This page is really a draft. We have started working on it to help with questions we’ve been receiving on how to wade through the increasing noise of today’s media. We hope you’ll have your own favourites to add in the comments. Let’s dig in together, and make a useful resource!
* Media literacy – fact checking resources
Government of Canada: Online Disinformation — tips and tools to spot disinformation, advice on countering disinformation.
The Canadian Press Fact-Checking Initiative: many topics
AFP Canada Fact Check: A branch of Agence France-Presse focusing on global and Canadian misinformation
We’d like to thank Paul Newell, who submitted the following useful article for this section: Exhausted by the news? Here are 6 strategies to stay informed without getting overwhelmed − or misled by misinformation
* Social media – what are the risks?
BlueSky
BlueSky is the newest of the popular platforms, and although it has fewer features than some of the others, it is increasing in popularity. BlueSky decentralizes content management and moderation, giving users more control over their data and interactions. Users can customize their algorithms, tailoring their feeds to specific interests or preferences. (1) Features like custom feeds, adjustable interaction settings, and modular moderation allow for a highly personalized experience. See this page for a comparison of BlueSky and X/Twitter.
Facebook/Instagram
Here’s how to change your settings on Facebook to make your account less profitable for them and reduce the number of organizations that track you.
In response to Canada’s Online News Act (Bill C-18), which requires platforms to compensate news outlets for shared content, Facebook blocked access to Canadian news links starting in August 2023. This decision has been criticized as “dangerous” and “reckless,” particularly during emergencies like wildfires, where timely access to local news is critical. The news blackout has disrupted the flow of credible information, forcing Canadians to rely on less direct methods like screenshots or alternative platforms to access news updates (2)
There does seem to be a move away from Facebook (3) considered the most toxic social media platform by 40% of Canadians, significantly ahead of Instagram (12%). (4)
X/Twitter poses dangers for Canadians. It has become a hub for misinformation, hate speech, and election interference, with reduced content moderation amplifying harmful narratives. The platform has been linked to privacy concerns, including the use of Canadians’ personal data for AI training without proper oversight. Additionally, X has been used to spread fake ads impersonating trusted Canadian institutions like the CBC, luring users into scams. These issues are compounded by its role in promoting divisive political rhetoric and foreign influence campaigns targeting Canadian sovereignty. (5) (6)
(1) https://www.socialpilot.co/blog/twitter-vs-bluesky
(2) https://www.cbc.ca/radio/sunday/canadian-media-news-meta-facebook-1.6939274
(5) https://thetyee.ca/Opinion/2025/03/07/X-Threatens-Our-Democracy-Canada-Should-Ban-It/
