We conducted an experimental demonstration of the Healthy Internet Project (HIP) plugin in collaboration with UNDP Accelerator Lab Kenya and the HIP initiative incubated at TED. The plugin, an open-source browser extension, allows users to flag online content, aiming to counter falsehoods and negativity while promoting valuable ideas. The experiment sought to understand user motivations and behaviors in flagging misinformation through a volunteer-driven platform.

In the experiment involving 205 onboarded users, only 128 engaged with the platform, with most falling into the Low Flagging Group, submitting fewer than five flags. User perceptions revealed concerns about subjectivity, potential harm, and personal risk associated with flagging negative content, particularly political material. User accuracy was compromised as “misinformation” was often linked to negative sentiment rather than actual falsehoods.