June 2, 2025 – The Dais – a public policy and leadership think tank at Toronto Metropolitan University – recently released the results of the sixth edition of their Online Harms in Canada survey. The 2025 wave of research explored Canadians’ experiences with social media platforms, exposure to online harms, and attitudes toward related regulation and solutions.
Pollara is proud to once again be The Dais’ research partner for this important national study, collaborating with The Dais team on designing and fielding the results. This edition was conducted from January 20, 2025 to January 27, 2025. In total, 2,502 Canadian residents aged 16 and older were interviewed. The sample is statistically weighted by age, gender, language, and region based on the latest Census data, to ensure the sample is representative of Canada as a whole. Results are compared against previous iterations of the study conducted by the Dais since 2018.
The study reveals that the risks that Canadians face online are evolving faster than our ability to respond. From cyberbullying to the spread of harmful content and AI-generated deepfakes, Canadians – especially children and vulnerable communities – are navigating an online world that is becoming increasingly hostile. Some of the study’s key findings include:
- For younger and racialized Canadian residents, recent immigrants, those living with disabilities, and 2SLGBTQ+ residents, encountering hate speech online is 50% to 100% more common than amongst those who do not belong in these groups.
- AI deepfake exposure is rising, with 67% of Canadians reporting exposure online at least a few times a year, up from 60% of users last year.
- Facebook is the most used social media platform for news – and the least trusted.
- 69% of Canadians believe the government should intervene to require online platforms to act responsibly, and even more support specific requirements like takedowns of child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
Download and read the full report at The Dais website.
