iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Media Ecosystem Observatory @meo-cdmrn.bsky.social · 26/01/2026

You can continue to explore our work at meo.ca, and cdmrn.ca for information incident and elections monitoring.

Media Ecosystem Observatory @meo-cdmrn.bsky.social · 26/01/2026

Last Fall, MEO joined the Centre for Media, Technology and Democracy under one unified banner. We will continue producing cutting-edge research on information ecosystem health, and our original data and research will support the Centre's policy work.

111

Media Ecosystem Observatory @meo-cdmrn.bsky.social · 26/01/2026

🚨 MEO is moving 🚨 Follow @mediatechdemocracy.bsky.social for updates on our information ecosystem research! 🧵

113

Media Ecosystem Observatory @meo-cdmrn.bsky.social · 08/01/2026

Check out the latest article from Esli Chan (Doctoral Fellow at the Observatory) on the "Illusion of AI Companionship for Young Males" in @thetyee.ca! Read it here: tinyurl.com/2dmck2vd

tinyurl.com

The Illusion of AI Companionship for Young Males | The Tyee

As boys navigate online spaces saturated with hypermasculine messages, we need to rein in chatbots.

011

Reposted by Media Ecosystem Observatory

Centre for Media, Technology & Democracy @mediatechdemocracy.bsky.social · 17/12/2025

This summer, David Suzuki received attention for his iPolitics interview titled: “‘It’s too late’: David Suzuki says the fight against climate change is lost.” This shift in tone led us to ask: Are Canadians Climate Doomers? @chrispyross.bsky.social 🧵

2102

Reposted by Media Ecosystem Observatory

Centre for Media, Technology & Democracy @mediatechdemocracy.bsky.social · 17/12/2025

You can read "Are Canadians Climate Doomers?," by @chrispyross.bsky.social, here: tinyurl.com/29skan7u Chris Ross is a senior analyst for @meo-cdmrn.bsky.social. He has a MA in Political Science from McGill University.

tinyurl.com

Are Canadians Climate Doomers? — Centre for Media, Technology and Democracy

163

Media Ecosystem Observatory @meo-cdmrn.bsky.social · 27/11/2025

The committee also heard testimony from @etbrooking.bsky.social, Director of Strategy & Sr. Resident Fellow at CDMRN coalition partner @dfrlab.bsky.social/ Atlantic Council.

000

Media Ecosystem Observatory @meo-cdmrn.bsky.social · 27/11/2025

This morning, MEO Director @abridgman.bsky.social is testifying on foreign election interference at The House of Commons' Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs #PROC Watch the livestream here: tinyurl.com/52u2s6f2

tinyurl.com

PROC Meeting No. 15

Meeting No. 15 PROC - Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs

120

Media Ecosystem Observatory @meo-cdmrn.bsky.social · 24/11/2025

Un grand merci à @binhanv.bsky.social pour cet article, ainsi qu’à @abridgman.bsky.social, Diya Jiang, Mika Desblancs-Patel et @mathieulavigne.bsky.social, et tous nos chercheurs qui ont contribué à mieux faire connaître les coulisses de notre travail.

000

Media Ecosystem Observatory @meo-cdmrn.bsky.social · 24/11/2025

Au printemps, l'équipe de Découverte de @info.radio-canada.ca a suivi l'équipe de l'OEM pour mieux comprendre notre projet de surveillance des élections fédérales canadiennes de 2025. Voici le résultat de leur travail : tinyurl.com/n3tvcjn9

tinyurl.com

Réseaux sociaux et démocratie : bruit, opacité et risques

À moins d'augmenter l'encadrement des plateformes, les tentatives de manipulation politique pourraient avoir le dessus sur notre capacité à les détecter.

111

Media Ecosystem Observatory @meo-cdmrn.bsky.social · 24/11/2025

Après une année marquée par l'ascension de l'IA générative et l'impact croissant des influenceurs sur les chambres d’écho, nos chercheurs sonnent l'alerte : sans règles claires ni transparence des plateformes, la manipulation pourrait bientôt dépasser notre capacité de détection. 🧵

131

Media Ecosystem Observatory @meo-cdmrn.bsky.social · 21/11/2025

Together, these patterns indicate that the shadow of political violence shapes how people perceive the state of their democracy, dissent, and political participation.

100

Media Ecosystem Observatory @meo-cdmrn.bsky.social · 21/11/2025

Almost 1 in 2 Americans AND Canadians report avoiding political participation (i.e. posting online, attending protests, putting up lawn signs) due to fears of political violence. 1 in 5 Canadians report not wanting to be a public figure because of this!

Figure 7. Comparing Canadian and American self-reported likelihood of avoiding political activities due to concerns about political violence

100

Media Ecosystem Observatory @meo-cdmrn.bsky.social · 21/11/2025

Younger Canadians are starting to think political violence is necessary for social change. We found that for Younger Canadians aged 18-25, 1 in 3 agree that violence can be necessary.

