How are a handful of users on social media platforms fueling affective polarization?

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September 26, 2024

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How are a handful of users on social media platforms fueling affective polarization?

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The personal is political: Sabreena Delhon on how a few social media users are fueling affective polarization

CEO of the Samara Centre for Democracy Sabreena Delhon joined Ontario Today host Amanda Pfeffer on a September 17th call-in show where listeners shared how political polarization is taking a toll on their interpersonal relationships.

Sabreena shared findings from our latest SAMbot report: Engagement and Abuse on Toronto’s Digital Campaign Trail which looks at how a small number of social media users are fueling affective polarization. Sabreena explained the damaging effect this has on our democracy, from discouraging people from running in elections, to having a chilling effect on civic engagement and our democratic culture as a whole.

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On October 2nd, the Samara Centre hosted Democratic Innovation: What’s Needed, What’s Not Necessary, What’s Next featuring panelists Malorie Flon (Institute du Nouveau Monde), Bianca Wylie (Digital Public) and Sarah Yaffe (MASS LBP).

Montreal Event Explores How to Increase Public Participation in Politics

To mark the 10th anniversary of Tragedy in the Commons our co-founders Alison Loat and Michael MacMillan reunited for a special bonus episode of Humans of the House hosted by Samara Centre CEO Sabreena Delhon.

Bonus Humans of the House Episode Featured in The Hill Times

On October 10th, we hosted an intimate gathering to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Tragedy in the Commons, the bestselling book by Samara Centre co-founders Alison Loat and Michael MacMillan.

Celebrating a Milestone Moment for Tragedy in the Commons

Ten years ago, Alison Loat and Michael MacMillan published Tragedy in the Commons.

Founders of the Samara Centre Reflect on 10 Years of the Bestselling Tragedy in the Commons in New Podcast Episode

In this special bonus episode, we celebrate and reflect upon the tenth anniversary of the bestseller book, Tragedy in the Commons, written by Samara Centre for Democracy co-founders, Alison Loat and Michael MacMillan. Samara Centre CEO Sabreena Delhon hosts this conversation to ask, what has changed? What has stayed the same? Where are the fault lines in Canadian democracy?

Humans of the House BONUS Episode: The "Reluctant" Politician

Sabreena Delhon and Andrea Mariko Grant delve into solutions to tackle the harmful working conditions that local politicians are facing in a new Municipal World Magazine article.

Municipal World article examines solutions to combat abusive working conditions for local politicians

We sat down with the Pulitzer and Peabody-award winning investigative journalist ahead of National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

A Q&A with this year’s in Defence of Democracy Speaker: Connie Walker

CEO of the Samara Centre for Democracy Sabreena Delhon joined Ontario Today host Amanda Pfeffer on a September 17th call-in show where listeners shared how political polarization is taking a toll on their interpersonal relationships.

How are a handful of users on social media platforms fueling affective polarization?

Sabreena Delhon will be featured in Dave Meslin’s new documentary series, Unrigged premiering Sunday, September 15th on TVO’s broadcast channel.

Samara Centre’s CEO, Sabreena Delhon to appear in Unrigged Documentary on TVO

Lawyers and paralegals in Ontario can now listen to Humans of the House in partial fulfillment of their continuing professional development requirement.

Humans of the House Accredited by the Law Societies of British Columbia and Ontario

Resources for Canadians considering elected office

Are you Candidate Curious?

Bestselling book endures with critical insights about how to build a more resilient Canadian democracy

Celebrating the 10th Anniversary of Tragedy in the Commons

Samara Centre for Democracy Advises on Safer Working Conditions for Elected Officials Before the Standing Committee on Procedures and House Affairs

Samara Centre for Democracy Advises on Safer Working Conditions for Elected Officials

Our CEO Sabreena Delhon was interviewed by The New York Times about foreign interference in Canadian nomination races.

CEO Sabreena Delhon in The New York Times

The Samara Centre for Democracy’s podcast Humans of the House is a national finalist in the best podcast category of the Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA) 2024 Awards.

Humans of the House Nominated for RTDNA Award

The Samara Centre for Democracy welcomes three new members to our Board of Directors: The Honourable Elizabeth Dowdeswell, former Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, OC, Professor Kathleen Mahoney, KC, Professor Debra Thompson

The Samara Centre for Democracy Welcomes Three New Board Members

The eventual mayor and a fringe candidate had similar engagement and levels of abuse — but very different experiences online.

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Xiao Hua Gong spent a lot on advertising, and though those expenses didn’t translate into success at the polls, it showcased how big campaign budgets alone can reach into communities — sometimes in unexpected ways.

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Les Personnages de la Chambre est, depuis plusieurs semaines, l’une des émissions les mieux placées dans la catégorie gouvernementale sur les balados d’Apple Podcasts (Canada).

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Born in Happy Hill, Grenada, the Honourable Jean Augustine became the first Black Canadian woman to be elected to the House of Commons.

Featured Voices

The Samara Centre for Democracy and Media Girlfriends team were nominated in the Consumer category.

