In the interview, Dr. Marco Wähner talks about fundamental changes in public communication in the digital age. The starting point for his assessment is the observation that political opinion-forming today is largely structured by digital platforms. These platforms are not only technical infrastructures, but also actively influence the visibility, reach, and perception of social issues. Marco Wähner makes it clear that algorithmic selection mechanisms help determine which content receives attention – and thus which positions dominate public debates.
He emphasizes that these processes are by no means neutral. Rather, platforms follow their own economic logic, which is not automatically compatible with democratic ideals. This fundamentally changes public communication: it becomes more fragmented, more emotional, and more focused on escalation. Marco Wähner points out that political actors are increasingly using these conditions strategically, which poses new challenges for democratic public discourse and political deliberation.
At the same time, he warns against viewing technological developments in isolation or from a technology-deterministic perspective. Digital media always interact with social, political, and institutional conditions. Responsibility therefore lies not only with the platforms, but also with politicians, the media, educational institutions, and users themselves. In this context, Marco Wähner sees media literacy as a central prerequisite for critically assessing and actively shaping digital public spheres.
Overall, Marco Wähner advocates a differentiated approach to digital technologies: instead of blanket euphoria or alarmism, he says, a reflective analysis of their social impact is needed. Only in this way can we understand how digital communication is changing democracy – and under what conditions it can strengthen or weaken democratic processes.