Engagement tactics and effects

Please review each article prior to use: grade-level applicability and curricular alignment might not be obvious from the headline alone.

How the humble water gun became the symbol of Barcelona’s anti-tourism movement

Joseph Wilson, The Associated Press 4 minute read Preview

How the humble water gun became the symbol of Barcelona’s anti-tourism movement

Joseph Wilson, The Associated Press 4 minute read Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — A group of tourists were sitting at an outdoor table in the Spanish city of Barcelona, trying to enjoy their drinks, when a woman raised a cheap plastic water gun and shot an arc of water at them.

Her weapon of choice — the cheap, squirt-squirt variety — is an increasingly common fixture at anti-tourism protests in the southern European country, where many locals fear that an overload of visitors is driving them from their cherished neighborhoods.

How did the humble water gun become a symbol of discontent?

From refreshing to revolutionary

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Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025

A protester holds a water gun during a protest against overtourism in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, June 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Pau Venteo)

A protester holds a water gun during a protest against overtourism in Barcelona, Spain, Sunday, June 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Pau Venteo)
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Enhanced Games perpetuate a growing problem

Editorial 4 minute read Preview
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Enhanced Games perpetuate a growing problem

Editorial 4 minute read Saturday, Jun. 7, 2025

We appear to be entering a new golden age of steroids.

Years of scandals out of the Olympics, pro baseball, pro wrestling, and other athletic fields should have put to bed the notion that there is any athletic or cultural value in using performance-enhancing drugs, or PEDs, to get an edge. With every suspension, with every prize stripped from a competitor or left tainted by the way it was obtained, the message was clear — it’s cheating, and it’s not worth it.

Some haven’t received the message. The Enhanced Games hopes to hold its first-ever event in Las Vegas, Nev.

The Enhanced Games, as the name suggests, is a multi-sport athletic competition in which athletes are openly using PEDs. The games’ website makes much ado about the close supervision the athletes will be under, overseen by medical professionals to ensure their health and safety.

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Saturday, Jun. 7, 2025

FILE

Are steroids back?

FILE
                                Are steroids back?
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Part toy, part fashion, the arrival of the viral Labubu was a long time in the making

Michelle Chapman, The Associated Press 4 minute read Preview
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Part toy, part fashion, the arrival of the viral Labubu was a long time in the making

Michelle Chapman, The Associated Press 4 minute read Friday, Oct. 10, 2025

Labubu, the plush toy from China's Pop Mart is a social media darling, but the toothy little monsters are far from an overnight success. Having appeared a decade ago, Labubus may have finally cemented their place in the collectible toy market for years to come.

The Labubu, by artist and illustrator Kasing Lung, first appeared with pointed ears and pointy teeth, in three picture books inspired by Nordic mythology in 2015.

In 2019 Lung struck a deal with Pop Mart, a company that caters to toy connoisseurs and influencers, to sell Labubu figurines. But it wasn't until Pop Mart started selling Labubu plush toys on key rings in 2023 that the toothy monsters suddenly seemed to be everywhere, including in the hands of Rihanna, Kim Kardashian and NBA star Dillon Brooks. K-pop singer Lisa of Blackpink began posting images of hers for her more than 100 million followers on Instagram and on TikTok, where Labubu pandemonium has broken out.

There are 1.4 million #Labubu TikTok posts and counting, videos of fans unboxing them, showing styles inspired by them, and of course, Labubu cosplay.

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Friday, Oct. 10, 2025

This image provided by Pop Mart, shows Labubu, the plush toy from China’s Pop Mart. (Pop Mart via AP)

This image provided by Pop Mart, shows Labubu, the plush toy from China’s Pop Mart. (Pop Mart via AP)
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Toronto school board, firefighters warn of ‘dangerous’ social-media trends

Maan Alhmidi, The Canadian Press 2 minute read Preview
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Toronto school board, firefighters warn of ‘dangerous’ social-media trends

Maan Alhmidi, The Canadian Press 2 minute read Friday, Oct. 10, 2025

TORONTO - The Toronto Catholic District School Board, along with some emergency responders, are warning parents about "dangerous" social-media challenges that are trending among students in Ontario schools.

The board said the challenges are recorded on video and shared online to encourage others to participate, but they can pose serious risks to students and the entire school community.

Among them is the so-called "paper clip challenge" that involves students inserting metal objects such as a paper clip into an electrical outlet and dropping a coin onto the prongs to cause electrical sparks.

The board said the "Chromebook challenge" involves placing paper clips, pencils or other objects into Chromebook USB ports to deliberately cause them to short-circuit, which can lead to overheating, burns or fire.

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Friday, Oct. 10, 2025

An empty classroom is shown at a school in Toronto, Monday, Sept. 14, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

An empty classroom is shown at a school in Toronto, Monday, Sept. 14, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

Increase in sextortion cases prompts call for legislation to combat predators

Chris Kitching 6 minute read Preview

Increase in sextortion cases prompts call for legislation to combat predators

Chris Kitching 6 minute read Thursday, May. 8, 2025

The spike in online sextortion cases in Winnipeg has alarmed police and augmented advocates’ calls for Canada to begin regulating social media platforms to help protect children from predators.

