Data, Democracy and the New Social Fabric (DDNSF)
Date: 15.09.2025
DDNSF 2025 brought together researchers to study democracy, social media, and governance through collaborative projects, expert talks, and critical discussions.
In September 2025, I organized the summer school “Data, Democracy and the New Social Fabric” at the IDea_Lab, University of Graz. The school brought together junior researchers and professionals to explore how digital technologies are reshaping democracy, public discourse, and collective action. We combined lectures, panels, tutorials, and hands-on projects, blending political philosophy, computational methods, and social science perspectives.
Over two weeks, participants explored how social media influences civic discourse, power, and democratic processes. Week one covered the evolution of democracy, social media’s societal impact, ethical data science, and the future of governance. Week two focused on group projects, where participants applied large-scale social media analysis, agent-based simulations, and philosophical inquiry to questions of their choice. We also discussed how technology can support international solidarity, enhance collective intelligence, and foster pluralism in digital societies.
Speakers included Audrey Tang, Petter Törnberg, Bernhard Rieder, Karoline Wiesner, Jana Lasser, Nadja Meisterhans, and Etienne Brown, sharing insights on social media, ethical data practices, and the digital public sphere.
Community building was central to the summer school. Participants worked across disciplines, supported each other in unfamiliar methods, and developed collaborative projects that reflected creativity, rigor, and critical thinking.
DDNSF reflected my belief that research on democracy and social media should be collaborative, inclusive, and socially responsible. I hope it inspired participants to think critically about digital platforms and to imagine ways to strengthen democratic life in the digital age.
