The spread of lies, mis/disinformation, and conspiracy theories through social and legacy media is causing the fragmentation of the public sphere into echo chambers and filter bubbles. The EU has made significant efforts to regulate online content, but its approach is still reliant on cooperation from Big Tech. What else can we do to strengthen public deliberation?

Experts from our Horizon Europe-funded RECLAIM project propose three key recommendations:

1. Protecting quality journalism by standing firm on regulatory principles and providing funding opportunities for media that uphold high standards of professional practice;
2. Empowering citizens by providing them with media literacy and citizenship education toolkits;
3. Developing a new governance model for social media, independent from governments, commercial and special interests.

This infographic showcases the recommendations put forward by RECLAIM authors in the following policy briefs:

1. “Protecting Quality Journalism and Media Freedom” by Martin Moland (University of Oslo), Jacopo Custodi and Hans-Jorg Trenz (Scuola Normale Superiore)
2. “Empowering Citizens in a Changing Media and Information Environment” by Maximilian Conrad, Hulda Herjolfsdóttir Skogland (University of Iceland), Alessia Chiriatti and Federico Castiglioni (IAI), and Hrvoje Butkovic (IRMO)
3. “A New Governance Regime for Social Media” by Saul Newman (Goldsmiths University of London), Maximilian Conrad (University of Iceland), and Nikola Schmidt (IIR)

RECLAIM’s Policy Brief series aims to provide policy-makers with evidence-based recommendations to reinstate the legitimacy and effectiveness of liberal democracies.

Find all Policy Briefs here and download the infographic to know more.