
Show Notes
We have a lot of threats to trust around the world. These include misinformation, political polarisation, the spread of hate online, and declining trust in political and social institutions. We also know that much of this has happened as more and more people worldwide have developed social media profiles and engaged with other online. But what, if anything, is the connection between the two? Should we be developing new measures for digital trust, or do the problems lie elsewhere, whether in the failure of governments to adequately deliver to their citizens, growing economic inequalities, or anxieties about cultural change? And how could critical, competent citizens who understand these problems contribute to redressing them?
Jörg Matthes is Professor of Communication Science at the University of Vienna and directs the Advertising and Media Psychology Research Group. His research spans digital media effects, advertising, sustainability communication, and empirical methods, with over 200 journal articles and numerous awards from major academic associations. He has served as Editor-in-Chief of Communication Theory and Communication Methods & Measures, both globally top-ranked journals in the field. As Chair of the Department of Communication (2014–2022), he led it to the University of Vienna to be one of the top universities in Europe and the world. He is a European Research Council Advanced Grant recipient, and also advises on academic quality assessments worldwide. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
More from Time for Trust
The 24-hour news cycle and the endless scroll of social media means a single controversial headline can shatter your organisation’s credibility in seconds.
AI is unavoidable in 2026, but higher education is caught between plummeting public trust and fear of disruption. In institutions where original thought is rewarded, how do you embrace an AI driven world?
How well do you remember your uni days? Chances are, whatever picture that came to mind - the lecture theatres, campus life, the idea of a place built to protect independent thought - is a few steps removed from the more complicated reality.
The UK has followed Australia’s lead by banning social media for under-16s. In a parting move made by the Starmer government, it’s left public opinion divided.
Communication is a two-way street. Or at least, it’s meant to be. So why don’t organisations ever seem to really listen to us?