Beetrap-MC: A Minecraft-Based AI Literacy Tool for Teaching Filter Bubbles to Middle School Students

Abstract

Recommendation systems shape much of what people, including youth, encounter online, influencing their exposure to information and ideas. Understanding their workings and potential downsides, such as filter bubbles, is increasingly important. At the same time, Minecraft remains one of the most popular and accessible game platforms among students worldwide, making it a promising medium for AI literacy outreach. Building on a previous in-person augmented reality application called BeeTrap, in which players, acting as bees, pollinate flowers and see how similar choices narrow their environment, we created BeeTrap-MC, a Minecraft-based version aimed at broader reach and accessibility. Unlike the original facilitator-led group workshop, BeeTrap-MC is designed for students individual playthrough. We conducted a study with nine middle school participants, using pre-/post-assessments and qualitative interviews to evaluate its effectiveness. Results showed significant learning gains in key AI concepts, such as understanding filter bubbles and their consequences. We also discuss key differences in design, usability and outcomes between BeeTrap-MC and the original, reflecting on trade-offs in adapting a group-based embodied experience into a shorter, self-guided digital format.