Projects

  • TWin of Online Social Networks logo

    TWin of Online Social Networks

    Funding
    Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Actions
    Duration
    Apr 2023 – Mar 2026
    Contact
    Achim Rettinger

    It is a widely shared concern by experts that Online Social Networks (OSNs) have transformed public debate in harmful ways. Personalization algorithms can create filter bubbles and echo chambers which reinforces and polarizes the users’ opinions. Thus, OSNs have been blamed for spreading false information. To this point, tech-companies argue that there is no unequivocal empirical evidence and that they should not interfere with user behavior. The TWON project aims to provide scientific evidence on both counterarguments, whether social networks have undesirable effects on democratic debates and how they inferfere with user behavior. This will be done by creating digital twins of online social networks to estimate the effects of a change in the system.