VISUAL DESIGN PROJECT

#PauseThePost Campaign

Empowering Young Audiences to Stop the Spread of Misinformation Online.

Overview

A digital awareness campaign focused on combating the spread of social media misinformation by targeting young adults (ages 16–24). The goal of this personal project is to empower users by introducing a moment of friction before sharing potentially false content, reinforcing the message that users have the power to stop false stories from rippling into real-world harm.

Company

Personal Project

Skills

Brand Design

Design Thinking

Visual Communication

Tools

Adobe Illustrator

Adobe Photoshop

Figma

Timeline

1 week

May 2025

THE PROBLEM SPACE

When False Information Spreads Faster Than the Truth

In today’s post-truth era, misinformation travels rapidly across social platforms and influences real-world actions. Young users rely heavily on social media for news, leading them to feel overwhelmed and unsure how to evaluate what they see.

My was not just to inform, but to directly trigger a behavioral call to action: Think critically before reposting or sharing.

Most programs and platforms provide resources or one-off guidance, but struggle to implement the right environment where authentic exploration and sustained connections can blossom into career confidence.

This pointed towards an opportunity that directly aligned with Snapchat's core mission of opening the camera to enhance relationships through self expression, learning, and play:

My was not just to inform, but to directly trigger a behavioral call to action: Think critically before reposting or sharing.

“How can I encourage young users to pause and verify before reposting misinformation, without sounding preachy or judgmental?"

RESEARCH & STRATEGY

Validating the Problem Through Facts

The critical insight is the speed of social media sharing, with algorithms rewarding engagement and creating a loop where users prioritize reaction and speed over verification and accuracy.

01

Faster Than Facts

False news spreads 6x faster than real news (MIT). Algorithms prioritize engagement, enabling fake stories to overwhelm facts before they can be checked.

MIT Initiative on the Digital Economy, The Spread of True and False News Online, Science (2018).

False news spreads 6x faster than real news (MIT). Algorithms prioritize engagement, enabling fake stories to overwhelm facts before they can be checked.

MIT Initiative on the Digital Economy, The Spread of True and False News Online, Science (2018).

02

News is Social

53% of U.S. adults get news from social media (Pew Research), meaning large volumes of unverified content are directly shaping public understanding.

Pew Research Center, Social Media and News Fact Sheet, (2023).

53% of U.S. adults get news from social media (Pew Research), meaning large volumes of unverified content are directly shaping public understanding.

Pew Research Center, Social Media and News Fact Sheet, (2023).

03

Erosion of Trust

What starts as a viral post can have dangerous real-world consequences, such as the Pizzagate shooting incident which stemmed from a digital lie.

BBC News Trending, The "pizzagate" shooting, (2016).

Analyzing the Target Audience

This campaign primarily targets young adults (ages 16-24) who are avid social media users. While the campaign serves to educate the public about the consequences of misinformation and media literacy, it particularly focuses on the young demographic who interact more actively on social media platforms.

Behavioral Qualities

Design Implication

Emotionally Responsive

Highly empathetic and quick to react to emotionally charged content or provocative headlines.

Speaking Their Language

Bold and direct visuals that resonate with the digital experience.

Overwhelmed Sharer

While aware of misinformation on the internet, they are overwhelmed by the volume of content, leading to fast shares over verification.

Empowering Action

Framing the core message around personal power rather than blame to resonate with desire for positive impact.

Desire for Truth

They want to be seen as informed and responsible, but want verification tools that are quick and accessible.

Targeting the Moment

Placing the campaign directly in social feeds and high-traffic areas to force the mental interruption where they need it most.

THE DESIGN SYSTEM

Creating the Brand Identity

Before diving into the final designs, I created a simple branding template for the campaign. I chose the overall palette and style to include high-contrast elements to establish an immediate, authoritative presence that empowers the user to act.

FINAL DESIGNS

Social Media Carousel

Multi-panel social media carousel design to disrupt the user's habitual scroll flow and prompt a moment of reflection. By mimicking the way content is consumed, it visually educates users about the how misinformation spreads and its consequences, delivering a call-to-action.

High-Traffic Billboard

A large-scale public statement that visually reinforces the core message of the campaign. Using high contrast and bold typography ensured that the message stays legible in a fleeting view.