Leibniz Institute for Media Research - Hans Bredow Institute

Eine junge Familie mit zwei Kleinkindern posiert vor Ringlicht und Handy

Babies and Toddlers as Family Influencers

The HBI is conducting a qualitative and quantitative study to examine how babies and young children under the age of five are portrayed on commercial German-language 'family influencing' profiles on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube. A team led by Dr. Claudia Lampert and Dr. Stephan Dreyer is discussing the findings in relation to the existing legal framework and media ethics considerations.
View from the stage in the ballroom of Hamburg City Hall looking out at the large audience

We Celebrate 75 Years of Media Research!

With numerous guests from fields of science, politics, media, and culture, we celebrated our 75th anniversary on June 17–18, 2025, with a festive reception at Hamburg City Hall and an academic symposium at NDR entitled “Why Media Research? How the Discipline and Its Role in Society Are Changing.”
Eine Gruppe junger Leute schaut auf ihr Handy

German Findings of the Reuters Institute Digital News Report 2025

Trust in the news remains high in Germany. 45% of the adult online population believes that most news is generally trustworthy. At the same time, the majority of respondents believe that news produced by humans is more trustworthy than news generated by AI.
Two figures with VR headsets look at each other.

Use and Perception of Generative AI for Searching Information in Germany

Artificial intelligence in applications such as ChatGPT or Google Gemini, known as generative AI, is already used by almost 44 percent of the online population. Its use correlates strongly with age. The findings of the study are now presented in two videos, a report and a podcast.
AI-generated image showing three clay figures taking a selfie

When Filtering Distorts Body Image

Due to beauty filters, young people are often confronted with unrealistic beauty ideals on social media. This can lead to body image disorders as well as eating disorders. So should edited images be labeled? Not a good idea, says an expert opinion by the HBI on behalf of the KJM: The legal requirements for an enforceable legal regulation are high, and the positive effects of labeling are controversial. Instead of a legal labeling requirement, the algorithms of the platforms could be adapted to promote more diverse and realistic body representations.
The fingertips of a natural and a robotic hand touch each other

Automation of Social Communication

The HBI, the Centre for Media, Communication and Information Research (ZeMKI) at the University of Bremen and other research institutions in Graz and Vienna have successfully acquired a Research Unit from the German Research Foundation (DFG) on the topic of "Communicative Artificial Intelligence (ComAI)”.

News

Reports, Publications, Projects, Blog Posts & Podcasts from the Institute

Illu
Meldung Deutschlandfunk Podcast mediasres

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.

Logo der Aktionswoche Hamburger Woche der Pressefreiheit
Meldung Event Review

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.

Cover of the publication
Publikation Open Access Publication

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.

Fotocollage für den am Alexander von Humboldt Institut im Projekt "Human in The Loop" entwickelten Verhaltenskodex.
Meldung Code of Conduct “Strengthening Trust” presented

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.

Cover of the publication "Journalism under Duress"
Meldung Just Published!

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.

Bundesminister Karsten Wildberger zusammen mit den Direktor*innen der Einrichtungen des "Netzwerks der Institute für Digitalisierungsforschung"
Meldung Focus on Digital Responsibility

Federal Minister Wildberger Visits Institutes for Digitalisation Research

Federal Minister for Digital Transformation and Government Modernisation, Dr. Karsten Wildberger, met with the directors and scientific managers of the Network of Institutes for Digitalisation Research (NIfD) at the Weizenbaum Institute on November 3, 2025, in Berlin. The discussion focused on the current research of the six institutes on the social impact of digitalization.

Screenshot of the article by Dr. Gregor Wiedemann, AVISO, issue no. 81 (Fall 2025)
Publikation Article in aviso I Informationsdienst der DGPuK

AI and Research: Harnessing Potential, Understanding Risks

In his contribution, Gregor Wiedemann highlights the ambivalences that can arise from the use of AI tools in communication science research processes, as well as the necessity of precise risk assessment in this context.

Screenshot of an article on the Verfassungsblog. Title of the article: “Ein rundfunkrechtliches ‘Solange’?” [An “As Long As" in Broadcasting Law?]
Publikation Article on Verfassungsblog

An “As Long As” in Broadcasting Law?

In an article, Dr. Tobias Mast and Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Schulz discuss the Federal Constitutional Court's decision on the constitutionality of the broadcasting license fee. Their analysis is based on the press release published by the Federal Administrative Court on October 15, 2025.

Cover der Podcastfolge mit Matthias Kettemann - "Carls Zukunft"
Meldung Podcast "Carls Zukunft“

Ways Out of Digital Numbness

Matthias C. Kettemann is a guest on the podcast “Carls Future” by futurologist Michael Carl. During the interview, Kettemann discusses the challenges and opportunities of the digital information society. Kettemann observes a communicative overload that weakens our "cognitive immune system."

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Event dates

Veranstaltung Event Recommendation

Media History Lunch Talks

19. November 2025

The 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.

Verantstaltungsort Online
Veranstaltung Bredows on Tour

What Responsibility Do Platforms Bear for Young People’s Body Image?

27. November 2025

Dr. Stephan Dreyer will give a presentation on “What Responsibility Do Platforms Bear for Young People’s Body Image?” at the 8th Media Competence Network Conference in Saxony-Anhalt.

Verantstaltungsort Halle/Saale
All event dates

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