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Conclusions are clear, logical and accurately summarize the analysis. Impact of social media on the Growing Online Shopping Trend in Canada, before and during Covid-19 Introduction This paper examines how social media has changed buying behaviors and how influenced purchasing habits and e-commerce sales in Canada before and during the pandemic. The studys primary objective is to illustrate the enormous power of social media platforms as a great marketing tool and their undeniable influence on Canadian shopping behavior during the COVID-19. In this research, in order to optimize reliability, secondary research will be done from reliable sources. In addition, secondary research study has a significant role in this research because there is no possibility to conduct in-person research due to the Covid -19 pandemic. Secondary sources will consist of websites such as Statista, Retail Council of Canada, Privacy Commissioner of Canada, Datareportal, and any relevant journals or reports linked to this topic. Data Presentation - Social media has revolutionized the way the population consumes information, connects, and experiences the world. Also, it has opened up new opportunities for brands and consumers. Social media has opened up the possibility for consumers to purchase what they see on their screens instantly. The combination of e-commerce and social media has led to a new era of social commerce. Today, brands that optimize their digital technologies across multiple channels create a robust competitive advantage. Hence, the following hypotheses were generated: Hypothesis 1: The statistics show and evaluate the effect of Covid-19 on consumers´ increased usage of social media for online shopping from 2017 with the projection to 2025. According to Statista, the year 2021 has experienced a spike of up to 27.6 million in the number of users from 2017 till now within the eCommerce market. The projection by 2025 is expected to rise to about 30.5 million users in comparison to about 22.8 million users before Covid-19 in 2017. The social media world is experiencing daily growth in the online shopping world. Hypothesis 2: The statistics show and evaluate the remarkable generational contrast in the use of different social media platforms for online shopping before and during COVID -19 with future projection. (Schellenberg et al., 2021). Schellenberg et al., 2021 reported the different ages and their online shopping range in 2018 before Covid-19 started. The age range of between 35 to 49 years bought more using the internet with the record of 30.3\% in comparison to the age group of between 50 and 64 years that recorded 24.8\%. The least group to use the internet to shop is the age 15-19 age group with the percentage of 9.9. When COVID-19 started there was an increase in the use of social media for online shopping in 2020 for all the groups except for one age group that experienced a decrease. The 55-64 years of age experienced a decline falling down to 18.4\% due to the high rate of deaths among the age group during Covid-19. Nevertheless, all other age groups experienced a significant rise in the use of the internet for their daily shopping. (Statista, 2021). Hypothesis 3: The statistics show and evaluate the significant effect of COVID-19 on the consumer usage of different social media platforms and the notable increase of revenue within different industries. (Kemp, 2019) (Kemp, 2021). Social media is a great marketing tool for many companies. They allow to form a companys reputation, influence brand awareness, and organize the sale of goods and services. According to Simon Kemp and his Digital 2019 and Digital 2021 reports, YouTube, Facebook and Instagram are the most used social media platforms. As can be seen in the graph above, the usage of platforms remains relatively the same from 2019 to 2021. However, the only difference is the emergence of TikTok and its fast-growing popularity in 2021. (Reshift Media, 2021). Moreover, the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequently introduced self-isolation regime have increased the number of online shoppers across the country. According to Reshift Media (2021), Covid-19 has also impacted digital consumption. The graph shows that people spend more time doing online shopping compared to before pandemic time. The exact change happened to online orders of food and goods for pick-up and delivery. On the other hand, today people spend much less time shopping in stores and going out. The percentage of online shoppers who visited a retailers website or app after receiving social media ads (Williams, 2019) (Tarry, 2021) The rise in online shopping during Covid-19 is also affected by increased investments in online distribution as access to retail stores