PARKDALE – With Meta’s policy update that blocks Canadian news from being shared on Facebook, Islanders have turned to their traditional sources of news and information: taxi drivers and barbers.
Up until the emergence of Facebook in the early 21st century, experts agree that most news, rumours, and ill-informed fear mongering was spread through casual conversations with taxi drivers while en route to their destination, and barbers or hairdressers while going in for their monthly trim.
“So true,” said Fred Hendersen, a long-time user of taxi services in Charlottetown. “One time, I was getting a ride home from Myrons after having a few, and the taxi driver was telling me that there was going to be a Starbucks going in to the old Tweel’s Gift Shop. Four months later, what do I see? Starbucks!”
“I’d say taxi drivers have the inside scoop on a lot of goings-on around here.”
Fran Gallant agrees with using alternative news sources.
“One time back twenty years or more now, I was at the hair salon getting a summer cut. The girls were saying that the Sea Treat restaurant was in a terrible mess and I should never eat there,” said Gallant. “I never ate there again.”
“I mean, I never ate there before either, but I told everyone about it – and wouldn’t you know, three years later, they shut down,” added Gallant.
When it comes to reliability, taxi drivers and barbers are known for having a captive audience who are likely bored and feel the need to fill the awkward silence with conversation, says Dr. Henry McLean of the UPEI Department on Recent History.
“Taxi drivers and barbers are often gifted with enhanced knowledge. Based on the number of people they interact with in the run of a day, some of it is bound to be true,” says Dr. McLean. “I suspect that with the lack of online access to news, these traditional sources will return to prominence.”
Says Dr. McLean, “When something happens, you’ll hear about it first from a barber – and then maybe your uncle.”
The Islander 