The lives of young people today are largely shaped by digital technologies and forms of communication. The digital space thus has a decisive influence on the opportunities and risks of adolescence. The federal program Live Democracy! (Demokratie leben!) promotes innovation projects that are committed to expanding the opportunities of the digital space and reducing its risks. Specifically, the projects aim to strengthen young people's digital participation and skills and to support them in dealing with online hate and disinformation. These innovation projects in the digital space are being evaluated by the University of Duisburg-Essen (UDE). The evaluation serves a formative as well as summative purpose. It supports the development of the project interventions and secures the results of the projects.  The evaluation design combines quantitative and qualitative methods, taking a longitudinal perspective into account. 

More detailed information on the thematic priorities of the innovation projects and the focus of our evaluation can be found below.

The digital space as a place for democratic learning

Digital media are a natural part of young people’s everyday lives. They influence how young people obtain information, communicate and engage with the world around them. According to the JIM Study 2024, the internet is an integral part of daily life for around 90% of 12- to 19-year-olds. In an OECD 2025 comparison, Germany is among the frontrunners in terms of young people's use of the digital space: German 15-year-olds spend almost seven hours a day in front of a screen. 

However, the digital space is not only an important place for information and socialization, but also a place where democratic values, participation and social cohesion are negotiated. This offers young people great opportunities: new forms of low-threshold political participation and civil society engagement, as well as increased visibility for issues concerning youth, can strengthen their social participation. Information is becoming more accessible and it is easier to make contacts – not only with like-minded people, but also with political actors, for example. At the same time, anonymity in the digital space, algorithm-driven platforms, parasocial relationships, manipulation and disinformation pose risks not only for individuals, but also for democratic discourse in society as a whole. Online, young people are regularly confronted with all kinds of misinformation, hate speech and digital violence. In order to empower them to deal with these challenges, while at the same time not leaving the potential of the digital space untapped, initiatives are needed that provide young people with tools and strategies to navigate the digital space safely. 

Innovation projects with these goals are funded as part of the federal program Live Democracy! and evaluated by the University of Duisburg-Essen (UDE).     

The innovation projects in the digital space

As a central place for socialisation, information and participation for young people, the digital space is also a strategically important field for promoting democracy and preventing extremism. For this reason, the federal program Live Democracy! is supporting an increasing number of innovation projects focusing on the digital space in its third funding period. These innovation projects address two thematic fields: digital participation and skills on the one hand, and combating online hate and disinformation on the other. The projects are each assigned to one of these thematic fields.

1. Thematic field: Digital participation and skills

Political engagement is increasingly shifting to the digital space, which plays a central role in political socialisation, especially for young people. At the same time, many users lack the skills to engage constructively in this space. The communication culture in digital spaces often makes open, democratic exchange even more difficult. Anonymous forms of communication and algorithmic reinforcement mechanisms encourage polarised discussions and can prevent open exchange. Aside from these challenges, the internet also offers great potential – for example, to reach new target groups for the promotion of democracy through formats such as digital streetwork and gaming, or to expand democratic engagement through technical applications such as participation apps.

Overall, innovation projects in the thematic field of digital participation and skills should contribute to shaping the digital space as an inclusive space in which democratic values can be experienced. The aim is to empower young citizens to actively seize the opportunities offered by digital participation and to engage democratically.

2. Thematic field: Combating online hate and disinformation

The increasing spread of online hate and disinformation hinders democratic exchange, unsettles many people, and exacerbates social polarisation and radicalisation. Digital attacks also encourage physical violence. Affected groups are at increased risk of withdrawing from the digital space. To effectively counter these developments, society needs innovative forms of support and intervention. Young people in particular are constantly confronted with these trends – as victims, observers, but also (sometimes unintentionally) propagators – and have to make a choice about how to act.

