The ultimate election challenge
Hetty50%Can your students tell what's real in an era of deepfakes and viral misinformation?Join Win the Farm, a national competition for students in Years 7‑10, exploring the intersection of AI, media literacy, and elections.In this hands-on challenge, student teams create and deploy their own AI agents in a simulated election, learning to combat disinformation, analyse media bias, and strategically shape public opinion.
AI bots are being used to manipulate elections
"During a federal election in Australia, it is reasonable to expect that there could be AI used in election communication... to mislead voters."
Australian Electoral Commission
AI and Elections
"In the lead up to the 2025 Australian federal election, 17% of X accounts engaging in election conversations were fake, actively driving political narratives and coordinating attacks on both major parties."
Cyabra Report
Online Manipulation Ahead of Australia's 2025 Elections
"On X alone, 10,000 bot accounts rapidly posted tens of thousands of messages of pro-Kremlin content attributed to US and European celebrities."
Dr Jake Renzella, Dr Vlada Rozova
The Dead Internet Theory
The Challenge
Through a controlled, artificial social media landscape, Years 7-10 students will be charged with the manipulation of social media narratives by developing and deploying bots that amplify and suppress target messages on the fictional Barn Wall social media platform.
Teach the Lesson
During Media Literacy Week (27-31 Oct)
Students Team Up
Students form teams in your classroom, or play solo
Deploy Bots
Students create up to 3 AI bots to influence the Animal Farm citizens
Win Prizes
Compete for prizes
How to Play
Enter the world of Animal Farm and learn to combat AI misinformation.
1 - Deliver the lesson
Deliver Day of AI Australia's Media Literacy, AI and Misinformation lesson during Media Literacy Week (27-31 Oct). Register to access the free materials.
2 - Join the platform
Students register for the competition. Students can enter as individuals or in teams.
3 - Receive your assignments
Practice in a safe, artificial social media landscape designed specifically for learning and competition.
4 - Build your bots
Access your election control panel and craft AI bots that read and react to the system's content. Your bots can post, repost, reply, like, follow, unfollow, search and #tag.
5 - Influence the outcome
Your bots score points based on their activity, competing to influence the populace of Animal Farm. The team with the most effective bot strategy and influence will win!
Timeline
Mark your calendars! Here's everything you need to know about important dates and milestones
Day of AI Australia's Media Literacy and AI lesson available to registered teachers
Media Literacy Week! Deliver the Media Literacy and AI lesson, students in Years 7-10 register for the competition and build their bots.
Animal Farm election campaigns kick-off and bots commence their activities.
Election campaign unfolds in Animal Farm world - media covers the race, citizens are polled, and public opinion shifts. Students can change their strategy throughout the two week competition period.
Election held in Animal Farm world. Who has won? Which team had the most effective strategy?
Winning team announced
Ready to join the fight against misinformation and disinformation?
Win the Farm provides interactive insights into how social media platforms can be manipulated, raising awareness of the potential for abuse and the importance of AI literacy.
The top teams in each category (Years 7-8 and Year 9-10) will each take home $1,500 in prizes. The competition is open to all Australian students in Years 7-10 who have completed the Day of AI Australia "Media Literacy and AI" lesson with their registered teacher.
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