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We are excited to share a new publication in Information, Communication & Society, titled “The Dual Impact of Virtual Reality: Examining the Addictive Potential and Therapeutic Applications of Immersive Media in the Metaverse” by Ljubiša Bojić, Jörg Matthes, Agariadne Dwinggo Samala, and Milan Čabarkapa.

As virtual reality (VR) technologies evolve rapidly and become important to the emerging metaverse, their influence on individuals and society is also growing. The study takes a closer look at how core features of VR, such as immersion, interactivity, real-time access, and personalization can have both harmful and helpful effects. By reviewing 44 peer-reviewed papers, they found that 19 studies identified these features as contributing to addictive behaviors, while 25 papers showed that the same features could be used to support addiction treatment, mental health care, and pain management.

This duality highlights the need to stop viewing VR as simply beneficial or harmful. Instead, it should be understood as a tool that can shape user behavior in different ways depending on design, context, and regulation. This work advances current understanding of VR by framing it as a media environment that closely mimics reality and deeply engages the senses making it both more compelling and potentially more risky than previous technologies. It also contributes to the growing discussion on how immersive technologies may change not only health and social interactions but also norms around communication, attention, and emotional well-being.

Based on these findings, it seems recommendable to advocate for stronger policy frameworks and design strategies to prevent overuse and media addiction. Suggestions include time-tracking tools, algorithmic diversity, and content moderation to avoid filter bubbles (communicative feedback loops). At the same time, the therapeutic potential of VR should be further developed in clinical settings where immersive environments can be safely and ethically used to support well-being.

📘 Access the full article here: https://doi.org/10.1080/1369118X.2025.2520005

We are above excited to announce that our TWON colleague, Ljubisa Bojić of the University of Belgrade, has published an extensive study addressing a compelling question: Does GPT-4 surpass human performance in linguistic pragmatics? The paper explores whether large language models (LLMs) are capable of understanding nuanced, often implied meanings in human communication that go beyond the literal and depend on context, irony, sarcasm, or subtle conversational cues.

The study examined five LLMs (GPT-2, GPT-3, GPT-3.5, GPT-4, and Google’s Bard) alongside two groups of human participants: Serbian speakers of English as a second language and U.S. native English speakers. Each model and participant was asked to interpret a series of dialogue-based tasks specifically designed to test pragmatic understanding, drawing on Gricean communication principles such as relevance, clarity, and implicature. Their responses were evaluated using a standardized five-point scale, where a score of ‘1’ indicated poor or superficial understanding, and a ‘5’ signaled a deep and accurate interpretation of implied meaning, including the detection of sarcasm, irony, and other contextual subtleties.

The results weremore than interesting. GPT-4 not only outperformed all other AI models but also exceeded the performance of human participants. GPT-4 achieved an average score of 4.80, compared to the highest human score of 4.55. On average, human participants scored significantly lower (the Serbian group averaging 2.80 and the US group 2.34) while the LLMs, overall, averaged 3.39. GPT-4 ranked first among all 155 evaluated participants.

These findings carry important real-world implications. If AI can consistently interpret pragmatic cues better than humans, it could lead to more advanced and intuitive interactions between people and machines. For instance, this could dramatically enhance the capabilities of virtual assistants, customer service bots, and social robots, making them more adept at recognizing intent, tone, and emotion. Such improvements could prove especially valuable in fields like mental health, education, and conflict resolution, where reading between the lines is often crucial.

At the same time, these advances raise important ethical considerations. As we begin to rely more on AI for interpreting nuanced communication, there is a risk of misinterpretation or misuse, particularly in sensitive contexts. It also raises questions about accountability and the potential consequences of AI misunderstanding or manipulating human intent.

In short, while the ability of GPT-4 to surpass human performance in linguistic pragmatics marks a major milestone for AI, it also underscores the need for thoughtful, responsible integration of such technologies into society. The study offers a glimpse into the future of human–AI communication; one that is more natural, perceptive, and possibly more capable than we previously imagined.

Find the open-access paper here. 

In TWON we do not only want to translate our scientific results into actionable recommendations for decision-makers in politics and industry – we also want to foster digital citizenship and the public debate on the role Online Social Networks should play in our society. This is why, our CitizenLabs are an essential part of TWON!

The Citizen Labs are conducted by TWON consortium member “DialoguePerspectives. Discussing Religions and Worldviews e.V.” who trains young European leaders to become experts in a new, society-oriented interreligious-worldview dialogue. The program brings together participants from diverse communities and backgrounds, encompassing individuals with 19 different religions and beliefs across 25 European countries. Through their unique perspectives and expertise, they contribute to fostering understanding, cooperation, and a pluralistic, democratic, and cohesive Europe.

Following the first Citizen Lab in Karlsruhe in September 2024, the second Citizen Lab recently took part in Vienna from May 11-14th, 2025! 35 young leaders from various communities from all over Europe came together to discuss a digital and pluralistic European future. The program was a mixture of input and discussion from our TWON researchers, impulses from external researchers and civil society organizations, reflexional workshops and a public evening event – all centered around tackling hate, misinformation and polarization in the age of AI and tech-oligarchs.

