Can Media Law Promote Social Cohesion?

How do rules for (better) digital communication for tomorrow's society emerge? On 27 May 2021, PD Dr. Jan-Hinrik Schmidt, Amélie Pia Heldt and Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Schulz explored this question from the perspective of the Research Institute Social Cohesion (Sub-Institute Hamburg) as well as Thomas Fuchs from the MA HSH - compactly and digitally at this year's Hamburg Media Symposium. The event was jointly organised with the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce and the Media Authority Hamburg / Schleswig-Holstein.
 
Those who could not be there can now watch the recording of the online event. The recording of the event is available in full length.


To the Press Release of the Event

On the Topic of the Media Symposium

Digital media are fundamentally changing the structures and dynamics of public communication. This also has effects on social cohesion that are not clear from the outset: We can establish and maintain social relationships across spatial distances more easily than ever before - and at the same time fear the fragmentation of society into echo chambers and identity enclaves. We are pleased that the barriers to participation in democratic discourse are falling - and at the same time suffer from the increase in hate speech, shitstorms and other forms of destructive communication. We benefit from rapid innovations in media technology that make our lives easier - and at the same time buy this with a comprehensive storage of data on all aspects of our lives.
How can media law respond to these developments?
 
The German State Media Treaty, which came into force in November 2020, no longer only targets broadcasting, but also takes aim at platforms and media intermediaries. With DSA and DMA, the EU has presented proposals for a comprehensive approach to digital regulation. However, is all of this enough? Which media law instruments are suitable for the present and the future? How will rules be created for (better) digital communication in tomorrow's society?