News
Reports, Publications, Projects, Blog Posts & Podcasts from the Institute
EU Proceedings Against X: Platform Submits Proposal for Remedial Measures
In December 2025, the European Commission imposed its first-ever fine for violations of the Digital Services Act (DSA): X must pay a fine of 120 million euros and rectify the issues in question. In his statement to the Science Media Center, Matthias C. Kettemann clarifies: “The DSA is an important and, by now, credible instrument of European platform regulation.”
Would a Social Meda Ban Make Sense?
Following Australia's decision to ban social media for children under 14, Germany has also begun discussing whether teenagers should be granted access to platforms such as TikTok and Instagram at a later age. In the podcast 'Tonspur Wissen', media researcher Stephan Dreyer discusses what the scientific community knows about the risks, benefits and potential regulations.
Platform Badges for Civic Communication
Digital platforms have become central infrastructures for political communication and social negotiation processes. In his article, Jan Rau examines platform badges, which are tools that platforms use to fulfill their obligation to mitigate risk by creating positive incentives for users to adhere to certain communicative norms.
Responsibility in the Platform Quadrangle
This working paper by Tobias Mast comments on the European Court of Justice's recent Russmedia ruling and sets out the premises for a relationship between EU legal acts in the digital single market that respects fundamental rights.
Matthias C. Kettemann New Chairman of the First Senate of the Austrian Press Council
Matthias C. Kettemann, a Professor of Innovation, Theory, and Philosophy of Law at the University of Innsbruck, and the Head of Program Area 2, "Communication Structures and Their Governance," at the HBI, was unanimously elected as the Chair of the First Senate of the Austrian Press Council.
Data Collection and Analysis on TikTok and YouTube
In order to develop the best practices for collecting and analyzing data on short video platforms, Gregor Wiedemann's Media Research Methods Lab at the HBI is participating in a Helmut Schmidt University project examining the German Armed Forces' representation on TikTok and YouTube.
Euromedia Ownership Monitor
The Euromedia Ownership Monitor provides policymakers and the general public with in-depth insights into the extent of media ownership transparency in the EU. It was updated in 2025.
Research Assistant / PhD Candidate at the Social Media Observatory
The HBI in Hamburg has the following vacancy to fill as of May 1, 2026: Research Assistant / PhD candidate (m/f/d) in the field of Computational Social Science. Fixed-term until May 31, 2029, subject to the approval of third-party funding | Full-time | Pay grade 13 TV-L | Location: Hamburg. We are looking forward to your application.
Research Assistant / PhD Candidate in the Field of Computational Social Science
At the HBI in Hamburg the following position is available as of May 1, 2026: Research Assistant /PhD candidate (m/f/d) in the field of Computational Social Science. Fixed-term until March 31, 2029, subject to the approval of third-party funding | Full-time | Pay grade 13 TV-L | Location: Hamburg. We are looking forward to your application.
Event dates
On the Future of Public Broadcasting
19. March 2026Dr. Hans-Ulrich Wagner will participate in a panel discussion titled “Cultural Mandate and Program Development in Public Broadcasting.” The event is part of the symposium, "Cultural Education and Participation in Transition: The Cultural Sector between Local and Global Interests” at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz.