Humans of the House Podcast Wins Silver at the Canadian Online Publishing Awards

At the Samara Centre for Democracy our purpose is to make it easier for people to talk about and participate in politics. We want to move past simplistic commands like “you should run” or “you should vote” towards more nuanced and personal understandings about what it truly means to be civically engaged.

Samara Centre for Democracy 2023 Highlights

Nous connaissons les politiciens et politiciennes tels qu’ils se présentent à nous dans l’exercice de leurs fonctions. Mais ce n’est que lorsque leur mandat touche à sa fin qu’ils et elles peuvent réellement s’exprimer sur leur expérience. Animé par Chloë Hill, Les Personnages de la Chambre est un nouveau balado qui présente six anciens et anciennes député.e.s de la Chambre des communes du Canada qui décrivent, dans leur propre voix, la réalité de cette profession.

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The Samara Centre for Democracy is frequently asked to provide commentary and analysis on a range of topics related to civic engagement and political participation. We regularly appear in print, broadcast and digital news networks across the country.

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Samara Centre’s Sabreena Delhon and Media Girlfriend's Hannah Sung on why a change in workplace culture on the hill could improve our democracy

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Humans of the House has received national media coverage and has been the #1 show in the Government category for several weeks on Apple Podcasts where it has also been featured as a New & Noteworthy Special Series.

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SAMbot has received national media coverage and been presented at meetings across governmental, policy, technology, human rights and academic spaces.

SAMbot In The Media

The Samara Centre for Democracy welcomes two new members to our Board of Directors.

The Samara Centre for Democracy Welcomes Lisa LaFlamme and Jeilah Chan to Their Board of Directors

How are our policies around elections limiting voter engagement - and what do we need from policymakers in order to make things better?

Who Cares About Toronto’s By-Election?

SAMbot tracked toxic tweets in eight municipal elections across Canada by monitoring candidate and political party accounts.

Online Abuse in Local Elections: The SAMbot Municipal Report

SAMbot Vancouver Election

SAMbot Surrey Election

SAMbot Ottawa Election

SAMbot Brampton Election

SAMbot tracked online abuse during Toronto's municipal election. Read our report to learn more about our findings.

SAMbot Toronto Election

SAMbot tracked online abuse during Winnipeg's municipal election. Read our report to learn more about our findings.

SAMbot Winnipeg Election

SAMbot tracked online abuse during Yellowknife's municipal election. Read our report to learn more about our findings.

SAMbot Yellowknife Election

SAMbot tracked online abuse during Charlottetown's municipal election. Read our report to learn more about our findings.

SAMbot Charlottetown Election

Throughout the fall of 2022, the Samara Centre for Democracy deployed SAMbot in eight municipal elections across Canada to measure abusive content received by candidates and political parties on Twitter.

SAMbot Methodology: Municipal Elections

This panel discusses how digital technology is shaping public engagement, journalism and our democracy.

The Promise and Perils of Digital: A Panel Discussion

We’ve come to the final chapter of an MP’s civic journey. What is it like to leave office?

Humans of the House Episode 6: Was It Worth It?

What does it take for MPs to make a difference? We hear from former MPs about the changes they pushed for, and what it cost them.

Humans of the House Episode 5: I'm Going to Say the F Word

Humans of the House Episode 4: Unwritten Rules

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Humans of the House Episode 3: The Best/Worst Place I Ever Worked

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Humans of the House Episode 2: Show Up and Glow Up

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In Humans of the House, we are on a journey that explores the human side of politics. Prepare to be surprised, maybe even moved, by the real lives of Members of Parliament.

Humans of the House: Trailer

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A Look Back on 2022

Our Executive Director, Sabreena Delhon spoke on a panel discussion about race and policy-making in Canada.

Words Left Unsaid: Racial Inequality and Policy-Making in Canada

We provided the Standing Committee on Procedure and House Affairs (PROC) recommendations for virtual hybrid House and committee proceedings.

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SAMbot tracked toxic tweets in the 2022 Federal election by monitoring the Twitter accounts of incumbent candidates and party leaders.

SAMbot 2021 Federal Election Report

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New publication — Policy Options article examines how pandemic school closures have compromised the resilience of our democracy

SAMbot tracked toxic tweets in the 2022 Ontario election by monitoring the public Twitter accounts candidates and official parties.

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SAMbot Federal Election Day: September 20, 2021

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We share findings from the SAMbot project and discuss how online toxicity takes a toll on civic engagement.

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Samara, Canada, and Democracy: A Consequential Moment

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Introducing Our Next Executive Director: Sabreena Delhon

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Locally Grown: A Survey of Municipal Politicians in Canada

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Temperature Check: Canadian Democratic Attitudes in a Pandemic

Disrespect, rudeness, harassment, and abuse online have real costs for our democracy.

Four Ways Online Incivility Harms Canadian Politics

Federal political representatives in Canada share the democratic pressures caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Representation in Isolation: Member of Parliament Survey 2020

With other countries experiencing the negative consequences of digital contact tracing, we find that governance of such apps has been almost totally neglected, and argue this is an area where Canada can lead.

Digital Contact Tracing: A problem for democratic governance

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