![Ottawa sees influencers as way to fight disinformation](https://cdn.magzter.com/1704825715/1719387516/articles/p2edfGtqh1719397009218/OTTAWA-SEES-INFLUENCERS-AS-WAY-TO-FIGHT-DISINFORMATION.jpg)
Treasury Board President Anita Anand says she worries about how easy it is for disinformation to be spread on platforms where young people spend their time. Since 2021, Ottawa has spent at least $1.7 million on social media influencers and marketing strategies.
Her kids are not reading the newspapers on her kitchen counter. Instead, they're looking at their phones to find information.
That's the example Treasury Board President Anita Anand brings up when she's asked about the federal government's efforts to get its message out via payments to social-media influencers.
She says it worries her that actors who seek to spread disinformation can more easily do so on the platforms where members of the younger generation, including her own kids, spend their time.
Since 2021, federal government departments and agencies have spent at least $1.7 million on influencers, and influencer marketing campaigns and strategies, documents recently tabled in the House of Commons and publicly available contracts show.
It's just a fraction of what the government otherwise spends on traditional advertising.
"We need to evolve with the times," Anand, who holds the government's purse strings, said at a recent press conference.
This story is from the June 26, 2024 edition of Toronto Star.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the June 26, 2024 edition of Toronto Star.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
![A comfortingly disquieting presence](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/29971/1752400/nH-Yc-Po21719913154431/A-COMFORTINGLY-DISQUIETING-PRESENCE.jpg)
A comfortingly disquieting presence
Whatever the medium, comedian mastered the art of always being right for the job
![A half-baked publicity stunt](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/29971/1752400/9XkkGSJkS1719912907080/A-HALFBAKED-PUBLICITY-STUNT.jpg)
A half-baked publicity stunt
‘The Last Timbit’ is just a 75-minute commercial
![Canada's telecom sector betting on AI](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/29971/1752400/WCFjmEQeR1719912817561/CANADAS-TELECOM-SECTOR-BETTING-ON-AI.jpg)
Canada's telecom sector betting on AI
Customers increasingly likely to encounter technology
![City lacks funding to alleviate shortage](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/29971/1752400/RPX0K02P51719912648561/CITY-LACKS-FUNDING-TO-ALLEVIATE-SHORTAGE.jpg)
City lacks funding to alleviate shortage
Chow says Toronto has capacity to operate more beds, but needs support from province following closure of Parkdale location
![The Costa doing business](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/29971/1752400/bs7FUCKHE1719912463507/THE-COSTA-DOING-BUSINESS.jpg)
The Costa doing business
Portugal keeper thwarts three straight to beat Slovenia on penalties
![Predators make the biggest splash](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/29971/1752400/mGxlDnoam1719912313691/PREDATORS-MAKE-THE-BIGGEST-SPLASH.jpg)
Predators make the biggest splash
Nashville commits more than 100M in new salaries, adding Stamkos, Marchessault and Skjei
![Spending on defending](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/29971/1752400/onvpQhOiA1719912212724/SPENDING-ON-DEFENDING.jpg)
Spending on defending
Tanev headlines bolstered blue line, while Stolarz joins Woll in crease
![Family-sized dwellings in short supply](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/29971/1752400/f9H_SAf4q1719912056980/FAMILYSIZED-DWELLINGS-IN-SHORT-SUPPLY.jpg)
Family-sized dwellings in short supply
The cognitive dissonance could scarcely be more jarring.
![Hurricane Beryl wreaks havoc](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/29971/1752400/tD3s9MsWJ1719911906629/HURRICANE-BERYL-WREAKS-HAVOC.jpg)
Hurricane Beryl wreaks havoc
Category 4 storm hits southeast Caribbean, warning in effect for Jamaica
![Israel orders Palestinians to evacuate Khan Younis](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/29971/1752400/iLBSUn0Ew1719911780637/ISRAEL-ORDERS-PALESTINIANS-TO-EVACUATE-KHAN-YOUNIS.jpg)
Israel orders Palestinians to evacuate Khan Younis
The Israeli army ordered a mass evacuation of Palestinians from much of Khan Younis on Monday, a sign that troops are likely to launch a new ground assault into the Gaza Strip’s second-largest city.