News
Reports, Publications, Projects, Blog Posts & Podcasts from the Institute
Algorithmic Amplification of Negative Discourse as a Systemic Risk
How does attention-economy-driven algorithmic amplification of conflict-driven and negative-emotional communication distort public discourse? And does this distortion constitute a systemic risk under the Digital Services Act (DSA)? This blog article refers to our previous blogpost on "Platform Badges for Civic Communication", explains why such interventions are needed, and outlines how they could address these systemic risks.
Stephan Dreyer Appointed to Expert Commission
As part of a pilot project, the German Association for Voluntary Self-Regulation of Television (FSF) and the German Association for Voluntary Self-Regulation of Digital Media Service Providers (FSM) are developing quality standards for automated and AI-supported evaluation systems, overseen by the Commission for the Protection of Minors in the Media (KJM). Dr. Stephan Dreyer is developing and conducting tests on automated and AI-supported evaluation systems for youth media protection.
Generative AI from the Perspective of Young People
The use of generative AI, especially ChatGPT, is now firmly established among young people online. A study by Kira Thiel, Claudia Lampert and Eleysa Memis explores young people's views on generative AI, highlighting its significance in their daily lives.
Public Service Media Enabling Dialogue
For the project “Dialog Formats in Public Service Media,” Magdalena Stratmann conducted a literature analysis on “The Role of Public Service Media as Enablers of Dialogue in Digitalized Societies.” This analysis is now available for download as a working paper.
How the Digital Services Act (DSA) Regulates Platforms
U.S. politicians accuse the European Union of endangering freedom of expression with the Digital Services Act (DSA). However, media law expert Dr. Christian Ollig argues that the DSA actually protects users' opinions from arbitrary censorship by platform operators. It also gives users a legal basis to assert their freedom of expression against large platform operators at the European level.
France Moves toward Stricter Social Media Regulations
France's National Assembly introduced a ban on social media for children and young people under the age of 15. Stephan Dreyer finds the French approach difficult. In a statement for the Science Media Center (SMC), Dreyer explains the limited scope of action available to individual EU countries regarding bans on social networks, as well as the possible effects of such a law in France.
Health Communication
Claudia Lampert, along with Prof. Dr. Eva Baumann and Dr. Bettina Fromm, published an article in the Health Sciences handbook that provides an overview of health communication. The handbook is now in its eighth edition.
Code of X’s Algorithm Published
X (formerly Twitter) has published the source code of the software that selects and evaluates posts for the “For You” feed. It is apparent that the feed is predominantly populated by AI, the basis of whose data is unclear. In an expert opinion for the Science Media Center, Dr. Gregor Wiedemann and other experts have explained why the publication is therefore not very meaningful.
Science Communication Staff Member
The following position is available at the HBI as soon as possible: Staff member (m/f/d) in science communication with coordinating tasks at the “Research Institute Social Cohesion Hamburg (RISC)”. We look forward to hearing from you.