WHAT-IF
@what-if-horizon.bsky.social
Horizon Europe research project testing the impact of evidence-based policies for healthier political information environments
https://what-if-horizon.eu/
https://what-if-horizon.eu/
Reposted by WHAT-IF
NEW PREPRINT 💡
Together with @dougaparry.bsky.social, I just published a new preprint experimentally examining how specific normative cues on social media shape self-disclosure using an innovative simulation approach.
Link: osf.io/preprints/ps...
Read on for more information (1/9) 👇
Together with @dougaparry.bsky.social, I just published a new preprint experimentally examining how specific normative cues on social media shape self-disclosure using an innovative simulation approach.
Link: osf.io/preprints/ps...
Read on for more information (1/9) 👇
November 11, 2025 at 12:26 PM
NEW PREPRINT 💡
Together with @dougaparry.bsky.social, I just published a new preprint experimentally examining how specific normative cues on social media shape self-disclosure using an innovative simulation approach.
Link: osf.io/preprints/ps...
Read on for more information (1/9) 👇
Together with @dougaparry.bsky.social, I just published a new preprint experimentally examining how specific normative cues on social media shape self-disclosure using an innovative simulation approach.
Link: osf.io/preprints/ps...
Read on for more information (1/9) 👇
Reposted by WHAT-IF
New paper 🧪
We propose a field experiment to study the effects of friction interventions for curbing the spread of misinformation. ABM simulations suggest that when combined with learning, friction could significantly increase average post quality
doi.org/10.1038/s442...
We propose a field experiment to study the effects of friction interventions for curbing the spread of misinformation. ABM simulations suggest that when combined with learning, friction could significantly increase average post quality
doi.org/10.1038/s442...
November 5, 2025 at 12:19 AM
New paper 🧪
We propose a field experiment to study the effects of friction interventions for curbing the spread of misinformation. ABM simulations suggest that when combined with learning, friction could significantly increase average post quality
doi.org/10.1038/s442...
We propose a field experiment to study the effects of friction interventions for curbing the spread of misinformation. ABM simulations suggest that when combined with learning, friction could significantly increase average post quality
doi.org/10.1038/s442...
Reposted by WHAT-IF
I’m very honored to be elected as International Liaison of the ICA CM Division and to serve our vibrant community! 🙏 Looking forward to starting the work very soon 🙌
Big news! 🎉 Our colleague @aytalina.bsky.social has been elected International Liaison of the @icacm.bsky.social! 🌍👏We’re thrilled to see her representing and connecting the global #CompMethods community.
compcommlab.univie.ac.at/news-detaila...
compcommlab.univie.ac.at/news-detaila...
Congratulations to Aytalina on her election as the International Liaison of ICA CM Division!
We are proud to share that Aytalina Kulichkina has been elected International Liaison of the International Communication Association (ICA) Computational Methods Division!
compcommlab.univie.ac.at
November 5, 2025 at 10:34 AM
I’m very honored to be elected as International Liaison of the ICA CM Division and to serve our vibrant community! 🙏 Looking forward to starting the work very soon 🙌
Reposted by WHAT-IF
🎉 We're really excited to be collaborating with our excellent partners on this, as part of WP3 of the What-If Horizon project, hosted at the Observatory.
🎯 Understanding what interventions affect citizen misinformation effects is crucial to build evidence based policy in the area!
More insights 🔜
🎯 Understanding what interventions affect citizen misinformation effects is crucial to build evidence based policy in the area!
More insights 🔜
Learn more about this partnership here: what-if-horizon.eu/2025/09/30/s...
Strategic Partnership to Advance Misinformation Research Through Real-World Collaboration
WHAT-IF colleagues from Work Packages 3 and 5—Andreu Casas (UK) and Sílvia Majó-Vázquez (Spain)—have established a strategic partnership with two leading Spanish organizations at the forefront of c…
what-if-horizon.eu
October 2, 2025 at 4:00 PM
🎉 We're really excited to be collaborating with our excellent partners on this, as part of WP3 of the What-If Horizon project, hosted at the Observatory.
🎯 Understanding what interventions affect citizen misinformation effects is crucial to build evidence based policy in the area!
