July 18, 2025 More Canadians are moving to Canadian purchases online and the .ca has become a symbol of trust.  Use of generative AI is growing but concerns about misinformation and declining trust in online platforms are also increasing, according to a new report from the Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA).

One in three Canadians has used a generative AI tool in the past year, double the number from 2024, according to CIRA’s 2025 State of the Internet report. The spike in usage comes as tools like ChatGPT and Gemini become increasingly common for work and study — particularly among men and younger Canadians.

Yet the enthusiasm for AI is tempered by concern. Seventy-four per cent of Canadians say they are worried about AI-generated misinformation, especially deepfakes. A third of respondents reported personally encountering a deepfake video, meme, or other false content in the past 12 months.

At the same time, trust in social media continues to erode. Only 22 per cent of Canadians now say they trust platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. X (formerly Twitter) was singled out as the least trusted platform, with 33 per cent of respondents identifying it as the top source of misinformation and 31 per cent calling it the most polarizing. Perceived safety on the platform has dropped 20 points since 2018.

Meanwhile, Canadians appear to be making more intentional online choices. Sixty-four per cent say they prefer to shop from Canadian retailers when possible, with more than half citing support for the local economy as the primary reason. A .ca domain name remains one of the most trusted indicators of Canadian identity online.

Here’s a link to the full study.  Canadian Internet Registration Authority (CIRA)