became limited. According to Sean Tarry (2021), 55 percent of retailers with e-commerce capabilities are actively selling product through the channel, with the majority leveraging Facebook (95\%) to do so, followed by Instagram (69\%), Twitter (14\%), Pinterest (11\%) and Snapchat (3\%). In addition, the research has shown that the percentage of online shoppers who visited a retailers website or app after receiving social media ads increased 41\% to 47\% in 2021 (Tarry, 2021). Also, the growth in social media platforms usage for shopping during Covid-19 has impacted eCommerce revenues. According to the Statista report 2021, the revenue of Canadian eCommerce boosted from $21,975 million US dollars in 2017 to $36,250 million US dollars in 2021. Moreover, the effect of pandemia will continue to increase the revenue, which is planning to reach $47,213 million US dollars in 2025. The most successful markets today are fashion, electronics, and media businesses (Statista, 2021). Current policy related to the eCommerce There are a couple of regulations that guide the online industry and its customers by different regulating arm of government and act within Canada are listed below: · Canadas anti-spam legislation (CASL) ensures the regulation of both online spam and potential threats. · The Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) is an informed consent document that contains privacy laws/restrictions that protect consumers from the use of their private data that was collected and the disclosure of such during online trading activities. This act includes regulations about e-marketing and internet address harvesting. Organizations are responsible for how they retrieve personal information from customers and how they disclose the information. Companies with online markets must ensure to have the customer sign a consent document. · The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) investigates the violation of Canadas anti-spam legislation, ranging from sending unrequested commercial internet messages, alternating of transmission data to installation of software without necessary consent or permission. · Competition Bureau deals with misrepresentation and deception of marketing practices within the online marketplace under the Competition Act. (Privacy Commissioner of Canada, 2020). Data Analysis: There’s no doubt that Covid-19 pandemic has reshaped the whole consumer purchasing behavior, forcing people to adapt to a new normal way of life with more remote working, virtual talks, online purchase, etc. (EyCanada, 2020). The research from the data presentation report focuses on both primary and more secondary data collection for the influential impact of Social media on Canadas online shopping trend. The above data illustrates hypotheses for many factors such as: * maximum use of social media from 2017 (27.6 million users) to 2025 (approx 30.5 million users). * before and online trend of maximum users of Generation X, Millenials, and Generation Z than Baby Boomers. * usage of various social media platforms generating maximum revenue for Canadian e-commerce. In the same context , few online shopping trends before and after pandemic are analyzed below:- Impact of digital media on online shopping trends before pandemic: 1) The in-store purchase was more and there was a subsequent split between e-commerce and in-store retailers. Online shopping trend had a follow up of mobile pay, advent of voice assistant and Big data- the lifeblood of many industries (specifical retailers). (get attachment) 2) Many groups of consumers such as Baby Boomers have been more prone to cash or other payment methods while less tech-savvy to online shopping with access to scan QR codes/ paypal or link visa to their online bank accounts. Impact of digital media on online shopping trends after pandemic: * 32\% of Canadians pay more for sustainable and ethical brands(RCC, 2021). Similarly, increased support for local businesses/ products also maximized from 34\% to 57\%. (RCC, 2021). * Due to major concerns for disease transmission, social distancing and closures of non-essential services lead to detrimental effects on Bricks-and-mortar retailers. For which customers expected the above sub-par digital shopping experience that gave retailers a proactive responsibility to make their sites mobile-responsive, offering integrated services, or incorporating sales through personalization, reviews and recommendation, social interactions, and so on (Lee Yohn, 2020). * Customer switch is another prevailing impact of covid on customers behaviors because of an increasing issue of In-stock availability, limited hours shopping, expensive factors, and so on (RCC, 2021). For this, the consumer has been switching frequently over the brands as products get out of the stock with 73\% of