Workshop on the digital public: How social media shapes knowledge!

Workshop on the digital public: How social media shapes knowledge!

The workshop “Knowledge – Identity – Mediality” will take place on May 30, 2025 in the university building B6 at the University of Mannheim. This open event, which is organized in collaboration with the American Studies Department at the University of Mannheim and external guests, addresses key debates at the interface of knowledge production, the digital public and identity discourses. The workshop offers a diverse program with lectures from the areas of cultural, media and political science.

A special highlight is the lecture by Prof. Adrian Daub, PhD, J.E. Wallace Sterling Professor at Stanford University whose research interests include 19th-century culture and politics, gender and sexuality. His talk, “Learning Digital Anti-Feminism: Depp v. Heard, YouTube and How Platforms Shape What Counts as ‘Evidence’,” discusses the influence of YouTube comments on the trial between Johnny Depp and Amber Heard. This issue is particularly relevant because public perception and social media representations have a significant impact on the discussions surrounding this case.

The context of the trial

At the heart of the dispute is Johnny Depp's defamation lawsuit against Amber Heard over a 2018 Washington Post article in which Heard described himself as a "public figure who represents domestic violence." Heard, in turn, has also sued Depp after one of his lawyers accused her of perpetuating an "abuse hoax." This confrontation has triggered not only legal but also broader social discussions, fueled by social media, such as Psychology Today reported.

The debate shows how social media can influence the perception of gender roles. Content about the trial is often distorted and emotionally charged, pushing the protagonists into a simple dichotomy of “good” and “evil.” Amber Heard is often portrayed negatively, while Depp and his lawyer Camille Vasquez are viewed positively. This dynamic is not only a reflection of societal archetypes, but can also play an important role in public opinion on how attractiveness influences perceptions of honesty, although varies by gender.

Risks and opportunities of social media

The plurality of voices on platforms like Twitter or Instagram brings with it both risks and opportunities. An acatech project that deals with communication between science, the public and the media describes the advantages of social media in their function as a means of communication, which, however, are also confronted with challenges such as the spread of disinformation and the result of echo chambers. The interactivity of these new technologies allows users to take on roles as communicators, while at the same time there is a risk of knowledge fragmentation, as in acatech described.

The role of social media in reporting and the constantly changing discourse on social issues must be critically reflected. Especially in the case of Depp v. Heard questions the impact of such platforms on the formation of opinions and the understanding of complex issues such as domestic violence and gender identities. In this context, the workshop is of great importance because it promotes dialogue about the interface between media discourses and scientific knowledge.

For further information about the lectures and registration, those interested can contact Prof. Dr. Stefanie Schäfer (telephone: 0621 181-2361, e-mail: stefanie.schaefer@uni-mannheim.de) or Katja Bauer, deputy press spokeswoman for the University of Mannheim (e-mail: katja.bauer@uni-mannheim.de).