Figure 6. Canadian perceptions of whether political violence is sometimes necessary for social change over time and by age group

100

Media Ecosystem Observatory @meo-cdmrn.bsky.social · 21/11/2025

Pessimism by partisanship was inverse. In the U.S., Democrats are more likely to think things are getting worse but in Canada, it’s Conservatives who feel this way; about half think that things are headed the wrong way.

Figure 5. Partisan breakdowns of Canadian and American assessments of whether political violence will get worse or better in the next few years

100

Media Ecosystem Observatory @meo-cdmrn.bsky.social · 21/11/2025

Pessimism is higher for the US. When we asked if political violence will get worse, Canadians were split; approximately 2 in 3 think violence in the U.S. will get worse, while approximately 1 in 3 say the same for Canada.

Figure 4. Comparing Canadian and American assessments of whether political violence will get worse or better in the next few years

100

Media Ecosystem Observatory @meo-cdmrn.bsky.social · 21/11/2025

We found that both Canadians and Americans think the shooting represents a broader societal problem, though people are more concerned about political violence in the U.S. than in Canada.

Figure 1. Comparing Canadian and American views on whether Charlie Kirk’s assassination reflects a broader societal problem

100

Media Ecosystem Observatory @meo-cdmrn.bsky.social · 21/11/2025

The #CharlieKirk shooting has sparked widespread debate about political violence. So, we surveyed Canadians to evaluate their perceptions of the event and political violence, comparing our results to U.S. data when available. Here's what we found 🧵 #cdnpoli #uspoli

143

Reposted by Media Ecosystem Observatory

Jen St. Denis @jenstden.bsky.social · 19/11/2025

I wrote about a really interesting study from @meo-cdmrn.bsky.social, which really made me think about how hard it is to define what an "influencer" is! A super interesting look at the growth of political commentary by social media influencers thetyee.ca/News/2025/11...

thetyee.ca

Canadians Are Turning to Influencers for Information on Politics | The Tyee

A study shows that social media creators have overtaken news media and party campaigns.

061

Media Ecosystem Observatory @meo-cdmrn.bsky.social · 14/11/2025

We found that 78% of Canadians are concerned about harmful information circulating during crises like wildfires and floods. 86% believe the government should require social media platforms to ensure accurate information during extreme weather events.

100

Media Ecosystem Observatory @meo-cdmrn.bsky.social · 14/11/2025

Canada has officially joined the UN's Global Initiative for Information Integrity on Climate Change! This announcement reflects our recent polling, which found that 82% of Canadians want Canada to participate in global efforts to strengthen information integrity online. 🧵

110

Media Ecosystem Observatory @meo-cdmrn.bsky.social · 13/11/2025

What does this mean for communicators, policymakers, and civil society? They can learn from political influencers by crafting communication strategies that are aligned with how today's information ecosystem actually works.

100

Media Ecosystem Observatory @meo-cdmrn.bsky.social · 13/11/2025

This trend is not unique to Canada. A recent report from Reuters Institute found that in Brazil, Mexico, Thailand, and the U.S., news creators have become highly impactful. People in these markets reported paying more attention to influencers than mainstream news brands.

100

Media Ecosystem Observatory @meo-cdmrn.bsky.social · 13/11/2025

Influence is shifting from institutions to individuals with news outlets, political parties, and advocacy groups not reaching as many people as they used to. As political influencers rise in prominence, they are not subject to formal accountability mechanisms.

100

Media Ecosystem Observatory @meo-cdmrn.bsky.social · 13/11/2025

Younger Canadians lead this shift: 64% of Canadians aged 18–34 engage with political influencers. “In 2025, Canadians online are (far) more likely to see a political opinion from an influencer than from a politician.”

Figure 1. Self-reported engagement with influencers.

100

Media Ecosystem Observatory @meo-cdmrn.bsky.social · 13/11/2025

We found that influencers now drive over 1/2 of political content and nearly 2/3 of all online engagement in Canada. They're not just lifestyle or entertainment figures anymore, with many actively shaping public debate, framing key political events, and mobilizing audiences.

Figure 5. Monthly post volume across platforms (Jan. 2024–July 2025).

121

Media Ecosystem Observatory @meo-cdmrn.bsky.social · 13/11/2025

Influencers are the internet's new information brokers, setting the pace for political conversation that traditional outlets and organizations struggle to match. Our latest brief maps these creators' role in Canada's digital landscape between Jan. 2024–July 2025. 🧵 #cdnpoli

164

Media Ecosystem Observatory @meo-cdmrn.bsky.social · 11/11/2025

The Canadian conversation mirrored the U.S., but attention was limited. Even though Canada's info ecosystem is highly susceptible to American politics, its distinct media structures and actor dynamics can help moderate the intensity and persistence of polarized online debates.

Figure 4. Distribution of number of posts for top 5 topics in the Canadian Information Ecosystem

100

Media Ecosystem Observatory @meo-cdmrn.bsky.social · 11/11/2025

Authors @zeytinhanim.bsky.social and Esli Chan observed clear topic segregation between news outlets, influencers, and politicians in Canada. News outlets provided key updates, influencers guided commentary, and politicians engaged when it fit official narratives.

