Almost two years into the pandemic, it’s probably fair to say science has never been so easy to access online and so often called into question. From government press conferences and lab-leak theories to lockdown measures and anti-vax rallies, it seems everyone has an opinion but not everyone has the same facts. That’s where content creators like Dr. Samantha Yammine come in. Armed with a PhD in neuroscience, Sam reaches millions online to dispel myths and educate her followers in real-time. She’s part of a new class of science communicators, a niche group of health experts who are rethinking what science education looks like, and in doing so, how we all make sense of our lives.

Depending on how you use the internet, to you, a “content creator” might mean a person making millions of dollars posting videos of their daily lives, a Twitch streamer earning sponsorships to marathon game, or a performing artist finding a new stage and global audiences online. Whatever your reference, there’s no denying the creator economy is on the rise. Canadians are abandoning their traditional 9-5 jobs to pursue a livelihood as content creators. So, what does life as a content creator look like when the cameras aren’t rolling?  And as this economy grows, what supports and resources do Canadian creators need to flourish?  This week, our host, Mohit Rajhans, speaks with Dr. Richard Lachman, an associate professor of Digital Media at X University, about the future of the creator economy. 

The anti-Black racism movement was in the media spotlight in the aftermath of the murder of George Floyd. While media coverage helped spark global conversations about systemic racism, journalism graduate and reporter Breanna Xavier-Carter noticed that not all reporting was fair and unbiased. She started an online petition calling on Ryerson University to educate its students on how they can report on racial issues through an unbiased lens. Now, she speaks with our host, Mohit Rajhans, about the power and limitations of online activism, how media coverage needs to change, and the implications of being a journalist online.

Speech online has transformed the way our society functions. Digital technologies allow us the freedom to express ourselves and connect with others. But as we’ve witnessed, they’ve also been used as tools to promote hateful content.  The question is: how do we protect free speech while making sure they aren’t used as tools to spread hate or misinformation? Tamara Small is an associate professor at the University of Guelph in the department of political science. She has spent over 15 years studying digital politics in Canada. She addressed these issues at The Walrus Talks at Home: The Future of Speech online.

During the pandemic, the Internet has helped people connect with their loved ones, meet with their coworkers, and access the latest news about COVID-19. It has helped spark meaningful conversations about democracy, racism and social justice. But it has also been used as a tool to spread misinformation and hateful content. Host Mohit Rajhans speaks with experts about the complex issues that are impacting the digital lives of Canadians today and solutions for the challenges that lie ahead.