Carleton University’s Faculty of Public Affairs runs a story of my research, as follows:
![](https://merlyna.files.wordpress.com/2019/06/screenshot-2019-06-05-19.50.16.png)
Mobilizing Emotion, Not Knowledge
As Canada prepares for a federal election, Canada Research Chair Professor Merlyna Lim is analyzing how social media usersâhuman and otherwiseâare mobilizing emotions rather than facts.
In the months leading up to the Canadian election, Facebook accounts with names like âTrudeau Has Got To Goâ, âOverthrow Trudeauâ, and Justin Trudeau is an Idiotâ focus on ridiculing the Prime Minister.
On the opposite end of the political spectrum are accounts attacking Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer, with names such as âAndrew Scheer Is An Idiotâ, âScheer Nonsenseâ, and âSchmeer 2019â.
Political cartoons and jokes are an age-old tradition. But Communication and Media Studies Professor Merlyna says that in the age of social media, hateful speech and misinformation spreads incredibly quicklyâintensifying the polarization within politics.