News
Reports, Publications, Projects, Blog Posts & Podcasts from the Institute
Children’s Media Biographies Are Becoming Increasingly Individualized
The media worlds of children and young people have changed significantly in recent years. While the first smartphone still plays a central role, the use of individual media and the order in which they are purchased or made available varies. These changes result in more diverse media ensembles and individualized media biographies for children.
Young People on TikTok – Between Appreciation and Resistance
Young people often use TikTok as a news source, but are not always aware that they may be exposed to various forms of manipulation through the TikTok algorithm. A new qualitative #UseTheNews study by the HBI shows how teenagers and young adults use the platform and interact with the algorithm.
The Climate Discourse on Social Media
Most Germans are willing to do more to protect the climate, but concerns about the social and economic consequences of climate policy are widespread. This is one of the findings of the second Cohesion Report published by the Research Institute Social Cohesion (RISC). For this report, the Social Media Observatory examined the climate discourse on social media.
Summit Meeting: Europe Aims to Become More Digitally Sovereign
Matthias C. Kettemann is a guest on the ORF radio program "Punkt Eins" to discuss Europe's struggle for self-determination in the digital world and explain what law and ethics can achieve with new technologies on the occasion of the summit on Europe's digital sovereignty.
Who Is Responsible for Extreme Right-Wing Content on TikTok?
TikTok launched its shopping feature in the first EU countries at the end of 2024. Since February 2025, it has been available in Germany, allowing users to purchase products directly through the app. For TikTok, the app's shopping feature means increased brand growth and revenue.However, monetizing content raises specific legal questions: Who is liable when illegal products are sold? Matthias C. Kettemann has the answer.
News Usage, News Avoidance, and Digital Public Spheres
As part of Hamburg's Press Freedom Week, researchers from the HBI met with journalists to discuss the current challenges facing journalism, news avoidance, and the differences between journalism and influence.
Information Systems and Troubled Democracy
Internet freedom has declined for 14 consecutive years. This publication examines how principles for regulating information ecosystems are being implemented, as well as the challenges faced by public institutions and other stakeholders in their efforts to combat misinformation and disinformation.
New Code of Conduct for Human-Machine Decision-Making Processes in Content Moderation
Content moderation requires clear rules. The "Strengthening Trust" code of conduct, developed at HIIG under Matthias C. Kettemann's direction, uses ten guidelines to demonstrate how platforms can facilitate fairer and more transparent collaboration between humans and machines in content moderation. It is based on Kettemann's research at HBI.
Report of the Global Research Study “Worlds of Journalism”
The report of the Worlds of Journalism Study (WJS3) "Journalism under Duress" is now available open access. Based on responses from over 32,000 journalists in 75 countries, the report examines how journalists worldwide are dealing with risks, uncertainties, and changes in today's rapidly evolving media landscape.
Event dates
TikTok Starter Workshop
2. December 2025The Social Media Observatory (SMO) at the Hamburg section of the Research Institute Social Cohesion (RISC) is hosting a workshop on TikTok. This two-day event will introduce participants to scientific work with TikTok data.
AI & Youth Protection
4. December 2025As part of the FSM Focus: AI & Youth Protection event series, Dr. Stephan Dreyer will speak on the topic of protection and risks posed by artificial intelligence.
Media History Lunch Talks
10. December 2025The international research network Entangled Media Histories (EMHIS), of which the HBI is a partner, has organized an online seminar program on topics in media history for the fall. This semester, the focus is on memory, activism, and technology.