Welcome to a panel discussion about social media, democracy and young people!
Time: Thursday 16.4.2026, at 16:15-17:45
Place: Väinö Linna -lecture Hall, Linna building (Kalevantie 5).
Speakers: Vilma Rimpelä (producer, RARE Media), Esko Nieminen (Tampere University), Heta Mulari (TikTokCracy Research Project, Tampere University); Lauri Lahikainen (Tampere University, Democracy Research Network).
Please register here (for coffee/tea)
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How do TikTok and other social media platforms transform democracy? How does short video format impact politics and sociality in young people’s lives?
According to Sitra’s new study, social media algorithms affect content consumers’ worldviews through favoring sensational and polarized contents and thus steering political debate.
Social media platforms are essential in young people’s everyday lives, peer cultures, as well as cultural and political expressions. Short video formats have become a central way of producing and conveying knowledge used by journalists, politicians, and other content creators.
The panel brings together scholars and social media experts to reflect on and discuss these topical issues. The aim is to reach beyond discussions about social media bans, and critically ponder the relationships between social media, democracy, short video, and young people’s everyday lives.
The panelists include
Vilma Rimpelä (producer, RARE Media)
Esko Nieminen (Tampere University)
Heta Mulari (TikTokCracy Research Project, Tampere University)
The panel is chaired by Lauri Lahikainen (Tampere University, Democracy Research Network).
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The panel is organized in collaboration with the Democracy Research Network (Tampere University), TikTokCracy research project (Tampere University) and Perla: Tampere Centre for Children, Youth, and Family Research.
We welcome scholars, students, and everyone interested in these themes to join!
Any questions? Please contact Heta Mulari, heta.mulari@tuni.fi