Future of democracy: media education against disinformation in Neustadt!

Future of democracy: media education against disinformation in Neustadt!

In times when democracy is increasingly under pressure, the SWR Future Days in Neustadt an der Weinstrasse found a broad platform for important discussions. Around 60 journalists from all over Germany came together to discuss current topics relating to opinion formation and the role of the media. It becomes clear that the challenges are immense, especially in the context of emerging populist movements that are increasingly using social media for their own purposes. How SWR reports, the spread of misinformation that deliberately fuels disinformation is taking a worrying turn.

Article 5 and Article 20 of the Basic Law guarantee both freedom of expression and freedom of the press and are therefore fundamental to the work of media companies such as SWR and the ARD broadcasters. ARD chairman Florian Hager emphasized during the conference that the media must focus more on citizens' issues instead of solely devoting themselves to political orientations. The SWR is pursuing new approaches to go directly into villages and cities and seek dialogue with citizens. The “On Site” format is to be continued, especially before the state elections in Rhineland-Palatinate and Baden-Württemberg.

Media education instead of disinformation

A central concern of the SWR Future Days was media education, especially for young people who are often informed via social media. The SWR offers programs in schools that educate people about fake news and reliable news sources. Media makers at SWR clarify how AI-generated content can be recognized in order to promote democratic opinion formation. This educational work is particularly important at a time when populists use social media intensively. Recent studies show that 48% of internet users in Germany encountered false or unreliable information in the first quarter of 2023, underscoring the urgency of this education.

The reality is that while more people than ever believe in conspiracy theories, they are more present than ever. Experts emphasize that disinformation often pursues strategic goals, such as stoking cynicism or uncertainty among the population. This is often done with the intention of arousing negative emotions and undermining trust in democracy. A possible way out of this dilemma is to critically question information, compare sources and check senders in order to look behind the scenes of disinformation.

Political framework and progress

Despite these challenges, there is also progress. In 2018, many online platforms committed to taking action against misinformation in the “Code of Practice on Disinformation”. The EU's Digital Services Act requires major social networks to proactively address disinformation. The EU Commission is even investigating platforms that present users as “verified” without adequately checking their identity. Such measures are a step in the right direction to curb the spread of disinformation, as well Deutschlandfunk notes.

The discussion about democracy and the media is more topical than ever. The insights and strategies gathered at the SWR Future Days could help better prepare society for today's challenges. Because one thing is certain: the vigilance of citizens and the media remains essential in order to meet the current and future challenges in the digital age.