Launch of the INDI research project: New ways of researching digital media use on the topic of climate change

The new research project entitled “Informed by Influencers? (INDI)” at the Lab for Digital Communication and Information Diversity has officially started. The project is led by Prof. Dr Cornelius Puschmann and will run from 1 February 2024 to 31 January 2027.

Digitalisation has fundamentally changed the way we communicate. The internet and social media have become essential platforms, especially for young citizens. Against this background, the INDI project is analysing the digital media use of young people between the ages of 18 and 30 in Germany on the topic of climate change.

Communication about climate change is of great importance as it has not only scientific but also social and economic implications. By analysing platforms such as Instagram, YouTube and TikTok, the project aims to explore the role of these audiovisual media in communicating information.

The INDI project uses innovative computer-assisted data collection methods, including digital behaviour tracking and computer-assisted analyses of audiovisual content. The study’s approach aims to shed light on the relationship between media use on the topic of climate change and users’ knowledge, attitudes and intentions by addressing phenomena such as the growing importance of audiovisual platforms as a source of information, the increasing relevance of non-traditional communicative actors, the lack of transparency of algorithmic interventions and inaccurate methods due to the incomplete collection of user behaviour data through surveys.

Find out more about the research project