More insights 🔜
🎯 Understanding what interventions affect citizen misinformation effects is crucial to build evidence based policy in the area!
More insights 🔜
Reposted by WHAT-IF
In the @what-if-horizon.bsky.social project, we are working with a fantastic group of partners to investigate the effects of quality news and media literacy on misinformation effects. More soon and updates below 👇 @andreucasas.bsky.social @vanatteveldt.com @maldita.es & Learn to Check!
October 1, 2025 at 12:20 PM
In the @what-if-horizon.bsky.social project, we are working with a fantastic group of partners to investigate the effects of quality news and media literacy on misinformation effects. More soon and updates below 👇 @andreucasas.bsky.social @vanatteveldt.com @maldita.es & Learn to Check!
Misinformation researchers benefit from real-world insights. Practitioners benefit from scientific evidence on what interventions actually work. Our partnership with the media literacy & fact-checking organizations Learn to Check! and @maldita.es combines both 🤝
🧵 below
🧵 below
September 30, 2025 at 11:24 AM
Misinformation researchers benefit from real-world insights. Practitioners benefit from scientific evidence on what interventions actually work. Our partnership with the media literacy & fact-checking organizations Learn to Check! and @maldita.es combines both 🤝
🧵 below
🧵 below
Reposted by WHAT-IF
Presented the @what-if-horizon.bsky.social project today at #SSC2025 in Delft 🙌 Very grateful for the helpful feedback from the social simulation community! Looking forward to implementing it w/ @anniewald.bsky.social and Taehee Kim ✨
August 28, 2025 at 6:25 PM
Presented the @what-if-horizon.bsky.social project today at #SSC2025 in Delft 🙌 Very grateful for the helpful feedback from the social simulation community! Looking forward to implementing it w/ @anniewald.bsky.social and Taehee Kim ✨
Come chat with WHAT-IF researcher @aytalina.bsky.social at #SSC2025 in Delft! She’ll present our base model at the poster session Thursday, 13:00 📆
WHAT-IF creates a digital twin of the online political information space to test interventions & strengthen democratic discourse
👉 what-if-horizon.eu
WHAT-IF creates a digital twin of the online political information space to test interventions & strengthen democratic discourse
👉 what-if-horizon.eu
August 27, 2025 at 8:22 AM
Come chat with WHAT-IF researcher @aytalina.bsky.social at #SSC2025 in Delft! She’ll present our base model at the poster session Thursday, 13:00 📆
WHAT-IF creates a digital twin of the online political information space to test interventions & strengthen democratic discourse
👉 what-if-horizon.eu
WHAT-IF creates a digital twin of the online political information space to test interventions & strengthen democratic discourse
👉 what-if-horizon.eu
Reposted by WHAT-IF
Day 2 at the Social Simulation Conference 2025 ☕️
Corinna Elsenbroich talks about how agents-based modeling transforms our approach to causality and explanation in complex social systems 💡 #SSC2025
Corinna Elsenbroich talks about how agents-based modeling transforms our approach to causality and explanation in complex social systems 💡 #SSC2025
August 27, 2025 at 7:30 AM
Day 2 at the Social Simulation Conference 2025 ☕️
Corinna Elsenbroich talks about how agents-based modeling transforms our approach to causality and explanation in complex social systems 💡 #SSC2025
Corinna Elsenbroich talks about how agents-based modeling transforms our approach to causality and explanation in complex social systems 💡 #SSC2025
Reposted by WHAT-IF
In addition to the original UK results, we have now ***replicated*** this (TWICE) in the US.
The main findings hold strong: information diets are a lot more diverse in attention than in engagement.
New version here: osf.io/preprints/os...
The main findings hold strong: information diets are a lot more diverse in attention than in engagement.
New version here: osf.io/preprints/os...
July 22, 2025 at 8:27 AM
In addition to the original UK results, we have now ***replicated*** this (TWICE) in the US.
The main findings hold strong: information diets are a lot more diverse in attention than in engagement.
New version here: osf.io/preprints/os...
The main findings hold strong: information diets are a lot more diverse in attention than in engagement.
New version here: osf.io/preprints/os...
