SCIENCE PUB – “Democratic Champion or Villain? Social Media’s Fall from Grace”

Our wildly popular Science Pub Series has returned for a 10th incredible season. Enjoy lectures on scientific topics of general interest in our Arizona Room over fine craft beer and award-winning pub cuisine. The room opens at 5:00 PM. Avoid disappointment and come down early for dinner and a pint before the presentation which begins at 7:00 PM. This month’s lecture will be presented by Dr. Brian McQuinn from the University of  Regina Politics & International Studies Department. In Canada, 94% of adults with internet access have an account on at least one platform, with almost half relying on social media as their primary news source. The adoption of social media will continue to accelerate, transforming social, political, and military conflict, scrambling our understanding of modern warfare, public health communication, and political discourse. Many of these conflicts are now contested as much online as in the real world, representing one of the most pressing concerns in the coming decade. Anti-democratic and extremist actors take advantage of social media’s reach to advance political extremism, stoke racial hatred, and spread medical disinformation, undermining democracy and public health.