Disinformation and democratic threats: Insights from the 2019 Canadian federal election

News and social media shape voter decisions by influencing which political issues receive attention and how they are presented. This study examines how exposure to social media and disinformation impacted voter behaviour during the 2019 Canadian federal election. A survey was designed and delivered via various social media channels to collect data from Canadians who voted in the 2019 election (N = 182). Participants were presented with a mix of real and fake news headlines, and their responses were analyzed using binary logistic regression to assess the impact of media exposure on voting decisions. The results highlight that time spent on social media, particularly Instagram, significantly increased the likelihood of participants changing their voting decisions. Even when not widely circulated, exposure to fake news profoundly influenced voting decisions among respondents. Interestingly, real news headlines showed no statistically significant effect on voting behaviour, suggesting a reduced impact of credible journalism compared to other media types. This study emphasizes the necessity to create well-informed strategies to mitigate the spread of fake news and enhance media literacy to safeguard democratic processes in the digital age. This research contributes to theoretical advancements in understanding disinformation’s impacts and provides relevant insights for policymakers, educators, and media platforms working to mitigate the influence of disinformation.