Dr. Jonas Fegert opened up the discussion, introducing the group to the TWON project, the goals and the need. Prof. Dr. Damian Trilling (University of Amsterdam) opened up a critical conversation around the limits of current research on social media dynamics, challenging our assumptions about echo chambers, filter bubbles, and the spread of disinformation. His interactive talk underscored how intuitive beliefs often outpace empirical evidence — and invited us to think more deeply about what we can actually measure.

Prof. Dr. Achim Rettinger (Trier University) tackled the complex intersection of AI agents and online discourse. Can AI replace us in some communicative functions — and should it? His workshop addressed both the dangers and opportunities of algorithmic content curation, especially in shaping public opinion and emotional response.

We also had the chance, to present our demonstrators micro & macro TWONy to the public! Led by Simon Münker (Trier University) and Fabio Sartori (KIT), participants explored our tools with which we try to make our simulations with generative agents tangible. The hands-on experience allowed for nuanced discussions about how different ranking logics affect emotional dynamics.

FZI researcher Cosima Pfannschmidt  led a workshop on envisioning a democratic online social network of the future. What would such a platform look like? Who would own and govern such a platform? How should content moderation be organized? Which criteria would the ranking algorithm prioritize? While it is crucial to research negative effects of online social networks, it is equally important to develop actionable, democratic alternatives.

At our public evening event in the Vienna Co-Innovation Factory, we dove deeper into the topic of digital democracy. Moderated by Dr. Jonas Fegert (FZI), Prof. Dr. Achim Rettinger (Uni Trier & FZI), Benjamin Fischer (CeMAS), Judith Peterka (TWON Advisory Board), Natascha Strobl (Expert on Right-wing Extremism and the New Right) and Dr. Sebastian Heidebrecht (EIF – Centre for European Integration Research, Vienna University) discussed on “Digital Democracy and the Power of Platforms: Policy, AI, and Accountability”. In a second panel session, Alina Bricman (Director of EU Affairs at B’nai B’rith International), Rosa Jellinek (Activist, Social Media Expert, Keshet Deutschland e.V.), Selin Aydın (Programme Manager CLAIM – Alliance Against Islamo-phobia and Anti-Muslim Hate) and Stefania Manca (Institute of Educational Technology, Italian National Research Council) discussed on „Countering Hate and Information Manipulation – Strategies for a Safer Digital Sphere“.

Beyond this the Citizen Lab included fantastic inputs from external researchers and civil society organizations:

• Algorithmic Amplification of Hate Speech and Misinformation with Dr. Ing. Even Kapros (Strategic Designer and Researcher on HCI, UX, and Ethics, CEO and founder of Endurae, Strategic Advisor with Project Arc)
• Foreign Influence: Digital Manipulation by Authoritarian States and Paths to Platform Accountability with Julia Smirnova (Senior Researcher, CeMAS)
• What’s Working, What’s Not: Recommender Systems and Platform Accountability (Dr. Julia Neidhardt, Head of the CD Lab for Recommender Systems, UNESCO Co-Chair for Digital Humanism, TU Vienna
• Voices That Echo: Holocaust Memory, Digital Activism and Peacebuilding in the Social Media Age with Dr. Stefania Manca | Institute of Educational Technology, Italian National Research Council)
• Social Media, AI, Disinformation, and Freedom of Speech with Nuriyatul Lailiyah | Assistant Professor Communication Department Faculty of Social and Political Sciences Diponegoro University Semarang Central Java
• World Café Discussions on Local Realities in the Digital Sphere with IGGÖ – Islamische Glaubensgemeinschaft in Österreich, JöH – Jüdische österreichische Hochschüler:innen and SEEDS – Security Education by Empowering Democratic Strength

The Citizen Lab concluded with a call to action: How can we translate these insights into political change? To wrap up the rich discussions, we developed policy proposals aimed at regulating algorithmic systems, increasing transparency, and creating digital environments where diverse voices can thrive. With DialoguePerspectives’ participatory approach we ensure that our policy recommendations are relevant, comprehensible, linked to the ongoing public debate and reflect the lived experiences of the diverse European communities. Participants worked on an existing TWON policy brief, which was previously developed in an iterative process with input from TWON researchers and the previous CitizenLab. The Vienna Citizen Lab 2025 reminded us that digital spaces are not neutral — they are designed, and as such, can be redesigned. To build an inclusive, democratic future, we need to shape not only the rules of online discourse, but the very structures that host them.

We are deeply grateful for the Vienna Citizen Lab 2025, hosted by TWON-partner DialoguePerspectives. What an unforgettable gathering that brought together European leaders committed to shaping democratic digital spaces! A heartfelt thank you to DialoguePerspectives and all those who made this experience so meaningful. It was an honor to be part of a space where listening, questioning, and reimagining Europe is not only possible—but already happening.