Misinformation has long been a feature of social media platforms. That’s why a University of Waterloo researcher has launched a survey to find out what social media platforms Ontario farmers use, and how agricultural misinformation has directly affected them.
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The survey itself asks farmers a range of questions, including where they have encountered misinformation, what the subject was about or directed towards, how often they see misinformation about different subjects, and whether or not misinformation has lowered their desire to engage in online platforms.
Another element of the wider study considers how farmers can themselves contribute to the spread of misinformation.
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“Farmers are also at risk of contributing to misinformation … This would help them be much more critical of their information they are sharing,” [said Sid Heeg, the study lead and a Ph.D student in Waterloo’s school of Environment, Enterprise and Development].
Heeg is aiming for 350 survey respondents from across Ontario’s diverse agriculture industry. The survey will be open until the end of January 2026, with early results arriving in the summer.
