Gamifying Nationalism: The AfD and the Politics of Emotional Belonging
Welcome to TikTok Nationalism: a flawless face, a beat drop, and the caption “Germany for the Germans.” Alice Weidel’s speech remixed with synthwave, AI avatars, and shadowy migrant clips. Politics has left parliament for the infinite scroll, where propaganda wears lip gloss and vibes. The AfD doesn’t campaign—it performs. Ultrantionalism becomes aesthetic, identity over ideology. As Marcus Bösch calls it: slopaganda—low-res, emotional, made to go viral. In this gamified nationalism, belief is optional. Just hit share.
Navigating the maze: Misinformation and the European Union in the digital age
In an era of instant content and algorithm-driven feeds, distinguishing truth from fiction is no longer just a matter of personal curiosity — it’s a civic duty. For the European Union, this presents a unique challenge.
Beyond the Headline: Navigating the False News Minefield
In today’s world, figuring out whether a news article - or even just a social media post - is real or false has become incredibly tough.
AI Art to Combat Disinformation: Ioana, the Young Artist Fighting Back with Creativity
"We have a nuclear plant, we understand its power, and we need to know how bad it would be if it went boom!" - Ioana Chereș, a PhD student from Cluj-Napoca, creates art using technology to fight disinformation.
Toxic social media content affects girls in Romania
In March, a month dedicated to women and their value in society, World Vision Romania draws attention to a growing phenomenon affecting more and more girls and young women: constant exposure to toxic content on social media.
Human smuggling like pizza delivery. Telegram — a haven for dealers and terrorists?
The paper-plane logo of the Telegram app is no longer just a familiar sight on the smartphones of Russians, Ukrainians, or Kazakhs. For some, it’s a space to chat with friends or follow their favorite influencers. For others, it’s a place to buy drugs—or even sabotage a weapons shipment to Ukraine.
The rise of fact-checking media platforms in Europe: Why do they exist?
Over the past two years, Europe has seen an unprecedented wave of fact-checking media platforms, a response to the escalating tide of disinformation threatening democratic discourse, public health, and social cohesion.
Celebrating Truth: International Fact-Checking Day Highlights the Fight Against Misinformation
April 2 marked the International Fact-Checking Day, a global initiative dedicated to promoting information accuracy in public discourse and recognizing the vital work of fact-checkers worldwide.
