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New research from The Harris Poll Canada for the Canadian Journalism Foundation reveals that misinformation, clickbait, and AI-generated deception are now routine features of Canadians’ online lives — and concern is high across the country.
Misinformation Is Widespread
More than half of Canadians (56%) say they’ve personally encountered misinformation or “fake news” online. Clickbait headlines (51%) and deepfake videos or altered images (44%) follow closely behind, with AI-generated deceptive content recognized by 43%. Younger Canadians are especially likely to report seeing manipulated content, underscoring how digital deception is shaping the next generation’s media experience.
Regionally, Quebecers stand out: they report the highest exposure to deepfakes (54%) and are more likely than other Canadians to have been contacted by a fake news organization or personality (36%).
Canadians See False Content Daily or Weekly
Deceptive content isn’t rare—it’s part of everyday online life. Nearly half (47%) of Canadians say they encounter misleading or false information at least weekly, and 17% say they see it daily. Only 7% say they never encounter such content.
Younger adults (18–34) are most likely to notice it frequently, suggesting both higher exposure and awareness.
Trust Lies with People and Institutions, Not Platforms
When it comes to where Canadians turn for credible information, trust rests more with people and institutions than with platforms. Family and friends (77%) and traditional Canadian news outlets (75%) rank highest. Social media platforms themselves are least trusted, with only 27% of Canadians expressing confidence in them.
Gen Z and Millennials are more likely than older generations to trust journalists directly on social media — but even then, skepticism remains strong.
Canadians Expect Shared Responsibility
An overwhelming 88% of Canadians are concerned about AI deception in the news, including more than half who are very concerned. The public wants a shared response to this challenge, led by the federal government (60%) but supported by individuals (55%), provincial governments (50%), and social platforms (49%).
This broad-based concern signals a clear public appetite for stronger oversight, education, and literacy tools to help Canadians navigate an increasingly deceptive digital landscape.
View the Full factumData TablesHarris Poll Canada
methodology
This survey was undertaken by The Harris Poll Canada. It ran from September 24th to 26th, 2025, with 1,573 randomly selected Canadian adults who are aged 18+. The results have been weighted by age, gender, region, and education (and in Quebec, language) to match the population, according to Census data. This is to ensure the sample is representative of the entire adult population of Canada. For comparison purposes, a probability sample of this size has an estimated margin of error (which measures sampling variability) of ±2.5%, 19 times out of 20. Discrepancies in or between totals when compared to the data tables are due to rounding.
