The future of media and information in the digital age

What is the future of media and information in the digital age? Professor Katharina Lobinger, Associate Professor at the Faculty of Communication, Culture and Society of Università della Svizzera italiana (USI) and Deputy Director of the Institute of Digital Communication Technologies (ITDxC) addressed the topic during a round table organised by SSR Svizzera italiana CORSI. The subject was also the topic of an episode of Alphaville (Rete Due - RSI), in which the professor was a guest.

The round table "Al passo coi tempi digitali" (Keeping up the digital age) was held on Tuesday, 25 February at the Banca Stato Auditorium in Bellinzona. In addition to Professor Katharina Lobinger, the encounter featured Reto Ceschi, head of the RSI Information department; Annalisa De Vecchi, former RSI correspondent in Chur and now editor for the Keystone-SDA-ATS SA group; Daniel Ritzer, director of laRegione and Laura Zucchetti, journalist for TeleTicino and Radio3i, who acted as moderator. The purpose of the event, the second organised by SSR Svizzera italiana CORSI, was to reflect on the future of information and public service radio and television in the digital age. All speakers agreed that digital technology has transformed how we receive and deliver information. However, they emphasised that there is not just one digital landscape; instead, there are various platforms, each with its own characteristics and target audience. The main challenge for journalism today is to successfully adapt its content for online platforms while ensuring its quality and verification. This event is part of a series of roundtable discussions that involve all the key players in the media landscape of Southern Switzerland.

To understand the relationship between social media and information, explained Professor Katharina Lobinger, it is important to consider three fundamental aspects: "First and foremost, it is important to recognise that social media, by their nature, are not primarily platforms for information; they offer a diverse range of content. While they can be used to gather information, this information competes with other types of personal content, such as friends' vacation photos and advertisements. The switch from one type of content to another happens very rapidly. Another point to consider is that these platforms are predominantly visual, which poses a significant challenge for journalism, traditionally focused on text. Lastly, we must remember that online communication is interconnected with the offline world. As a result, we don't use social media solely for information; rather, we incorporate it into a broader network of communication channels."

Even public media, such as RSI, use social channels to inform their audience. Considering the current context, it is a choice that is almost a must, as pointed out by the USI Professor: "For the public service, completely leaving social media is not an option, as that's where the users are. However, carefully considering which content to share on each platform is essential. Algorithms play a significant role in this process, as they can influence whether certain content is visible or hidden. As mentioned earlier, social media platforms are not merely channels for information; rather, they are products of companies. Consequently, any change in a company's strategy or direction can also affect the visibility of the content shared on their platforms."

As this example shows, the dynamics of social media are complex, and it is not always easy for users to understand them and consciously move through them. "It is often stated that users need to develop critical evaluation skills. However, this is unrealistic, as it is impossible for a user to critically assess every single piece of information. Therefore, a different approach to content dissemination is necessary," commented Prof. Lobinger.

To combat disinformation, it is not enough for users to take action; stronger decisions and regulations are needed. "Over time, platforms have promoted the narrative that they are merely intermediaries, claiming they do not provide content themselves, but only share what others have made available. As a result, they have felt no obligation to moderate this content. However, today, platforms play an increasingly important role in the information ecosystem, making it essential to tackle this issue. It cannot be left to users to resolve it: platforms must take responsibility," said Professor Lobinger.

When browsing platforms, users are exposed to content based on logic often determined by algorithms, but that is not all: "Two opposing phenomena occur online: on the one hand, there is the risk of entering filter bubbles, which occur when a user only sees content that aligns with their existing beliefs and knowledge. On the other hand, there is incidental exposure, which happens when algorithms present us with new and different content from what we typically encounter. While both phenomena are influenced by algorithms, our choices also play a significant role, such as the searches we conduct or the decision to hide content we find inappropriate," explained the Vice Director of ITDxC.

Professor Lobinger and her team conducted a study on hate speech, which showed how users perceive traditional media differently from online platforms: "We asked people what they thought about hate speech on traditional media websites. Respondents generally said they found them unacceptable, as they associated a certain level of quality and credibility with journalistic channels. However, the same people found it impossible to moderate this kind of comment on social platforms. The good news is that journalism still has a good level of credibility. Still, the signal to pick up is the need to intervene to regulate social platforms better," concluded the USI professor.

The full interview with Professor Katharina Lobinger at Alphaville is available at the following link, while for more information on the round table of 25 February 2025 can be found at this link. (Italian only)