NOW RECRUITING: CANADIAN INFLUENCERS AND CONTENT CREATORS
JOIN THE INFLUENCER PROJECT
NOW RECRUITING
We're launching a first-of-its-kind national research project - bringing youth, researchers, and influencers/content creators together to look at influencers' role in Canada's digital world, and what it all means for digital literacy and youth wellbeing.
❋Right now, governments are writing new rules for social media, algorithms are shaping what people see, and educators are racing to figure out how to protect and empower young people online. And EVERYONE seems to have an opinion about what influencers' responsibility should be.
❋We think decisions shouldn't be made by tech companies or governments alone.
❋ That's why we've invited select influencers and content creators to join us in a Citizens' Assembly: a democratic process where everyday Canadians sit down, learn the facts, hear different perspectives, and create helpful tools and recommendations to shape how we engage in, regulate, and support digital spaces.
❋We think creators like you have insight that lawmakers, youth, and educators need to hear - through tools and conversations we’ll build together.
What exactly are we inviting you into?
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About your experience as a content creator/influencer — how you think about your audience, digital literacy, responsibility, and wellbeing online.
Online, over Zoom
A 1-on-1 conversation with a researcher on our team
Before the interview, we’ll ask you to fill in a short survey (8-18min), and review and sign the consent form (10-20min)
Recorded - you choose whether to stay anonymous or be quoted by name (consent form to be shared before interview)
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(late January / early February 2027 - dates coming soon)
Join digitally: about 1-3 hours total, OR
Join in person: 2.5 days, with travel, hotel, and per diem fully covered
A citizen assembly is a gathering where people from different backgrounds come together to learn and discuss a complex issue, and work together to create a set of recommendations or a helpful educational tool
Our assembly will build on the insights and perspectives gathered in the interviews alongside secondary research (what other people are saying, learning, and trying)
See below “What is a Citizens’ Assembly?” for more details
If you choose to contribute, you can skip any question, or stop participating at any time, no explanation needed.
If you choose to contribute, you can skip any question, or stop participating at any time, no explanation needed.
What's in it for you:
✓ A chance to help shape the national conversation on influencers and digital culture
✓ Space to reflect on your own practice, with respectful, curious listeners
✓ A $250 total honorarium - $100 for the interview and $150 for the Assembly, plus full travel, hotel, and per diem if you join the Assembly in person
✓ If you join the Assembly, a chance to meet and connect with other Canadian content creators
ABOUT US:
We're a team of researchers (university and youth co-researchers), educators, and content creators studying Canadian influencers, digital literacy, and youth wellbeing.
At the organizational level, Young Lives Research Lab at York University leads this work, partnered with the Students Commission of Canada.
Our team also includes a Youth Advisory Committee made up of 7 youth content creators and 4 Youth Research Fellows who help to lead and design this work.
The project is led by Dr. Kate Tilleczek, Canada Tier 1 Research Chair in Youth, Education, and the Global Good.
This is a federally funded research project (Department of Canadian Heritage), not a brand campaign. And, all research activities are governed by York University’s Research Ethics Board.
What is a Citizens’ Assembly?
A Citizens’ Assembly is a group of people from all walks of life who come together to learn, discuss, and make recommendations and decisions we can trust, on important and complex topics.
To make these decisions, we engage in facilitated discussions grounded in existing research - including your interview!
It’s an independent process that is non-partisan (meaning, it’s not led by a political party or and it’s not about choosing sides). Citizens’ Assemblies usually share recommendations with government officials who are working to regulate something or create new laws.
Our Citizens’ Assembly is unique: we don’t only want to create recommendations. We want to build influencer-co-created tools that help influencers and their audiences better navigate the digital world. We're imagining tools like a Code of Conduct for Canadian Creators, teaching materials, new art and media content.
You’ll be invited into the conversation through creative presentations of the research including an art installation and opening night before diving into facilitated conversations and a co-creative process.
Is this legit?
Fair question - we know you get so many scammy emails!! But yes!!! It is! 🙂
Check out the Meet the Team page to meet the people behind the work.
You can also visit www.younglivesresearch.org and www.studentscommission.ca to learn more about our organizations.
If you want to talk to someone on the phone/zoom/email before you decide whether you’re interested you can reach out to the Project Lead, Dr. Roxy Cohen - cohenrox@yorku.ca, and she’ll get back to you and set up a time to talk.
Got questions? Email Roxy directly: cohenrox@yorku.ca OR schedule a 15-min Zoom chat here - https://calendly.com/cohenrox-yorku/15-min-get-to-know-each-other