Social Media in Focus

This online course introduces journalists to an innovative method and tool for conducting investigations and analyses on social media, which is based on current insights from academic research. The event includes an introduction to social media phenomena and possibilities for analyzing social media (e.g., with respect to radicalization, filter bubbles, echo chambers, etc.). We will discuss the potential, pitfalls, and legal aspects of social media analysis, and journalists will learn—using examples from our team’s prior collaborations with international media (e.g., with Zeit Online during the German federal election)—what kinds of investigations are possible with our methods and tooling. Finally, the course will enable journalists to conduct social media investigations on topics of their choice using the method and the provided tool. An accompanying workshop section will allow participants to independently carry out analyses and thus learn how to use the tool during the event.

Why participate?

• Up-to-date research and practical insights from technical and legal perspectives into conducting analyses and investigations on social media, as well as potential systemic risks such as echo chambers, filter bubbles, and recommendation algorithms.
• Empowerment to use a newly developed social media analysis tool and apply it to investigations on their own topics—both during the workshop and independently in the future

Coordinates

• 27.08.2025: 10:00-12:00 - Social media analysis potential and pitfalls & introduction of the SOAP tool for social media analysis
• 27.08.2025 to 03.09.2025 - Asynchronous technical and legal support for using the SOAP Tool for participants' analysis campaigns
• 03.09.2025: 10:00-12:00 - SOAP Workshop, Experience Exchange, Regulatory Framework

Speakers and Facilitators

• Prof. Dr. Simon Mayer, Professor of Computer Science, University of St.Gallen
• Prof. Dr. Aurelia Tamò-Larrieux, Professor of Digital Law, University of Lausanne
• Luka Bekavac, PhD Candidate in Computer Science, University of St.Gallen
• Alice Palmieri, PhD Candidate in Law, University of Lausanne

Requirements

No advanced computer skills are required. However, participants must have a stable online connection and an individual notebook device (not a tablet computer) for the workshop element of the course.