Should Canada be generating a public infrastructure for social media platforms in order to counter leviathans like Facebook and X? Must rigorous state regulation of the leviathans be rolled out soon?
I think it's a great idea. I quit FB and Twitter on principle and realize I'm missing a lot of content that keeps me informed, but I just can't support to the oligarch "tech bros" who are actively trying to destroy a democracy that they feel gets in their way.
To retain a strong Canadian identity on our social media, we must prioritize platforms that reflect our values, laws, and culture. This means supporting Canadian-made digital networks or adopting open-source alternatives managed within Canada. We should encourage local content creation, promote bilingual communication (English and French), and ensure our data is stored and governed on Canadian soil. By fostering a digital space rooted in Canadian principles—privacy, inclusivity, and diversity—we can resist foreign influence and strengthen our national voice online.
I think, aggressive, civic education, beginning in kindergarten is going to be the main counter to all the disinformation. Unfortunately, the horses have already left the barn. It’s going to be very hard to catch them with other regulations.
I utterly agree, regulation against unregulated and harmful internet programs and more sinister programs and views, must be implemented as soon as possible. It should have the teeth to stop harmful effects from reaching users.
That’s from the perspective of what we want to hear, but far more independent and a standardization a kin to ranking statuses around journalism and validity of material
Necessity is the mother of invention. The choice is between anti-democratic tech oligarchs controlling information and promoting misinformation and extremism vs a more democratic approach that is not predatory. All it takes is a commitment to make it happen.
As I understand it, KCUNAC, is a 'home grown' platform generator that may be used to create local social media.
My worry is that without proper administstion and moderation sites may turn out to be similar to the Okanagan Discussion forum on Castanet Media, which has been overrun by far-right and right wing members who are ill-controlled in the name of free speech. Their soul aim seems to be to create a silo which will run the left off and gang challenge any newbees who don't appear eager to join their cult.
For example, here's the Canada section today, where The Green Barbarian is prominent and dominates the whole platform to the tune of a career and forum record of well over a staggering hundred thousand posts-replies.
And even though the site is tied to an independent online news channel which gathers local advertisers, the Chamber of Commerce appears to support it since I've never received a reply from it in my attempts to quiry their stance on what the local business think of it as far as representing them in the community.
I've vistited kcunac daily for a few months now and I don't see any sign of a "right-wing" takeover. As a left-leaning person, I'm always on the lookout for any trolls. I've posted there over 100 times and the site seems ti be slightly left leaning, It also seems to be well moderated as I've seen no complaints.
I'm not sure self-contained national social platforms are needed to be invented. Bluesky should be investigated since it offers an open protocol, the ability for operators to set up their own networks using the platform, and has the capability to block unwanted voices. Many European organizations are switching to it from X. Just a thought.
I agree with this wholeheartedly but why spend so much money creating a new social media platform and not create instances on the fediverse? It’s a well established toolset for distributed ownership and can be setup for many use cases.
There’s instagram clone, twitter clone, facebook clone, all developed and can be setup and hosted for whatever cost (barebones like I do on waterloolemmy.ca which is a Reddit clone hosted in Toronto meant for Waterloo region, just a few friends and I on it atm).
https://fedidb.com/ Has more info of current user bases but if we have official policy to support these initiatives it’s much better than just letting Canadian corpos own our data
I like that idea; I would love to see it happen. Right now, we don't have a choice. I would love to quit Facebook, but it would be at the expense of losing being in touch with so many friends.
I think it's a great idea. I quit FB and Twitter on principle and realize I'm missing a lot of content that keeps me informed, but I just can't support to the oligarch "tech bros" who are actively trying to destroy a democracy that they feel gets in their way.
Same. I use Bluesky and Patreon now.
I'm on BlueSky as well. So far, it's been great.
Following you now!
To retain a strong Canadian identity on our social media, we must prioritize platforms that reflect our values, laws, and culture. This means supporting Canadian-made digital networks or adopting open-source alternatives managed within Canada. We should encourage local content creation, promote bilingual communication (English and French), and ensure our data is stored and governed on Canadian soil. By fostering a digital space rooted in Canadian principles—privacy, inclusivity, and diversity—we can resist foreign influence and strengthen our national voice online.
A. Paradis, Laval, Qc
I think, aggressive, civic education, beginning in kindergarten is going to be the main counter to all the disinformation. Unfortunately, the horses have already left the barn. It’s going to be very hard to catch them with other regulations.
Agreed. Critical thinking skills and media literacy ... throw in some accurate history ...
Thank you, Charlie Angus and Pledge for Canada for your work and contributions.
Yes, Canada should be generating a public infrastructure for social media platforms.
We need to block leviathans like Facebook and Musk's X/twitter. Include instagram as well to be blocked.
MTW
I utterly agree, regulation against unregulated and harmful internet programs and more sinister programs and views, must be implemented as soon as possible. It should have the teeth to stop harmful effects from reaching users.
We need not only regulation but tool to enforce
That’s from the perspective of what we want to hear, but far more independent and a standardization a kin to ranking statuses around journalism and validity of material
YES! And imagine if 100,000 supporters of the Pledge for Canada and The Resistance pledged $5 per month to this project adding a grass roots element.
Necessity is the mother of invention. The choice is between anti-democratic tech oligarchs controlling information and promoting misinformation and extremism vs a more democratic approach that is not predatory. All it takes is a commitment to make it happen.
Why don't Canadians try KCUNAC.com (Canuck backwards!) It's a friendly FB like place. Many Europeans are trying it as well.
As I understand it, KCUNAC, is a 'home grown' platform generator that may be used to create local social media.
My worry is that without proper administstion and moderation sites may turn out to be similar to the Okanagan Discussion forum on Castanet Media, which has been overrun by far-right and right wing members who are ill-controlled in the name of free speech. Their soul aim seems to be to create a silo which will run the left off and gang challenge any newbees who don't appear eager to join their cult.
For example, here's the Canada section today, where The Green Barbarian is prominent and dominates the whole platform to the tune of a career and forum record of well over a staggering hundred thousand posts-replies.
https://forums.castanet.net/viewforum.php?f=27
And even though the site is tied to an independent online news channel which gathers local advertisers, the Chamber of Commerce appears to support it since I've never received a reply from it in my attempts to quiry their stance on what the local business think of it as far as representing them in the community.
Just my cautionary tale and a probe.
Thanks for the ear,
Les
I've vistited kcunac daily for a few months now and I don't see any sign of a "right-wing" takeover. As a left-leaning person, I'm always on the lookout for any trolls. I've posted there over 100 times and the site seems ti be slightly left leaning, It also seems to be well moderated as I've seen no complaints.
Checking it out. Thx
checking it out
I'm not sure self-contained national social platforms are needed to be invented. Bluesky should be investigated since it offers an open protocol, the ability for operators to set up their own networks using the platform, and has the capability to block unwanted voices. Many European organizations are switching to it from X. Just a thought.
I agree with this wholeheartedly but why spend so much money creating a new social media platform and not create instances on the fediverse? It’s a well established toolset for distributed ownership and can be setup for many use cases.
There’s instagram clone, twitter clone, facebook clone, all developed and can be setup and hosted for whatever cost (barebones like I do on waterloolemmy.ca which is a Reddit clone hosted in Toronto meant for Waterloo region, just a few friends and I on it atm).
https://fedidb.com/ Has more info of current user bases but if we have official policy to support these initiatives it’s much better than just letting Canadian corpos own our data
I like that idea; I would love to see it happen. Right now, we don't have a choice. I would love to quit Facebook, but it would be at the expense of losing being in touch with so many friends.
Yes we should