What happens to the conversations they block us from having?

Canada’s Online News Act was intended to support journalism. Three years later, I am still annoyed by Meta’s actions which raises questions and concerns about how we access and share information, public dialogue and community connection.

I came across a National Post article explaining how much Canadians need to earn to afford a home in major cities and I tried to share it on Facebook to hear what others thought. Instead, a notification appeared: “News content can’t be shared in Canada.” I thought, how are they still doing this? An attempt to spark a conversation about housing affordability became a reminder of how access to public discussion can be interrupted and disruptive.

Annoyed, I clicked on “Learn more” and followed the notification to Meta’s AI support assistant, hoping to do so. The explanation pointed to Canada’s Online News Act, formerly Bill C-18, which became law in June 2023.

According to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), the legislation was introduced giving the CRTC the responsibility to administer a new mandatory bargaining process between news organizations in Canada and the largest online platforms that distribute their content. It was supposed to help Canadian news organizations negotiate fair commercial agreements with major digital platforms.

The intention was to support journalism and address bargaining power imbalances but Meta disagreed. In an August 2023 statement⁠, they argued that the legislation misunderstood the relationship between publishers and social media platforms stating, “The only way we can reasonably comply with this legislation is to end news availability for people in Canada.” So, they did just that and here we still are, unable to share news in Facebook and Instagram.

The Online News Act itself does not prohibit Canadians from sharing news. Section 3 says the legislation is to be interpreted consistently with freedom of expression and aims to ensure news is available without undue manipulation or interference. So how did legislation intended to support journalism result in Canadians being unable to share it on two major social platforms?

Meta says they made a business decision to restrict it and pointed the finger at the government. I dug deeper and Meta’s AI assistant explained how users could customize the news appearing in their Facebook feeds by following pages and adjusting preferences. How do we customize access to content we are prevented from sharing or viewing?

Google pursued another approach, reaching an agreement to contribute $100M annually to Canadian News outlets and applying for an exemption under the Act. A 2024 Media Ecosystem Observatory report (MEO), Old News, New Reality: A Year of Meta’s News Ban in Canada, examined the impact on Canadian news organizations and audiences. Canadian news outlets experienced an estimated 43% decline in social media engagement across the platforms studied. Researchers also found that 212 local news outlets previously active on social media had become inactive across those platforms. It also surprisingly states that only 22% of Canadians surveyed knew about the ban. I knew about it and recall signing petitions with concerns about it.

The report concluded, “The ban has effectively severed a key connection between the news industry and Canadian public.” That finding brought me back to the pandemic. Even after public-health mandates were suspended, conversations continued about legal challenges, employment consequences, government decisions, and the experiences of people who opposed those measures. For me, exchanging information was essential to understanding what had happened and how communities were affected, along with exploring potential recourse.

It was frustrating trying to navigate conflicting information and perspectives. Communities were disconnected, and for me while trying to mobilize to address harms exacerbated by the mandates, it felt intentional.

The pandemic demonstrated the importance of verification, credible reporting and critical thinking. As witnessed, unrestricted sharing does not guarantee accurate information. Although Meta’s news block began later, in 2023, and we have found alternatives, it still raises a question for me: why is exchanging information still restricted?

Facebook is where family stays connected across borders and time zones, where neighbours share resources and concerns, community organizations announce events, and people discover stories they might never think to search for themselves.

Meta maintains that Canadians can still visit publishers’ websites directly, and thankfully that is true. Discovering an article through someone within your network is different from knowing which website to visit or what information to search for. It is a more personal connection that can introduce unfamiliar perspectives, invite questions, and bring us into conversations they might otherwise miss.

MEO also stated that Meta’s restrictions resulted in approximately 11 million fewer daily views of Canadian news content across Facebook and Instagram. That does not mean every lost view represents a lost conversation or connection. It suggests a substantial reduction in opportunities for news to reach people through familiar networks.

When I opened Facebook, I was not organizing a protest or debating legislation. I simply wanted to discuss whether ordinary Canadians can afford a home with my friends. Instead, I found myself questioning who controls the flow of information and how much influence communities have over the digital spaces they depend upon. Still, how do we engage in meaningful discussions while they make journalism across Canadian outlets still hard to share on social media?

I know many have moved on, but why do we still have this ban in place? When sharing the news becomes news itself, what happens to the conversations we never get to have?

For the readers that made it this far, I appreciate your attention. If interested, you can click on this link for the National post article that reminded me that this news sharing ban persists.