The innovation projects in the thematic field of combating online hate and disinformation seek to empower users to deal with these challenges. This includes developing methods of digital civil courage, moderation and awareness-raising to recognize and counteract hate. In addition, those affected are supported in dealing with hate, and observers are empowered to actively provide or organize help. The projects address specific challenges, such as misogyny spread online or AI-based disinformation, and create opportunities to promote democratic media literacy. This is also intended to strengthen or restore trust in reliable information.

Context: Evaluation in the federal program Live Democracy!

Live Democracy! is a nationwide support program run by the German Federal Ministry for Education, Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMBFSFJ). It aims to strengthen civil society initiatives to promote democratic participation, shape diversity and prevent extremism. During the 2025–2028 funding period, the program is accompanied by ongoing evaluations across its various funding areas, coordinated through a dedicated evaluation network.

The evaluation aims to review and support the implementation of the program's legally defined objectives. At the same time, it promotes the continuous development of the program. In order for Live Democracy! to be able to respond flexibly to new challenges as a learning program, it is essential to take changing socialization contexts and technical advances into account in this process. The evaluation therefore not only assesses the effectiveness of the current measures, but also provides formative support for their targeted further development. A total of eight teams are evaluating the various program areas and fields of action of Live Democracy!.

Partial evaluation of the innovation projects in the digital space: The role of the UDE

As part of the overall evaluation of the federal program Live Democracy!, the UDE is responsible for evaluating innovation projects in the digital space. From 2025 to 2028, the UDE will support a total of 15 projects. As a scientific partner, it will examine and advise the funded innovation projects in the two thematic fields of digital participation and skills, and combating online hate and disinformation, with a view to achieving the goals set out in the program. Comprehensive, impact-oriented individual evaluations will be carried out for some of the projects. These projects are:

• BeteiligungsApp Brandenburg (Landesfachverband Medienbildung Brandenburg)
• Brandherd Desinformation (Correctiv)
• Demokratie Starterbox (Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung)
• Medienbuddies (Ludwig-Windthorst-Haus)

For the other projects, a multi-method self-evaluation tool is available that enables independent reflection and promotes networking with other projects. Regular digital meetings also provide an opportunity for the projects to exchange ideas with the evaluation team and receive support.

More information about the federal program Live Democracy! can be found here.

Relevant publications by the UDE-team on topic-related evaluation in the digital space

Huschle, L., Kindlinger, M. & Abs, H. J. 2024. Personal Responsibility and Beyond: Developing a Comprehensive Self-Assessment Tool for Digital Citizenship Literacy. In: Weizenbaum Journal of the Digital Society, 4(4). https://doi.org/10.34669/wi.wjds/4.4.5 

Kindlinger, M. & Abs, H. J. (2025). Entwicklung eines KI-Kompetenzprofils aus Perspektive der politischen Bildung. PrEval Studie 2/2025. https://doi.org/10.48809/PrEvalStu2502

Kindlinger, M., Huschle, L. & Abs, H. J. (2025). Entwicklung eines integrierten Modells und Selbsteinschätzungsinstruments für Digital Citizenship Literacy. PrEval Studie 1/2025. https://doi.org/10.48809/PrEvalStu2501   

Welsandt, N.J., Huschle, L., Drossel, K., Deimel, D. & Abs, H. J. 2024. Digitalisierung. Mediennutzung von Jugendlichen zu sozialen und politischen Fragen, schulische Aktivitäten und Lehrkräftefortbildungen. In H. J. Abs, K. Hahn-Laudenberg, D. Deimel & J. F. Ziemes (Hrsg.), ICCS 2022. Schulische Sozialisation und politische Bildung von 14-Jährigen im internationalen Vergleich (S. 239–255). Münster: Waxmann. https://doi.org/10.31244/9783830998228.12

Contact

For general questions: evaluationsteam_digitaler_raum[at]uni-due.de

Project lead

Prof. Dr. Hermann J. Abs

Project team

Eva Anderson-Park

Lucy Huschle

Lisa Walter

Dr. Marcus Kindlinger

Dr. Myrte van Veldhuizen