In an age in which information is a mouse click away, Canada finds itself under siege – not by armies or economic collapse, despite Donald Trump’s threats, but by the insidious spread of misinformation and outright lies. Political propaganda, amplified by social media and unscrupulous actors, has become a weapon of choice, wreaking havoc on mental health, public safety and democracy itself.
The consequences are real and deeply alarming: anxiety, depression, fear and violence are rising, leaving Canadians grappling with the fallout of a truth-starved reality. I see this every day in my medical practice as patients feel bullied, duped into fake treatments or exhausted from all the uncertainty. And it is only going to get worse as leaders adopt this new way of manipulating information.
Imagine waking up every morning to headlines that leave you questioning what’s real and what’s fabricated. For many Canadians, this is not a hypothetical scenario. A study by Statistics Canada reveals that a significant portion of the population is overwhelmed by the deluge of misinformation online. Conflicting narratives about everything from elections to public health measures have created a landscape of uncertainty, fuelling widespread mental anguish. Who should we believe?
During the COVID-19 pandemic, this phenomenon reached a fever pitch. False narratives about vaccines, lockdowns and treatments spread like wildfire, leaving individuals confused and scared. The mental health impacts were profound: a country already struggling with limited mental health resources saw a profound spike in anxiety disorders, particularly among younger Canadians who consume much of their news through social media platforms rife with unverified information.
Beyond mental health, the tangible, physical consequences of misinformation have made headlines. Conspiracy theories, once relegated to fringe corners of the internet, have spilled into real life, inciting harassment and violence. Health-care workers, hailed as heroes in the early days of the pandemic, became targets of vitriol and physical attacks as anti-vaccine propaganda painted them as part of a sinister plot. I continue to feel this in my practice. Patients continue to bring in treatments and diagnoses that come from skeptical sources. Ethnic communities have borne the brunt of misinformation-fuelled violence, with hate crimes spiking during the pandemic due to unfounded claims linking them to the virus. Is this the “us against them” world we want to live in?
Consider the case of individuals radicalized by conspiracy theories. The infamous “freedom convoy” protests of 2022 showcased how disinformation could mobilize and embolden fringe groups to occupy cities, disrupt lives and sow fear. While peaceful protest is a cornerstone of democracy, the accompanying threats, harassment and economic disruptions revealed the darker side of a movement fuelled by half-truths and outright lies. This is directly linked to social media where those with the largest followers can say anything without education or proof or impunity.
Misinformation’s impact on democracy is its most insidious legacy. A functioning democracy relies on an informed electorate making rational decisions based on verified facts. However, the deliberate spread of disinformation – whether to suppress voter turnout, delegitimize election results or polarize public opinion – has eroded this foundation. Canadians have watched as their trust in democratic institutions – Parliament, the judiciary, physicians, scientists and even the media – has been systematically undermined.
This erosion of trust isn’t an abstract concept. It has real-world implications. When citizens lose faith in elections or believe politicians are operating in bad faith, they disengage. Voter apathy rises and polarization deepens, creating a vicious cycle that threatens the very fabric of our democracy. Worse still, foreign actors and domestic political operatives exploit this mistrust, further muddying the waters and leaving Canadians more divided than ever. You take a kernel of truth and expand it to hyperbolic manipulative fancy, and you sow contempt, overreaction, apathy, mistrust and social isolation. Can we believe anyone anymore?
Pointing fingers is easy but solving the problem is not. Social media platforms undeniably have played a central role. Algorithms designed to maximize emotional engagement (especially disgust, shock, disbelief), often prioritize sensationalism over truth, creating echo chambers where misinformation thrives. Politicians and public figures who knowingly peddle lies bear significant responsibility. These individuals exploit fear and uncertainty for political gain, often with little regard for the long-term consequences.
The media, too, is not without fault. In the race for clicks and ratings, some outlets have blurred the line between reporting and sensationalism, amplifying falsehoods or failing to adequately fact-check. To be fair, all media and all reporters are not equal. There are as many who value evidence and truth above ease and click bait. The result is a fragmented information landscape where the average Canadian struggles to discern truth from fiction.
So, what can be done to combat this crisis?
First, we must demand accountability. Social media platforms must be held to higher standards, with stricter regulations to curb the spread of false information. Transparency in algorithms and greater investment in content moderation are non-negotiable. Sadly, this is unlikely at this time in history.
Second, education is essential. Media literacy programs should be mandatory in schools, equipping future generations with the tools to critically evaluate information. For adults, public awareness campaigns can serve as a bulwark against disinformation, empowering individuals to fact-check before sharing. Juicy gossip spreads faster than reflective analysis, but we must push pause ourselves.
Finally, there must be consequences for those who deliberately spread lies. Whether through stricter enforcement of libel laws or targeted legislation against disinformation campaigns, it’s time to make the cost of lying higher than the perceived benefits. That requires political and judicial will.
Canada is at a crossroads. The choices we make today will determine whether we succumb to the divisive forces of misinformation or rise above them to build a stronger, more resilient society. The fight against disinformation is not just about protecting facts; it’s about safeguarding our mental health, our democracy and our collective future.
The truth matters, and it’s time we treated it as such.
