focus on the deepfake itself. You know, break it down, show everyone how it was made, the tricks they used to fake it. Then we can dive into the bots, the comments, who's really been posting.
MISHA: I'm the one in the video, so we should do it my way.
SAM: And what's that then?
MISHA: I don't know, something that proves to everyone that it isn't me.
AARON: We have to keep our cool.
SAM: Aaron's right, Mish. Emotion's good, but too much, and people are going to start to question you.
MISHA: It's the truth.
SAM: We've got to stick to the facts.
AARON: We have to make it slick so people will actually watch it.
MISHA: Being real is more important.
AARON: I've made loads of videos before.
SAM: I know what works online.
MISHA: Stop! We need to work together.
(INTRIGUING MUSIC)
SAM: Ready when you are, Mish.
MISHA: Just over a week ago, my world was turned upside down. What'd you say?.. What'd you say? A video of me was posted online. Delete it and back off. But what if everything you saw in that video was a lie? What'd you say? What'd you say? My name is Misha, but this isn't me. You'd better be filming. The video is a deep fake and we've been trying to get to the bottom of who posted it and why.
AARON: The original post has been deleted, so we have no idea who initially sent the video. Since then, it's been on a feed full of clickbait, just to stir drama and to gain likes and followers.
SAM: The story has thousands of comments and shares. I've checked all the comments and over 90% of them come from bots or fake accounts.
MISHA: We haven't got all the answers yet but we're getting closer to finding out the truth. So, if anyone knows anything, just please drop a comment. And if you see the video, just ignore it. Not everything you see posted online is real.
SAM: Look. It's blowing up.
AARON: But there's a few negative comments coming in, too.
MISHA: Wait a minute. They're all from the same account.
SAM: You're right. Called, 'The Swerve'.
AARON: Let's look them up.
SAM: It seems like The Swerve, whatever that is, is involved in all this, so we need your help to find out how. Head to the Other Side of the Story website and watch the, How to See a Website's Hidden Code, video. Then, analyse The Swerve source code and see if you can spot any clues.
(FUNKY MUSIC)
Episode takeaways
In this episode, you will learn how to:
- Understand how tone, emotion, and evidence affect credibility
- Learn what makes an online response authentic and trustworthy
Key points to think about:
- Is it better to respond to online attacks or to stay silent? Why?
- How can strong emotions change how others perceive your message?
- What makes you trust one video or post over another?
How to: See a website's hidden code
Think all websites work the same way? Think again. Every website is built differently, and some are designed to do more than you realise.
In this video, you’ll learn how to view a website’s source code and use it to spot hidden clues about how a website really works.
(MUSIC)
JAMES: How to see a website's hidden code.
Think all websites are created the same? Think again.
Each one is programmed to do different things and there's an easy way to check whether the one that you're using is above board or a little bit underhand.
Go to any web page, right click on a blank area and select, “View page source”.
A new tab will open, showing a wall of code. Don't worry, you don't need to understand it all.
Press Ctrl + F on Windows or Cmd + F on a Mac to bring up a search bar.
Now, you can search for keywords. For example, you could search for comments to find hidden notes that developers left for each other, or look for specific words to see how they're used behind the scenes.
You could search for “Sponsored” or “Ad” to see if the content you're reading is secretly paid promotion.
You could look for “Tracking” to see if the site is following what you click or view, or you could check for “Redirect” or “Script”to see if the site is sending you somewhere unexpected in the background.
If you're on a site and keep seeing the same content, or wondering why certain things keep appearing, this is a simple trick to help you see what's happening behind the code.
(MUSIC)
If you want to look deeper into a website:
- Right-click on a blank part of the page and select “View Page Source”*
- Press Ctrl+F (Windows) or Cmd+F (Mac) to search for keywords
*May not be supported in all browsers
If a website keeps showing you the same content or something feels off, this quick check can help you understand what’s happening behind the scenes and make more informed choices about what you trust online.
Classroom film: Creating online content
Online content doesn’t just inform – it influences. Every post, video, or re-post is shaped by choices including language, editing, tone, and purpose, which can affect how authentic or trustworthy it feels.
In today’s digital world, creators also have ethical and legal responsibilities, as content can impact audiences in unintended ways. Understanding how and why content is made helps students think more critically about what they share, how it might be received, and the potential consequences of their actions online.
Watch this video to find out more about creating online content.
You can find more teacher notes and classroom resources on our Bitesize for Teachers Solve the Story page.
JAMES: Every time you post a video, a story or an online comment, you become a content creator.
You have the power to make someone laugh, teach them something new or share your passion with the world. But with that power comes responsibility.
(MUSIC)
Today, we're exploring the ethics of creating content, understanding your influence and thinking about the impact your digital footprint can have.
This is a vital part of helping you to navigate the online world safely and be a positive digital citizen. Let's start by thinking about what feels real.
A highly polished video isn't necessarily more trustworthy, as it could have been created using multiple takes and edited to present a particular view.
Authenticity is a huge part of content creation. Something that feels real is not always true. Authenticity can be fake too. But beyond style, every creator has two responsibilities: ethical and legal.
The content you make has the ability to influence how people think and feel, both positively and negatively. It's crucial to understand your audience and the potential impact of your words and images.
You must also remember that anything you post online can be saved, shared or changed, and once it's out there, you lose all control over what other people do with it.
Once it's out there, it's out there forever.
This carries serious risks, especially when it comes to sharing images of other people.
Sharing images or videos of others without their consent, even if it seems harmless, can break the law.
Online actions have real world consequences. You're going to create an authenticity meter.
Design a checklist or a scale to rate how real a piece of content feels. Think about the criteria. Is the language natural? Is the editing style obvious?
Does the emotional tone seem genuine? Does it feel like the creator actually cares about how people might feel, watching this?
(METER)
Your authenticity meter is a brilliant tool for thinking critically about the media you consume and create.
Being a creator comes with ethical duties. It's really important to understand your audience and your influence, and be aware that anything you share can stay online forever.
Always think before you post. What will the audience think about what you're sharing? And will you be happy that this piece of content is online next year, or even in ten years’ time?
By being a responsible and authentic creator, you can use your voice to have a positive impact in the digital world.
