Digital natives don’t even trust the internet right now

Plus, what Ontario’s learned from the e-scooter pilot, remembering Jimmy Buffett and Mr. X’s identity [The Star] First Up [By Andrew Joe Potter] By Andrew Joe Potter Good morning. After a disappointing setback against Brazil, [Canada’s men’s basketball team must win their match]( against Spain today to remain in the hunt for the FIBA World Cup, as well as a spot in next summer’s Paris Olympics. Action tips off at 9:30 a.m. ET. Here’s the latest. MUST READS Susan Kao/Toronto Star illustration TECHNOLOGY [They grew up on the internet but today’s kids feel out of their depth identifying misinformation]( Kids know the internet is rife with false information, but for all the time they spend online, they’re no better at spotting it, Alex Boyd reports. “Twenty years ago, the internet was an escape from the real world,” says 16-year-old Tristan Kim, president of the Ontario Student Trustees’ Association. “But now today, the real world is more of an escape from the internet.” [Here’s why young Canadians are struggling in an overwhelmingly digital world](. Richard Lautens/Toronto Star TRANSPORTATION [What Ontario has learned from its controversial e-scooter pilot program]( Though you can find battery-powered kick-scooters all over the province, they’re technically only legal in a few jurisdictions, writes Jason Miller, and Toronto isn’t one of them. Proponents say the “micromobility” tech will help ease gridlock but many critics point to the safety hazard for pedestrians and riders alike. [Here’s what we know so far as e-scooter pilots continue through January 2025](. Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision/AP obituary [Jimmy Buffett, champion of the easy, breezy life, dies at 76]( With escapist hits like his 1977 signature song “Margaritaville,” Jimmy Buffett preached a life of simple pleasures, tropical beaches and cold drinks. He’d bring that philosophy to what is now a multi-billion dollar restaurant and resort empire, charming generations of his adoring fans along the way. Knowing this, you’d be surprised to learn that Canada’s east coast held a special place in Buffett’s heart. [Here’s more on Buffet and his surprising Canadian connection](. Instagram star investigation [Who is Mr. X? Why a potential unregistered Greenbelt lobbyist will be familiar to some Ontarians]( The mystery consultant dubbed “Mr. X” in the integrity commissioner’s scathing report on the Greenbelt land swaps has been revealed as former Clarington mayor John Mutton, Jesse McLean and Brendan Kennedy report. “I'm not a lobbyist,” he told the Star over the phone — though concerns over whether Mutton’s conduct constituted unregistered lobbying persist. [Here’s more on his contract with developers and how he sought to woo key political staffers](. Howard Prendergast/Toronto Star OFFICES [Why not even remote work and hybrid learning could kill the office supply store]( In an increasingly digital world, office supplies were already a little antiquated. With workplaces and schools forced to adopt remote-first approaches during the pandemic, you’d be excused for forecasting the imminent demise of a business model based on hawking pens and printer paper, writes Brennan Doherty. Not so fast, says Staples Canada president Rachel Huckle. [Here’s how the company was able to embrace tech as it pivots toward the future](. UP CLOSE Noah Kalina/Supplied With the animated children’s series “Pokémon” set to retire its main character Ash Ketchum this summer, Sarah Natochenny’s journey is coming to a close, too. She’s the longest-running English voice actor for Ash, having spent half her life with him, Kevin Jiang reports. [Here’s what she’s learned from 17 years of trying to catch ’em all](. READ THIS Knopf Canada From Walter Isaacson’s forthcoming biography on Elon Musk to Naomi Klein’s thought-provoking “Doppelganger,” there will be no shortage of new books to curl up with this autumn. [Deborah Dundas counts down the 30 anticipated books of the fall season](. Thanks for reading. You can reach the First Up team at [firstup@thestar.ca](mailto:firstup@thestar.ca?source=newsletter&utm_source=ts_nl&utm_medium=emailutm_email=6C53B63A8E3FAD70AD4EF13004527437&utm_campaign=frst_197781). We’ll be off tomorrow for Labour Day, so Manuela will see you back here on Tuesday. If you're not enjoying these emails, please tell us how we can make them better by emailing newsletterfeedback@thestar.ca. Or, if you'd prefer, you can unsubscribe from this newsletter by clicking the first link below. [Unsubscribe From This Newsletter]( [Sign Up for More Newsletters and Email Alerts]( [View in Browser]( Toronto Star Newspapers Limited. 8 Spadina Avenue, 10th Floor, Toronto, ON M5V 0S8. 416-367-2000 [PRIVACY POLICY](