At a Glance
The VolkswagenStiftung is providing approximately €1.4 million in funding for a collaborative research project examining societal polarization on digital platforms. The Weizenbaum Institute is leading the project and will receive the largest share of the funding. The project also involves the Gesellschaft für Freiheitsrechte, the Wir sind der Osten-initiative, and the University of Erfurt.
Funding | VolkswagenStiftung, Project Database |
Grant | about 1.4 million euros |
Duration | 2026–2031 (5 years) |
Coordination | Weizenbaum Institute |
Network Partner | Weizenbaum Institute | Gesellschaft für Freiheitsrechte | University of Erfurt | Wir sind der Osten |
Co-Principal Investigators (PIs)
Prof. Dr. Ulrike Klinger, University of Amsterdam (UVA)
Dr. Simone Ruf, Gesellschaft für Freiheitsrechte (GFF)
Melanie Stein, Wir sind der Osten (WSDO)
Prof. Dr. Thorsten Thiel, Erfurt University (UE)
About the Project
Background
Anti-democratic tendencies are rising across Western democracies, including Germany, where support for democracy is eroding, especially in Eastern states. This decline is less about socio-economic factors than about openness to skepticism toward institutions. While democratic critique can be constructive, online polarizing communication increasingly turns skepticism into democratic frustration—erosion of trust in democracy. Polarization does not occur spontaneously but is strategically driven: divisive political entrepreneurs exploit platforms like TikTok and YouTube to promote “us-vs-them” narratives, inflame conflict, and channel discontent into electoral gains, supported by algorithms that reward divisive content. This project examines such strategies as systemic risks to democracy.
Key Question: How do digital platforms enable divisive actors to strategically polarize debates and sow democratic frustration—and how can this be mitigated?
Methodology and Objectives
Approach
The project “Triggering Democratic Frustration: Understanding and Countering Strategic Polarisation on Digital Platforms” will: (1) analyze communicative strategies driving polarization on TikTok and YouTube, (2) identify polarizing actors and content in the East German context with a focus on the 2026 Saxony-Anhalt State Election, (3) examine the causal effects of exposure to such content on democratic frustration, and (4) develop and test mitigation strategies through educational content in a citizen-participation app and complementary workshops.
Article 40 of the Digital Services Act
A key innovation is the use of Article 40 of the Digital Services Act, which from October 2025 grants researchers access to platform data on systemic risks. This enables unprecedented analysis of what users actually see. The interdisciplinary team combines legal, computational, and civic education expertise to both analyze digital trace data and translate findings into public knowledge.
Computational Social Science Methods
Using computational social science methods such as network analysis and natural language processing, we will map polarizing actors and narratives. Longitudinal studies will then assess the causal impact of such exposure on democratic attitudes. Building on civic education research, we will co-develop mitigation strategies with civil society partners, implemented via the MitmachApp and scaled through educational workshops.
Objectives
The project addresses three systemic threats: strategic polarization by political entrepreneurs, algorithmic amplification of divisive content, and growing distrust in democratic institutions. Outcomes include policy recommendations for European platform regulation, digital tools to strengthen civic resilience, and educational interventions at the local level. By combining research and civil society expertise, the project will expose tactics of polarizing communication and empower citizens to resist them—reinforcing democratic resilience where it is most at risk.