A researcher at the University of Lethbridge has received approximately $227,000 in federal funding to study how online influencers are radicalizing young people. The grant, announced on May 13, 2026, by Canadian Heritage, will support a team led by Dr. Amy Mack, an assistant professor of New Media and Canada Research Chair in Digital Extremism, as they investigate the spread of harmful content online.
The research project focuses on understanding how influencers use misogynistic, transphobic, and homophobic messaging to target Canadian youth. This work comes as concerns grow regarding the safety of young people on the internet, with recent reports indicating that extremism is increasingly reaching younger demographics. According to a report by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, nearly one in 10 terrorism investigations now involves a person under the age of 18, with some individuals as young as 13 becoming subjects of counter-terrorism investigations amid growing concerns about online radicalization.
Dr. Mack, an assistant professor of New Media, is working alongside an interdisciplinary team to address these challenges. The group includes Dr. Emily Gale from the Department of Music, Bryn Hewko from New Media, A.J. Lowik from Sociology, and Brent Saccucci from the Faculty of Education. Along with students and external collaborators, the team aims to create practical tools for the community.
The final outcome of the project will include media-based counter-campaigns designed to challenge disinformation. Additionally, the team plans to produce a guidebook to help educators, social workers, and community organizations recognize and counter extremist rhetoric, providing families in Lethbridge and across Canada with resources to better protect youth.
