Nearly three years after Meta Platforms, Inc., the owner of Facebook, Instagram and Threads, banned links to news articles on its sites in Canada, Toronto sports fans are finding themselves inundated with fake news and clickbait content. The ban was implemented in response to the federal government's Online News Act, which requires social media platforms to pay a fee when articles appear on their pages. As a result, fans of Toronto sports teams have less legitimate content to read, comment on, and share while scrolling through social apps.
The Rise of Clickbait and Fabricated Stories
In the absence of legitimate news on Facebook, a plethora of purported fan sites have emerged, engaging in clickbait by publishing outright lies with hallucinated quotes to fill the gap. One notable example involves a Maple Leafs team page that completely fabricated a verbal exchange between captain Auston Matthews and White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. The post, published on a Friday afternoon, claimed that Matthews “spoke passionately about the financial pressure many families are currently facing” during a TV debate.
According to the fabricated story, Leavitt replied, “Stick to hockey, Auston. Complex economic issues are probably better left to people who actually understand them.” While the story appears to have a grain of truth due to rising inflation and higher gas and food prices following the U.S. and Israeli war against Iran, which led to the shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz, there is no verified record of such an exchange. Google's AI Overview states: “There is no verified record, official interview, or factual event connecting Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews and former White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt in a discussion about financial pressures on families. Rumors or quotes suggesting the two clashed on live television are the result of dramatized fiction or social media clickbait.” In reality, Matthews is rehabbing a knee injury following surgery earlier this year, while Leavitt temporarily stepped away from her position as U.S. President Donald Trump’s spokesperson in late April for maternity leave.
Blue Jays Fans Also Targeted
In another example, what appears to be a Blue Jays fan page posted a story in April claiming that team reporter and host Hazel Mae is cutting back her workload this season due to “undisclosed health issues.” The post was shared by another Blue Jays fan site, with retired broadcaster Buck Martinez allegedly sending a “deeply personal message” in support. The fake news spread so far that one woman took to Facebook to ask if Mae was returning to broadcasts. However, a search of the internet turns up no statement about Mae reeling back her workload or health issues, nor any mention of Martinez's words of encouragement, apart from the fabricated social media reports. On Thursday, Mae responded to a fan on X, saying: “Few days off getting caught up on errands, son’s school events and packing for our move. Back in time for Tigers/Yankees.”
End of Fact-Checking Program in 2025
In January 2025, Meta announced an end to their third-party fact-checking program and moved to a community notes model on Facebook, Instagram, and Threads, which it said would allow more free speech and fewer mistakes. Since then, it appears that the relaxed moderation practices are not keeping up with the boom in fake news for Canadian audiences. Facebook remains one of the most popular social media sites in Canada, with nearly 24 million users in 2025. People aged 25-34 make up almost a quarter of all Facebook users in the country, while more than half of its users are women.
How to Spot Fake News
Librarians at the University of Victoria in British Columbia have published a guide on how to spot fake news and avoid clickbait links. They suggest that the public consume news from a wide variety of media and sources and approach each headline critically. “Increasing your news diet means shifting from passive, high-stress consumption (aka doomscrolling) to an active, intentional, and balanced approach,” they said. “A healthy news diet can be characterized by variety, accuracy, and manageable volume, ensuring you are informed without becoming overwhelmed.” The librarians also recommend curating sources by diversifying news consumption beyond social media to balance perspectives. “Actively seek out news outlets with different political or ideological leanings than your own to avoid filter bubbles,” they advise.
