Max Bell School of Public Policy - Media Ecosystem Observatory News

Children & Youth Technology Policy | Centre for Media, Technology and Democracy

UUֱ�� — Tue, 16 Nov 2021 19:19:04 +0000

Over the last year, the Max Bell School's Centre for Media, Technology and Democracy been building out a research program on kids & tech to explore a range of policy implications related to data governance and children's rights, ed-tech, school surveillance, targeted ads, kids content, gender and mental health.

Learn more about the Centre's innovative research.

Canadians will see less politics on Facebook during election | CBC News

UUֱ�� — Wed, 18 Aug 2021 16:17:32 +0000

August 18, 2021 | Facebook and other social media companies have done a lot over the past five years to address the problem of their platforms' being used by bad actors to influence elections or spread misinformation. However, they still have a way to go. The Media Ecosystems Observatory's Aengus Bridgman comments on the steps Facebook is taking to prevent their platform from being misused during the federal election campaign.

UUֱ�� Launches Canadian Election Misinformation Project

UUֱ�� — Wed, 18 Aug 2021 13:57:26 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Understanding vaccine hesitancy in Canada: attitudes, beliefs, and the information ecosystem

UUֱ�� — Tue, 05 Jan 2021 21:21:29 +0000

December 2020 | This new report by the Media Ecosystem Observatory looks into vaccine hesitancy in Canada in the lead-up to the development of a vaccine. Key findings included that 65% of Canadians intend to take a vaccine, and that the best opportunity to reach those who are unsure is to address important concerns around the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine.

Read the report.

A Rare Moment of Cross-Partisan Consensus: Elite and Public Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic in Canada | Canadian Journal of Political Science

UUֱ�� — Thu, 21 May 2020 16:24:30 +0000

April 16, 2020 | The COVID-19 pandemic has placed nearly unprecedented pressure on policymakers and citizens alike. Effectively containing the pandemic requires a societal consensus. However, a long line of research in political science has told us that polarization tends to occur on highly salient topics because partisans “follow the leader.” Elite consensus is thus essential to fight the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada.

The Causes and Consequences of COVID-19 Misperceptions: Understanding the Role of News and Social Media | OSF Preprints

UUֱ�� — Thu, 21 May 2020 16:17:11 +0000

May 4, 2020 | This research investigates the relationship between media consumption, misinformation, and important attitudes and behaviours during the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada. Professor Taylor Owen, co-author of this article, finds that comparatively more misinformation circulates on social media platforms, while traditional news media tend to reinforce public health recommendations like social distancing.

Anti-intellectualism and Information Preferences during the COVID-19 Pandemic | OSF Preprints

UUֱ�� — Thu, 21 May 2020 16:11:07 +0000

May 14, 2020 | The COVID-19 pandemic necessitates widespread voluntary and sustained public compliance with expert-guided public health directives, like social or physical distancing. Understanding which citizens seek out and engage with expert messages regarding COVID-19 is thus of central importance. Anti-intellectualism - the generalized distrust of experts and intellectuals – is likely to be a dominant factor. This article, co-written by Professor Taylor Owen, investigates the associations between anti-intellectualism and COVID-19 risk perceptions and social distancing compliance.

Prospective Economic Costs Undermine Expectations of Social Distancing | OSF Preprints

UUֱ�� — Thu, 21 May 2020 16:01:48 +0000

May 20, 2020 | The COVID-19 pandemic has placed an extraordinary burden on governments and citizens alike. In order to contain the spread of the pandemic and limit its effect on health care systems, citizens have been asked to forego social and economic activity to protect others at a tremendous cost to themselves.