Figure 5. Account-normalized posts and likes by topics in the Canadian Information Ecosystem

100

Media Ecosystem Observatory @meo-cdmrn.bsky.social · 11/11/2025

Our team identified 4 distinct and overlapping phases of public discourse following the Kirk assassination: 1. Initial framing & shock 2. Partisan polarization 3. External narrative dominance 4. Sustained narrative contestation

Figure 2. Volume of posts mentioning “Kirk” on X from September 5–21, 2025, segmented into four phases: Phase 1—Initial Framing & Shock; Phase 2—Partisan Polarization; Phase 3—External Narrative Dominance; Phase 4—Sustained Narrative Contestation

Figure 3. Likes (Engagement) on posts including “Kirk” on X from September 5 to 21nd, 2025 Phase 1—Initial Framing & Shock; Phase 2—Partisan Polarization; Phase 3—External Narrative Dominance; Phase 4—Sustained Narrative Contestation

100

Media Ecosystem Observatory @meo-cdmrn.bsky.social · 11/11/2025

After the initial shock from the Charlie Kirk shooting, conspiratorial and partisan narratives had a short lifespan on X. This demonstrates how outrage-based narratives can emerge and fade just as quickly.

Figure 1. Distribution of 893,147 total posts on X over time

100

Media Ecosystem Observatory @meo-cdmrn.bsky.social · 11/11/2025

In September, online talk of Charlie Kirk's death spread far beyond the U.S. The CDMRN launched an incident response to study the spillover effects on Canada's information ecosystem. Here's how Canadians reacted on X. 🧵 #CharlieKirk #cdnpoli #media

101

Media Ecosystem Observatory @meo-cdmrn.bsky.social · 06/11/2025

Selon @abridgman.bsky.social, le directeur de l’Observatoire de l’écosystème médiatique, «L’un des objectifs principaux est de faire de l’argent avec les publicités sur les sites (...) C’est vraiment juste des gens qui cherchent à faire des sous.»

100

Media Ecosystem Observatory @meo-cdmrn.bsky.social · 06/11/2025

Depuis le blocage des médias canadiens sur Facebook en 2023, des sites créés par l’intelligence artificielle se font passer pour des médias locaux et comblent l’absence de nouvelles sur la plateforme (@info.radio-canada.ca, @nicholasderosa.bsky.social et @jeffyates.bsky.social). 🧵

100

Media Ecosystem Observatory @meo-cdmrn.bsky.social · 05/11/2025

78% of Canadians are worried about harmful information circulating during crises such as wildfires and floods.

111

Media Ecosystem Observatory @meo-cdmrn.bsky.social · 05/11/2025

78% of Canadians express concern about online disinformation related to climate change, while 88% report concern about public health disinformation.

111

Media Ecosystem Observatory @meo-cdmrn.bsky.social · 05/11/2025

82% of Canadians want Canada to participate in global efforts to strengthen information integrity on digital platforms.

112

Media Ecosystem Observatory @meo-cdmrn.bsky.social · 05/11/2025

86% of Canadians believe that during extreme weather events governments should require social media platforms to ensure the accuracy of information and prevent the promotion of disinformation.

112

Media Ecosystem Observatory @meo-cdmrn.bsky.social · 05/11/2025

Amid the rise of climate disinformation and obstruction in Canada, our October 2025 polling from the Media Ecosystem Observatory, led by @sonjasolomun.bsky.social and @chrispyross.bsky.social, indicates that Canadians share this concern. #climateaction #COP30 #climatechange

111

Media Ecosystem Observatory @meo-cdmrn.bsky.social · 05/11/2025

As Canada prepares for COP30, accurate climate information is more important than ever for effective climate action. The UN’s Global Initiative on Climate Change Information Integrity underscores that policy ambition cannot succeed without trustworthy information environments. 🧵

212

Media Ecosystem Observatory @meo-cdmrn.bsky.social · 21/10/2025

After the murder of Charlie Kirk, we declared an incident response to study the ripple effects in the Canadian information ecosystem. Today, MEO Survey Analyst Chris Ross shared why he's studying how Canadian social media users have responded to Kirk's death in @thetyee.ca

111

Reposted by Media Ecosystem Observatory

Centre for Media, Technology & Democracy @mediatechdemocracy.bsky.social · 17/10/2025

Presenting Attention: Govern or Be Governed. The internet was initially sold to us as a force for connection. And, for a time, it did just that. But, as platforms grew unchecked, the tools we built to bring us together began to pull us apart.

102

Reposted by Media Ecosystem Observatory

Centre for Media, Technology & Democracy @mediatechdemocracy.bsky.social · 17/10/2025

For the past decade, democracies have tried to build digital governance frameworks to balance innovation with accountability. But two seismic shifts have changed the game: The explosive rise of generative AI and a newly radicalized United States.

101