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Thursday, May. 8, 2025

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS

Jacques Marcoux, with the Canadian Centre for Child Protection, says the Winnipeg Police Service’s online exploitation stats are not surprising, as this type of crime is rampant.

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS
                                Jacques Marcoux, with the Canadian Centre for Child Protection, says the Winnipeg Police Service’s online exploitation stats are not surprising, as this type of crime is rampant.

Little pictures, big ears, and bad examples

Jordan Laidlaw 5 minute read Preview

Little pictures, big ears, and bad examples

Jordan Laidlaw 5 minute read Monday, Apr. 28, 2025

One of the pillars of a thriving democratic society is exemplified through the civil conduct of our elected political leaders. The ethos of honesty, humility, and empathy are becoming increasingly relinquished in lieu of posturing public vitriol and moral indifference.

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Monday, Apr. 28, 2025

Alex Brandon / The Associated Press

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks as he signs executive orders in the Oval Office of the White House on April 17, as Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick listens.

Alex Brandon / The Associated Press
                                U.S. President Donald Trump speaks as he signs executive orders in the Oval Office of the White House on April 17, as Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick listens.

Increasingly sophisticated deepfake AI-generated political ads threaten to unravel Canada’s social order

Jen Zoratti 12 minute read Preview

Increasingly sophisticated deepfake AI-generated political ads threaten to unravel Canada’s social order

Jen Zoratti 12 minute read Friday, Apr. 25, 2025

Increasingly sophisticated deepfake AI-generated internet political ads threaten to unravel Canada’s social order, experts warn, pointing to the successful war on truth U.S. President Donald Trump is waging south of the border.

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Friday, Apr. 25, 2025

An AI deepfake video purporting to show Liberal leader Mark Carney (Facebook)

An AI deepfake video (Facebook)

Despite ease of digital media, candidates still rely on old-fashioned campaign lawn signs

Malak Abas 10 minute read Preview

Despite ease of digital media, candidates still rely on old-fashioned campaign lawn signs

Malak Abas 10 minute read Tuesday, Apr. 22, 2025

When the federal election was called last month, candidates across Canada quickly arranged to have lawn signs printed and placed in willing supporters’ yards. Does all of the the planning, care and consideration that go into such an old-fashioned aspect of the democratic process pay off in the end?

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Tuesday, Apr. 22, 2025

BROOK JONES / FREE PRESS

Incumbent Conservative candidate Marty Morantz (left) holds a large re-elect campaign sign with his campaign manager Michael Kowalson while the duo are pictured alongside Portage Avenue in Winnipeg, Man., Thursday, April 17, 2025. Morantz, who is a two-term Conservative incumbent, is running in the federal riding of Winnipeg West.

BROOK JONES / FREE PRESS
                                Incumbent Conservative candidate Marty Morantz (left) holds a large re-elect campaign sign with his campaign manager Michael Kowalson while the duo are pictured alongside Portage Avenue in Winnipeg, Man., Thursday, April 17, 2025. Morantz, who is a two-term Conservative incumbent, is running in the federal riding of Winnipeg West.

Global extremism, as close as your keyboard

Editorial 4 minute read Preview

Global extremism, as close as your keyboard

Editorial 4 minute read Monday, Mar. 31, 2025

An arrest in Winnipeg has provided yet another reminder of just how much extremist attitudes have spread across the world.

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Monday, Mar. 31, 2025

File

The internet is bringing hate into homes.

File
                                The internet is bringing hate into homes.

Conservative MPs beat Liberals, NDP on online engagement, study finds

Anja Karadeglija, The Canadian Press 3 minute read Preview

Conservative MPs beat Liberals, NDP on online engagement, study finds

Anja Karadeglija, The Canadian Press 3 minute read Saturday, Sep. 20, 2025

OTTAWA - A new study from McGill University says Conservative MPs far outpace their Liberal and NDP counterparts in online engagement, partly due to the their voices being amplified on X.

The report from McGill’s Media Ecosystem Observatory found in 2024, online posts from federal Conservative MPs garnered 61 per cent more engagement — likes, shares and comments — than those from Liberal and NDP MPs combined.

It found that engagement with Conservative politicians on X has increased 52 per cent since Elon Musk, a key ally of U.S. President Donald Trump, took over the platform previously known as Twitter in 2022.

The report looked at online posts from all members of Parliament on Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube and TikTok between January 2022 and November 2024.

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Saturday, Sep. 20, 2025

The opening page of X is displayed on a computer and phone in Sydney, Monday, Oct. 16, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Rick Rycroft

The opening page of X is displayed on a computer and phone in Sydney, Monday, Oct. 16, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Rick Rycroft