consumers preferring to buy and also continue trying different brands in the future as well (Torkington, 2021). E-commerce has drastically surged and is expected to have a long-lasting impact on shopping patterns with the projection of 7.7 million users’ growth within 2025. The growth of $14,275 million US dollars within 3 years, depicted from the revenue data also entails about the growth prospects for different e-commerce businesses in Canada. To promote the online shopping culture, the Government of Canada regulates a few guidelines to protect Canadian consumers and other business practitioners from the misuse of digital technology. For example- Canadas Anti-Spam Legislation policy (CASL) prohibits spamming, deceptive marketing, malware, hacking, address harvesting, spyware, and related activities in context to commercial activity (Office of Consumer Affairs, 2021). This will prevent Canadian consumers or social media users from electronic spam threat as CASL engages with many federal partners such as Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) oversees the initiative, while the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (OPC) and Competition Bureau enforce CASL or CASL-related provisions. The website Fightspam.gc.ca” is a key tool for promoting CASL managed by OCA. Further, CRTC hosts the spam reporting center that detects evidence of CASL violations. In 2019-2020, 309, 985 spam cases were submitted that have been resolved by legislative actions (Office of Consumer Affairs, 2021). The CRTCs website further can be useful for baby boomers who have rarely used online shopping due to more death rates, fear of electronic threats etc. The website provides awareness to protect privacy through alerts, videos, infographics using Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, etc. As analyzed, in 2019-2020 CRTC, released 71 tweets, 14 Facebook posts for promoting compliance of anti-spam activity in the digital media to protect from harmful threats. Whereas PIPEDA on other hand will administer private-sector organizations that collect, use, or disclose personal information in the course of commercial activity across Canada. In our opinion, tps://www.ey.com/en_ca/consumer-products-retail/covid-19-pandemic-changing-consumer-behaviours- canada Comment by Eliza Upreti: this link can hopefully used to derive few points for conclusion.:) BIBLIOGRAPHY: EyCanada. (2020). Retrieved 7 October 2021, from https://www.ey.com/en_ca/consumer-products-retail/covid-19-pandemic-changing-consumer-behaviours-canada . Deloitte. (2020). Voice of Canadians and impact to retailers. Www2.deloitte.com. Retrieved 7October 2021, from https://www2.deloitte.com/content/dam/Deloitte/ca/Documents/finance/ca-en-covid-19-voice-of-canadians-and-impact-to-retailers-aoda.pdf . Lee Yohn, D. (2020). The Pandemic Is Rewriting the Rules of Retail. Harvard Business Review. Retrieved 7 October 2021, from https://hbr.org/2020/07/the-pandemic-is-rewriting-the-rules-of-retail . RCC. (2021). How the pandemic has changed retail and buying behaviours - Retail Council of Canada. Retail Council of Canada. Retrieved 7 October 2021, from https://www.retailcouncil.org/articles/how-the-pandemic-has-changed-retail-and-buying-behaviours/ . Torkington, S. (2021). The pandemic has changed global consumer behaviour forever - and online shopping looks set to stay. World Economic Forum. Retrieved 7 October 2021, from https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2021/07/global-consumer-behaviour-trends-online-shopping/ . PWC. (2021). https://www.pwc.com/ca/en/industries/consumer-markets/consumer-insights-2021.html. pwc.com. Retrieved 7 October 2021, from https://www.pwc.com/ca/en/industries/consumer-markets/consumer-insights-2021.html . OECD. (2020, October 7). E-commerce in the time of covid-19. OECD. Retrieved October 9, 2021, from https://www.oecd.org/coronavirus/policy-responses/e-commerce-in-the-time-of-covid-19-3a2b78e8/ . Office of Consumer Affairs. (2021, February 18). Canadas anti-spam legislation (CASL) – performance measurement report 2019–20. Canadas Anti-Spam Legislation. Retrieved October 9, 2021, from https://fightspam.gc.ca/eic/site/030.nsf/eng/00027.html . Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada. (2019, May 31). Pipeda in brief. Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada. Retrieved October 9, 2021, from https://www.priv.gc.ca/en/privacy-topics/privacy-laws-in-canada/the-personal-information-protection-and-electronic-documents-act-pipeda/pipeda_brief/ . Privacy Policies. (2021, February 5). Complying with Pipeda. Privacy Policies. Retrieved October 9, 2021, from https://www.privacypolicies.com/blog/pipeda/ . Kemp, S. (2019, January 31). DIGITAL 2019: CANADA. DataRePortal. Retrieved from: https://datareportal.com/reports/digital-2019-canada Kemp, S. (2021, February 9). DIGITAL 2021: CANADA. DataRePortal. Retrieved from: https://datareportal.com/reports/digital-2021-canada Privacy Commissioner of Canada. (2020, January 23). Guidance for businesses doing e-marketing. Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada. Retrieved from: https://www.priv.gc.ca/en/privacy-topics/privacy-laws-in-canada/the-personal-information-protection-and-electronic-documents-act-pipeda/r_o_p/canadas-anti-spam-legislation/casl-compliance-help-for-businesses/casl_guide/. Reshift Media. (2021, June 8). How the pandemic has changed retail and buying behaviours. Retail Council of Canada. Retrieved from: https://www.retailcouncil.org/articles/how-the-pandemic-has-changed-retail-and-buying-behaviours/ Schellenberg, G., Fonberg, J., and Schimmele, C. (2021, March 24). Canadians’ assessments of social media in their lives. Statistics Canada. Retrieved from: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/36-28-0001/2021003/article/00004-eng.htm Statista. (2021). eCommerce – Canada: Statista Market Forecast. Digital Markets. https://www.statista.com/outlook/dmo/ecommerce/canada . Tarry, S. (2021, March 24). How Social Media Is Bolstering an Online Spending Boom for Retailers in Canada [Analysis]. Retail Insider. Retrieved from: https://retail-insider.com/retail-insider/2021/03/how-social-media-is-bolstering-an-online-spending-boom-for-retailers-in-canada-analysis/ Williams, R. (2019, December 2). PayPal: Consumers plan to ramp up social shopping this holiday season. Marketing Dive. Retrieved from: https://www.marketingdive.com/news/paypal-consumers-plan-to-ramp-up-social-shopping-this-holiday-season/568225/ This project will require students to undertake collaborative research on a subject of their choice in international relations. Here are the requirements: You will work in your groups, applying concepts and theories from class to address a contemporary international relations or policy problem. The format should generally be the following: 1. An executive summary- between ½ to 1 page summarizing th research and main findings. 2. A short introduction to the problem (what, where, why, when, and who). 3. A brief discussion of the current policy related to the problem. 4. Your findings and policy specific recommendations. TOPICS AND AREAS OF INTEREST Some may be interested in development issues, others in international environmental, technological, economic or political matters. You may for example, undertake a comparative analysis of 2 selected countries, a group of countries or examine an issue in a selected country. You could focus on specific trends and the implications of such for the global north or south countries. Or you could look at the extent to which IR theories explain the policies of specific leaders. Focus on what it of interest to you, what you think requires careful analysis and policy consideration. Some topic area could be: · Security –select one of the dimensions -health, immigration, food, cyber, water · COVID 19 - research the impact on a specific country with respect to one dimension- economic, political stability, education, physical & mental well-being, international cooperation, vaccine nationalism · Contemporary Political Leadership- · Trumpism/ Putism/ Xism/ · Middle East –peace, security and prosperity · Nationalism vs Globalization/ · Economic/ political/ legal/social impacts of COVID 19 · Balance of power/global leadership in the 21 century · Ethical/moral considerations · Authoritarianism · International norms vs new national imperatives –human rights · Social Media (political/economic/ social impacts / positive negative impacts/ change agents · Social Justice/Poverty North- South Gap · News media ( their roles as change agents/ impact on public perception/ role and responsibilities) · Corruption and Development FORMAT The paper should be between 8-10 typed written pages [exclusive of cover page and bibliographic reference page] A cover page will contain – Course title, Course code, group members’ names & ID#, topic of research All pages will be numbered and text justified. Use in text citations where required. Bibliography- this comes at the end of your paper and includes all reference sources that you used in your research AS WELL as those that helped develop your ideas on the research although you did not use these extensively. APA FORMAT Use the American Psychological Association (APA) style in preparing this paper. References should be cited for all facts, ideas, conclusions, and opinions that are not your own. About APA format: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/ http://psychology.about.com/od/apastyle/a/apaformatguide.htm Please review the Individual Grading Rubric in the projects folder of your Course Page so you understand how you will be graded.