Interested in how social simulations can be used in democracy research? Check out our sister project #TWIN4DEM at #IC2S2 👇
Excited to present TWIN4DEM at #IC2S2 2025 in Norrköping! 🇸🇪
We’ll showcase how digital twins can help model democratic backsliding — starting with our conceptual and toy models built in Python, Mesa & Solara.
More: www.ic2s2-2025.org
#TWIN4DEM #DigitalTwins #Democracy #CSS #EUProjects
We’ll showcase how digital twins can help model democratic backsliding — starting with our conceptual and toy models built in Python, Mesa & Solara.
More: www.ic2s2-2025.org
#TWIN4DEM #DigitalTwins #Democracy #CSS #EUProjects
IC2S2'25 Norrköping
www.ic2s2-2025.org
July 21, 2025 at 12:40 PM
Reposted by WHAT-IF
Do LLMs represent the people they're supposed simulate or provide personalized assistance to?
We review the current literature in our #ACL2025 Findings paper and investigating what researchers conclude about the demographic representativeness of LLMs:
osf.io/preprints/so...
1/
We review the current literature in our #ACL2025 Findings paper and investigating what researchers conclude about the demographic representativeness of LLMs:
osf.io/preprints/so...
1/
July 21, 2025 at 10:12 AM
Do LLMs represent the people they're supposed simulate or provide personalized assistance to?
We review the current literature in our #ACL2025 Findings paper and investigating what researchers conclude about the demographic representativeness of LLMs:
osf.io/preprints/so...
1/
We review the current literature in our #ACL2025 Findings paper and investigating what researchers conclude about the demographic representativeness of LLMs:
osf.io/preprints/so...
1/
Reposted by WHAT-IF
📢 Big news for platform researchers across Europe and beyond:
Today, the @ec.europa.eu adopted the Delegated Act for Article 40 of the Digital Services Act (DSA) – a long-anticipated milestone enabling researchers to request access to non-public platform data under Article 40.4.
Today, the @ec.europa.eu adopted the Delegated Act for Article 40 of the Digital Services Act (DSA) – a long-anticipated milestone enabling researchers to request access to non-public platform data under Article 40.4.
July 2, 2025 at 6:28 PM
📢 Big news for platform researchers across Europe and beyond:
Today, the @ec.europa.eu adopted the Delegated Act for Article 40 of the Digital Services Act (DSA) – a long-anticipated milestone enabling researchers to request access to non-public platform data under Article 40.4.
Today, the @ec.europa.eu adopted the Delegated Act for Article 40 of the Digital Services Act (DSA) – a long-anticipated milestone enabling researchers to request access to non-public platform data under Article 40.4.
Reposted by WHAT-IF
FINALLY 😌
The Delegated Act is here.
The Act clarifies rules for data access under the Digital Services Act #DSA
#dataaccess #research #eusky #commsky #polisky #csssky
digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/library/d...
The Delegated Act is here.
The Act clarifies rules for data access under the Digital Services Act #DSA
#dataaccess #research #eusky #commsky #polisky #csssky
digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/library/d...
Delegated act on data access under the Digital Services Act (DSA)
The Commission has adopted a delegated act outlining rules granting access to data for qualified researchers under the Digital Services Act (DSA).
digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu
July 2, 2025 at 11:33 AM
FINALLY 😌
The Delegated Act is here.
The Act clarifies rules for data access under the Digital Services Act #DSA
#dataaccess #research #eusky #commsky #polisky #csssky
digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/library/d...
The Delegated Act is here.
The Act clarifies rules for data access under the Digital Services Act #DSA
#dataaccess #research #eusky #commsky #polisky #csssky
digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/library/d...
Accessing social media data is currently tricky for researchers. Even if we get access, platforms deliver inconsistent, poorly documented data in different formats. Our WHAT-IF team found a way to handle Instagram, Facebook, X, YouTube & TikTok donations dynamically across 4 countries.
A thread 🧵
A thread 🧵
About the challenges of platform data access and our approach to data donation
Accessing data from social media platforms remains a major obstacle for researchers studying digital media. Despite existing EU legislation on data access, “the actual delivery of data by platforms…
what-if-horizon.eu
June 26, 2025 at 8:36 AM
Accessing social media data is currently tricky for researchers. Even if we get access, platforms deliver inconsistent, poorly documented data in different formats. Our WHAT-IF team found a way to handle Instagram, Facebook, X, YouTube & TikTok donations dynamically across 4 countries.
