News
We're keeping our webinar series going!
On May 26, 2026, as part of our lunchtime webinar series, we were pleased to welcome Prof. Dr. Philippe Verduyn, Professor of Psychology at Maastricht University in the Netherlands. Verduyn focuses in particular on emotional well-being in today’s digital society and presented comprehensive research findings on the impact of social media on mental health. Social media has become an integral part of our digitized daily lives and is increasingly shaping social interactions. Verduyn emphasized that over five billion users worldwide spend an average of about 2.5 hours on social media every day, comparing this to a part-time job. His presentation focused on the question of why the effects of social media on mental well-being cannot be assessed in general terms. Verduyn pointed out that earlier research approaches often sought a direct link between usage duration and mental health, and the results were frequently contradictory. In his view, this is because the impact of social media is influenced by several factors simultaneously: the nature of usage, the characteristics of the users, and the features of the respective platforms.
Drawing on recent research findings, Verduyn explained how different forms of social media use—such as active communication or passive consumption—can have varying effects on well-being. At the same time, during the concluding discussion, he made it clear that individual characteristics, such as a strong tendency to compare oneself with others, and platform-specific features play a decisive role in how people experience social media.
We would like to thank Prof. Dr. Philippe Verduyn for his valuable and engaging presentation, as well as all participants!
Kickoff of our webinar series!
On April 28, 2026, Prof. Dr. Imhoff kicked off the first lecture in our new webinar series by discussing well-known conspiracy theories about the moon landing and speculations surrounding the death of Princess Diana. In his presentation, the psychologist and professor of social and legal psychology at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz vividly demonstrated just how prevalent conspiracy narratives are in our society. They are closely linked to social media, which accelerates the dissemination process and makes theories more accessible without the content being verified or critically examined. The focus was therefore on the question of why people believe in conspiracies and why these beliefs are far more than simply misinformation or a lack of knowledge.
Imhoff made it clear that such narratives often fulfill specific needs, such as the desire for guidance, security, control, or simple explanations in uncertain situations. Particularly fascinating was the examination of the so-called “conspiracy mentality”: a general tendency to view official explanations and institutions with suspicion. This attitude is found not only in small fringe groups but, in various forms, across broad segments of society.
A key takeaway from the webinar:
Addressing conspiracy narratives cannot be achieved through the presentation of facts alone. It is equally important to take uncertainties, mistrust, and psychological needs seriously, as well as to strengthen trust in scientific and social institutions.
We would like to extend our sincere thanks to Prof. Dr. Roland Imhoff for this inspiring and thought-provoking kickoff to our webinar series, and to all participants for the engaging discussion!
First University Research Focus Retreat in Wandlitz
From March 5th to 6th, members of the University Research Focus Education for the Future came together in Wandlitz for a two-day retreat dedicated to collaboration, exchange, and focused work. Combining research inputs with several interactive working sessions, the retreat provided valuable momentum for advancing the project and kicking-off new collaborations.
An initial pitch session highlighted the wide range of ideas and collaborations already emerging within the group. In particular, the interdisciplinary nature of the University Research Focus became evident, with researchers from different fields contributing diverse perspectives on digital media use and its effects on adolescents and young adults.
The program was complemented by inspiring inputs on topics such as fake news, hate speech, algorithms, and chatbots by Prof. Dr. Roland Verwiebe and Prof. Dr. Stefan Stieglitz, as well as a presentation of the PhoneStudy app by Dr. Yannick Terhorst from the Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, which enables the collection of smartphone usage data in a data protection–compliant way. Beyond the sessions, time spent outdoors in the surrounding forest offered space to reflect and recharge. We look forward to taking the next steps together.
Kicking-off 2026 with a team meeting
A new year brings fresh energy to the University Research Focus “Education for the Future”. At the beginning of the year, project members gathered on the Golm campus for a day-long workshop to map out the next steps for interdisciplinary collaboration.
The session began with an opportunity for participants to get to know each other and identify overlapping and complementary research interests. Building on this, they worked in small groups to develop initial research questions and project ideas based on their respective expertise.
To establish a shared foundation for future work, the group also discussed a preliminary model outlining the relationships between individual and contextual factors, digital media use, and its effects.
Overall, the meeting laid important groundwork for the months ahead, and we look forward to the developments that 2026 will bring.
