Reporting Platforms: Young Canadians Evaluate Efforts to Counter Disinformation

We also include reflections from members of the research and education teams at MediaSmarts, who facilitated the evaluation activity, and a summary of reporting processes across the four platforms to better visualize some of the similarities and differences between the platforms that were the focus of this study. [...] Overall, the lack of trust and confidence that participants expressed in the ability of platforms to counter misinformation and disinformation and to keep them informed and safe online was REPORTING PLATFORMS : YOUNG CANADIANS EVALUATE EFFORTS TO COUNTER DISINFORMATION 4 apparent throughout all three focus group sessions. [...] Ultimately, while participants understood the desire to maintain a vibe that allows users to ‘unplug’ and ‘unwind,’ they felt it was necessary to change or adjust the vibe so that users also have meaningful opportunities to engage with platforms to prevent and address misinformation and disinformation. [...] What we need to understand better is: • the information ecosystems young Canadians engage in and their exposure to misinformation and disinformation within these spaces; • what, if anything, young Canadians are doing to mitigate the impacts of misinformation and disinformation; • whether young people are aware of platform efforts to counter misinformation and disinformation; and • young Canadians’. [...] Your experiences, concerns, and recommendations are summarized in the report and serve to strengthen the evidence base from which policymakers and platforms can draw to build and implement solutions to better prevent and address the spread of misinformation and disinformation.