The digital age has given us amazing access to information, but it’s also let in a flood of disinformation. With Meta blocking news content in Canada, the spread of fake and misleading info has skyrocketed, leaving a dangerous media vacuum. The right-wing has organized itself to take advantage of this, weaponizing relatable memes to load people into a right-wing radicalization pipeline. Without truthful and legitimate news to at least somewhat counter this, Facebook has transformed into a disinformation farm.  

Social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram have become the go-to spots for news for most people. But these platforms are also hotbeds for spreading fake news. The algorithms that run these sites love sensational, emotionally charged, or controversial content because it gets the most engagement. This means that fake news spreads like wildfire, while real, nuanced reporting gets buried. 

In Canada, things have gotten worse since Meta, Facebook’s parent company, blocked news content. This came after the government decided that media platforms should pay news agencies for their content. With legitimate news sources being banned, the space has been taken over by misinformation, making it even harder for people to find accurate news. 

News agencies are working to adapt to the changing media landscape, but unfortunately lagging far behind where they need to be. With print media subscriptions being effectively a thing of the past, they face challenges in utilizing online tools to reach consumers. Having previously adapted to the social media era, they have had the rug pulled out from under them by having those tools made obsolete. This shift has created a media environment where misinformation can spread, while credible news sources strive to connect with their audiences. Independent journalists and smaller media organizations have used platforms like Substack and Patreon to build followings and raise funds. These new players offer valuable content, though they also lack a direct connection to consumers. 

Direct contact with audiences has become more important than ever and is making a strong comeback. While social media can complicate interactions, brands are now focusing on collecting email addresses and phone numbers for direct communication. From influencers to local businesses, everyone aims to cut through the noise of social platforms to connect with their audience personally. Effective social media content should encourage offline engagement, prompting users to share their contact details for a more direct connection. 

Direct contact is also the best way for us to keep in touch.

Disinformation is often spread through shared articles, memes, and videos that are designed to look credible but contain false or misleading information. These posts can range from outright fabrications to subtle distortions of the truth, making it difficult for the average user to discern fact from fiction. 

In the absence of credible news sources, individuals turn to alternative media outlets that have less rigorous fact-checking standards. This creates a feedback loop where disinformation is continuously circulated, gaining credibility simply through repetition. 

Disinformation actors build a loyal following by using relatable memes and seemingly innocent content that seamlessly blend into everyday conversations, creating trust and engagement. As soon as someone follows for more relatable memes, they are hit with progressively more misleading or extreme content. 

Disinformation doesn’t just misinform; it can also radicalize. When people are repeatedly exposed to false information that preys on their pre-existing beliefs or fears, they are more likely to accept it as truth. This is particularly dangerous when the disinformation is politically charged or divisive. 

In Canada, right-wing meme pages and media organizations have capitalized on this environment. They follow the right-wing internet radicalization pipeline: using innocent memes and clickbait to attract followers, gradually introducing them to more extreme viewpoints. Over time, this can lead to radicalization, where individuals adopt increasingly extreme beliefs and are more likely to take action based on those beliefs. 

Meta’s decision to block news content in Canada has significantly contributed to this problem. By creating a media vacuum, the policy has inadvertently allowed disinformation to flourish. Without reliable news sources, people are left to navigate a landscape filled with misleading information and propaganda. 

In this vacuum, fake ads and misleading posts have become more common. For example, there have been instances where ads falsely presented themselves as being from reputable news sources like the CBC. This further erodes trust in media and makes it more challenging for people to find accurate information. 

One of the few ways that news gets through on Facebook in Canada is by paid placement. The above ad was approved to run on Facebook, despite that it is objectively fake news and fraudulently mispresenting itself to be from CBC News, when it very much is not.  

Addressing this issue requires government regulation. Governments need to take an active role in holding social media platforms accountable for the content they host, particularly disinformation. At the very least, platforms should be mandated to thoroughly vet advertisements and paid placements to ensure they are not misleading and to verify the authenticity of the advertisers. Regulations should encourage transparency and accountability in how news and information are shared online, ensuring that social media companies take responsibility for preventing the spread of false and harmful content. 

The ongoing deadlock between Facebook and news media in Canada needs a resolution. The federal government and Meta remain firm in their stances, making progress impossible. Meta is unwilling to pay for content on its platform, while the federal government opposes Meta’s profit from news without compensation to news agencies, especially when those same agencies are struggling to stay open. Both parties have valid arguments in isolation, but neither side is willing to compromise. 

The federal government should take the lead by revisiting its digital media regulations and collaborating with Meta to restore news publishing in Canada. This doesn’t mean yielding to Meta’s demands. The government could explore alternatives such as licenses, taxes, or other methods to ensure Meta compensates for the news content it benefits from. If the government remains inflexible, it shares responsibility with Meta for the news blackout. It’s time for the government to be the grown up in the room and negotiate — or impose — another solution.

This is so important because in Canada there is no meaningful alternative for social platforms. Meta owns Facebook, Instagram, and Threads and applies their policies to each. The other social media platforms are either not set up for news stories or, in the case of Twitter, have transformed into a weird X, a misogynistic and hateful hellscape filled with fragile masculinity, peacocking with hatred to prove their place in the group. 

The principal benefactor of the status quo is the political-right. This kind of radical reactionary, fact-free, and emotionally charged ecosystem we live in is no problem for the political right. It fosters their voices while removing the voices of the left, who rely on established facts and legitimate sources. They are also organized, with everything from media organizations, training centers for prospective politicians and staff, campaign organizations, and thinktanks. While these institutions certainly exist to varying degrees on the left, they are not as organized, numerous, or effective.  

Until we have a vibrant environment of progressive media organizations, research institutes, campaign organizations, and  other infrastructure, we are handing the right a permanent structural advantage.