RIDLOP - Impact

RIDLOP makes data from online platforms available for research to understand their impact on society. RIDLOP thereby strengthens not only research, but also serves policymakers and regulators, civil society and journalism, and international partner institutions.

Research areas

RIDLOP enables research in key areas of society in which online platforms play a significant role. Four exemplary research areas show which types of questions can be answered with RIDLOP and which data are available for them.

Democratic processes and institutions

How do online platforms influence political institutions, elections, and democracy?

RIDLOP enables research with platform data on political communication, for example content from and interactions between political actors, media, and citizens.

How do coordinated disinformation campaigns influence voting behavior and trust in political institutions?
Are polarizing, populist, or negative contents systematically amplified by recommendation algorithms?
What digital campaign strategies do political actors use and how do they influence voters?

Social cohesion and opinion formation

What is the influence of online platforms on polarization, hate speech, and discrimination?

RIDLOP enables research with platform data on public discourse, such as the communication of different societal groups about media coverage, political crises, or scandals.

Do platforms promote fragmentation of media and information use?
To what extent do platform algorithms reinforce the formation of echo chambers?
Which users encounter hate speech and discrimination on platforms, and how does this affect them?

Mental and psychological health

How do online platforms affect mental well-being, body image, and addictive behavior?

RIDLOP enables research with platform data on mental and psychological health, for example on body ideals and fitness trends, online gaming, and usage patterns or screen time.

How do idealized body representations on platforms influence body satisfaction and mental health?
What role do gamification elements or engagement-optimized algorithms play for addictive usage patterns?
Are social media bans effective in protecting the well-being and mental health of adolescents?

Economy and labor market

How do online platforms influence competition, working conditions, and consumer rights?

RIDLOP enables research with platform data on the economy and consumption, for example on product rankings or pricing on online marketplaces, matching algorithms on job platforms, or consumer and search behavior.

How do platform algorithms influence the visibility of providers, products, and services?
To what extent do platform practices lead to market concentration and monopolization?
How do algorithmic matching systems on job platforms affect equal opportunities and discrimination?

How will RIDLOP support your work?

Academic researchers

Systematic data access, replicable research, and shared infrastructure

RIDLOP will offer

Access to online platform data collected by researchers, data donations from platform users, and data provided by platforms
Comprehensive overviews of available datasets, including documentation of their quality and origin
Tools and pipelines for reproducible analysis within a secure analysis environment, the Trusted Research Environment
Long-term archiving of researcher-collected datasets, making them citable and reusable for the research community
Services such as consultation, how-to guides, and support in applying for data access

Policymakers and regulators

Empirical evidence for policy advice and regulation.

RIDLOP will provide

Independent, scientifically rigorous evidence on how online platforms affect society
A data foundation for enforcing the Digital Services Act, the EU regulation that obliges large platforms to grant researchers access to their data
Research findings in accessible formats such as policy briefs, summaries, and expert input
A trusted partner for dialogue between research, regulation, and platforms

Civil society and journalists

Insight into how platforms shape public life.

RIDLOP will enable

A Platform Transparency Portal with publicly accessible information about platforms and platform data
Formats that translate research findings for non-academic audiences
Insight into how platforms function and what effects they have on society
Exchange with researchers, regulators, and policymakers through workshops and briefings

International collaboration

Shared standards and capacities in the European research landscape

RIDLOP will contribute to

Cooperation with international data archives and research consortia
Development of shared standards for platform data research
Joint work on methods, tools, and services for the international research community
A foundation for inclusion in the ESFRI Roadmap, the European strategy process for large-scale research infrastructures

Get in touch!

Whether you are a researcher, an infrastructure partner, a policy stakeholder, or a journalist: the RIDLOP team is happy to provide further information about the project, discuss collaboration opportunities or joint events, and show you how RIDLOP can support your work in the future.

Contact | About us

Impact

Evidence-based research on the pressing questions of the digital age