From Research to Regulation: Rethinking Online Social Networks – Insights from the TWON Project

What does research tell us about the positive and negative effects of online social networks on societies? How can these platforms be designed to protect and strengthen democratic societies and to foster a fair online public sphere? Which research gaps remain, and how can academia collaborate effectively with regulators, civil society, and practitioners to create meaningful change? These questions have gained particular urgency at a time when global geopolitical tensions, disinformation, and the rise of right-wing extremist forces in many democracies worldwide increasingly shape digital infrastructures.

On this evening, the research project “TWON – Twin of Online Social Networks” will be presented, and its results and implications will be discussed with policymakers, journalists, and practitioners from civil society. TWON is an EU-funded research project that examines how the design of online platforms influences the quality of democratic online discourse. To this end, an interdisciplinary research team has developed a novel approach to studying online social networks: by using a digital twin, simulations are conducted to explore, for example, how different ranking algorithms affect the quality of debate—without experimenting on real users. The findings are translated into policy recommendations and discussed in participatory Citizen Labs with citizens across Europe. The consortium includes, among others, the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), the University of Trier, FZI Forschungszentrum Informatik, the University of Amsterdam, the University of Belgrade, the Slovenian Jožef Stefan Institute, and the Robert Koch Institute (RKI).

In addition, the event will focus on how online social networks can be researched and shaped at the societal level. Particular attention will be given to promising avenues for future research and evidence-based policymaking, such as data access under the Digital Services Act (DSA), data donation frameworks, and current windows of opportunity in the European and global digital policy debate.

Before and after the stage program, guests are invited to explore interactive project demonstrators, engage with research results at poster stations, and connect informally with project partners from across Europe.

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