A thread 🧵
A thread 🧵
Reposted by WHAT-IF
On my way to Madrid-EPSA! Please join in if you want to hear about (political biases? in) content moderation on YouTube during the 2024 US Election, and/or about using open-source Large Visual Language Models (VLMs) for supervised multimodal classification in political science research.
June 25, 2025 at 8:52 AM
On my way to Madrid-EPSA! Please join in if you want to hear about (political biases? in) content moderation on YouTube during the 2024 US Election, and/or about using open-source Large Visual Language Models (VLMs) for supervised multimodal classification in political science research.
Reposted by WHAT-IF
I have a postdoc vacancy - www.academictransfer.com/nl/jobs/3528... at the TWON-project (twon-project.eu). Because the project runs only until 2025-03-31, the contract is limited - but maybe of interest for somebody who is just about to finish a PhD and needs something temporary?
PostDoc (Computational) Communication Science - TWON Project
Do you enjoy engaging in cutting-edge research as part of a larger European team? answering theoretically and societally important communication science questions? applying computational approaches yo...
www.academictransfer.com
June 24, 2025 at 8:47 AM
I have a postdoc vacancy - www.academictransfer.com/nl/jobs/3528... at the TWON-project (twon-project.eu). Because the project runs only until 2025-03-31, the contract is limited - but maybe of interest for somebody who is just about to finish a PhD and needs something temporary?
WHAT-IF team members met in Konstanz last week to design the WHAT-IF machine—an agent-based simulation with LLM-driven agents. It models media ecosystems to test 'what if' policy scenarios. Curious how? Read more: what-if-horizon.eu/2025/05/16/o...
May 16, 2025 at 4:30 PM
WHAT-IF team members met in Konstanz last week to design the WHAT-IF machine—an agent-based simulation with LLM-driven agents. It models media ecosystems to test 'what if' policy scenarios. Curious how? Read more: what-if-horizon.eu/2025/05/16/o...
Watch this video of @arodilla.bsky.social to learn more about WHAT-IF!
📢 #BSCTalks: What-if: Advanced Simulations for Testing the Effects of the Information on Democracy
🗣 By BSC researcher @arodilla.bsky.social @what-if-horizon.bsky.social
🤔💭“Imagine if we could understand how missinformation works in orther to make policies to mitigate it”
youtu.be/yFJyXaqIT7Y
🗣 By BSC researcher @arodilla.bsky.social @what-if-horizon.bsky.social
🤔💭“Imagine if we could understand how missinformation works in orther to make policies to mitigate it”
youtu.be/yFJyXaqIT7Y
#BSCTalks: What-if: Advanced Simulations for Testing the Effects of the Information on Democracy
YouTube video by BSC CNS
youtu.be
April 24, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Watch this video of @arodilla.bsky.social to learn more about WHAT-IF!
Reposted by WHAT-IF
Democracy in the Digital Age: Introducing the TWIN4DEM Approach
🗓 Date: 14 May 2024
📍 Location: Online
⏳ Duration: 2 hours
🌍 Language: English
Fill out the online form forms.gle/XD6aLQeNV9wB... to express interest.
More information here: twin4dem.eu/call-for-par...
🗓 Date: 14 May 2024
📍 Location: Online
⏳ Duration: 2 hours
🌍 Language: English
Fill out the online form forms.gle/XD6aLQeNV9wB... to express interest.
More information here: twin4dem.eu/call-for-par...
April 23, 2025 at 1:09 PM
Democracy in the Digital Age: Introducing the TWIN4DEM Approach
🗓 Date: 14 May 2024
📍 Location: Online
⏳ Duration: 2 hours
🌍 Language: English
Fill out the online form forms.gle/XD6aLQeNV9wB... to express interest.
More information here: twin4dem.eu/call-for-par...
🗓 Date: 14 May 2024
📍 Location: Online
⏳ Duration: 2 hours
🌍 Language: English
Fill out the online form forms.gle/XD6aLQeNV9wB... to express interest.
More information here: twin4dem.eu/call-for-par...
