A
seal of approval for civil communication could promote successful public communication on online platforms while respecting users’freedoms. In their article ‘Platform Badges for Civic Communication. An Interdisciplinary Discussion of a Risk Mitigation Measure Pursuant to Art.’, Jan Rau, Jan-Ole Harfst and Dr. Tobias Mast examine various design options for such seals. They evaluate the potential advantages and risks in terms of debate quality and users’ fundamental rights from communication science and media law perspectives. Particular focus is placed on the challenges posed by the attention economy, disinformation and conflict-laden, emotionally charged content.
The article was published open access in the online journal Internet Policy Review.
Abstract
To promote civility in public discourse on online platforms while respecting user freedoms, this paper explores a voluntary user badge system. By asking users to commit to civic norms of discourse, this system rewards their commitment with increased visibility, offering a potentially effective but underutilised approach to fostering constructive engagement. We examine different design options for these badges from an interdisciplinary perspective, assessing their potential benefits and risks in terms of discourse quality and users’ fundamental rights, particularly within the context of the attention economy and the challenges posed by disinformation as well as conflict-driven and emotionally negatively charged content. The badge system aims to introduce a new logic of attention distribution to digital platforms, strengthening the structural conditions for civic communication. Through this analysis, we aim to contribute to platform governance from the perspectives of both political communication studies and legal studies.
Rau, J., Harfst, J.-O., & Mast, T. (2025). Platform Badges for Civic Communication: An Interdisciplinary Discussion of a Risk Mitigation Measure Pursuant to Art. 35 DSA. Internet Policy Review, 14(4). https://doi.org/10.14763/2025.4.2054