Research area: Communication and Society

The study by the bidt examines the attitudes of internet users towards a ban on social media for children and young people in Germany and also provides data comparing Bavaria with the rest of Germany.

Digital visibility helps researchers make their work discoverable, build networks and reach a variety of audiences. This blog post outlines key approaches and formats for digital science communication.

Digital visibility can make research more effective, but also brings scrutiny, criticism and controversy. Good science communication therefore needs preparation, role awareness and strategies for dealing with public attention.

Hate speech harms individuals and digital debates. The study shows how AI can support counterspeech – and what risks need to be considered.

Professor Ute Schmid has been awarded the 2026 Communicator Prize. The director of bidt is being honoured for her commitment to communicating artificial intelligence in a way that is both accessible and socially responsible.

Using the AI tool OneTutor as an example, the study examines how generative AI is used in higher education and the experiences of lecturers and students, from usage contexts to perceived learning outcomes.

To mark the publication of the anthology ‘Recht und Sicherheit der Digitalisierung’ by bidt Director Dirk Heckmann, bidt and TUM CDPS hosted an evening lecture on digitalisation, democracy and law.

The project analyses how anti-media messages spread in digital public spheres during crises, which actors are involved, and how AI-supported chatbot interventions can help counter disinformation campaigns.

The research project DemocraGPT examines how large language models can support people in challenging political conversations, reduce reactance, and strengthen democratic conversational culture.