Reposted by WHAT-IF
The future of the internet is likely smaller communities, with a focus on curated experiences
The future of the internet is likely smaller communities, with a focus on curated experiences
As brands look to hold onto the internet of the past, the term “community” will become a loaded word.
buff.ly
February 25, 2025 at 3:10 PM
The future of the internet is likely smaller communities, with a focus on curated experiences
Reposted by WHAT-IF
🚨 NEW REPORT – Better Feeds: Algorithms That Put People First 🚨
As policymakers around the globe grapple with addressing concerns about algorithms, KGI’s new report offers guidance on improving the design of algorithmic systems that shape billions of users’ digital lives.
bit.ly/3QzxVzq
As policymakers around the globe grapple with addressing concerns about algorithms, KGI’s new report offers guidance on improving the design of algorithmic systems that shape billions of users’ digital lives.
bit.ly/3QzxVzq
Better Feeds: Algorithms That Put People First – Knight-Georgetown Institute
bit.ly
March 4, 2025 at 1:00 PM
🚨 NEW REPORT – Better Feeds: Algorithms That Put People First 🚨
As policymakers around the globe grapple with addressing concerns about algorithms, KGI’s new report offers guidance on improving the design of algorithmic systems that shape billions of users’ digital lives.
bit.ly/3QzxVzq
As policymakers around the globe grapple with addressing concerns about algorithms, KGI’s new report offers guidance on improving the design of algorithmic systems that shape billions of users’ digital lives.
bit.ly/3QzxVzq
Reposted by WHAT-IF
MAGA forces are once again attacking researchers studying online misinformation and social media manipulation. In this article for Just Security, I write about what's going on at Indiana University, University of North Carolina, and other schools: www.justsecurity.org/109030/acade...
Academic Misinformation Researchers are Still Under Attack
Researchers analyzing misinformation deserve to be defended — and the campaign to end their work threatens the right to free speech.
www.justsecurity.org
March 13, 2025 at 1:15 PM
MAGA forces are once again attacking researchers studying online misinformation and social media manipulation. In this article for Just Security, I write about what's going on at Indiana University, University of North Carolina, and other schools: www.justsecurity.org/109030/acade...
Great opportunity for those interested in (LLM-based) agents! Don’t miss the *extended* deadline for SemGenAge at ESWC 2025!
We EXTENDED for SemGenAge: 1st Workshop on Semantic Generative Agents on the Web at ESWC 2025 (www.twon-project.eu/semgenage25/) until March 13. Last chance to submit, looking forward to your work on (LLM-powered) agents on the web, from multidisciplinary perspectives!
SemGenAge 2025 – TWON
www.twon-project.eu
March 10, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Great opportunity for those interested in (LLM-based) agents! Don’t miss the *extended* deadline for SemGenAge at ESWC 2025!
🚀 Attention social simulation enthusiasts!
Working with LLM agents in social simulations or exploring how to bridge LLMs & semantic web technologies? Join this interdisciplinary workshop in Portorož, Slovenia (June 1-2)
📢 SemGenAge @ #ESWC2025
📅 CfP DL: March 6
🔗 www.twon-project.eu/semgenage25/
Working with LLM agents in social simulations or exploring how to bridge LLMs & semantic web technologies? Join this interdisciplinary workshop in Portorož, Slovenia (June 1-2)
📢 SemGenAge @ #ESWC2025
📅 CfP DL: March 6
🔗 www.twon-project.eu/semgenage25/
SemGenAge 2025 – TWON
www.twon-project.eu
February 24, 2025 at 5:31 PM
🚀 Attention social simulation enthusiasts!
Working with LLM agents in social simulations or exploring how to bridge LLMs & semantic web technologies? Join this interdisciplinary workshop in Portorož, Slovenia (June 1-2)
📢 SemGenAge @ #ESWC2025
📅 CfP DL: March 6
🔗 www.twon-project.eu/semgenage25/
Working with LLM agents in social simulations or exploring how to bridge LLMs & semantic web technologies? Join this interdisciplinary workshop in Portorož, Slovenia (June 1-2)
📢 SemGenAge @ #ESWC2025
📅 CfP DL: March 6
🔗 www.twon-project.eu/semgenage25/