Jena, March 20, 2026. Gaming is no longer just a pastime, but a growing platform for political debates and opinion-forming. The Friedrich-Schiller-Universität and the City of Jena invite the public to a free action day at the Stadtlab on April 17, 2026, to discuss this phenomenon with experts, teachers, and the general public.
- What: Action Day „MitmachFORUM: From Minecraft to Opinion? Politics in Gaming“
- When: Friday, April 17, 2026, 09:30 AM to 06:00 PM
- Where: Stadtlab Jena, Markt 1 (Ratszeise), 07743 Jena
- Admission: Free (The event is explicitly aimed at students and teachers)
- Contact: community@uni-jena.de
Just a Game? The Political Influence of Twitch and Co.
Livestream platforms like Twitch have changed significantly in recent years. Alongside classic Let’s Plays, political discussions are increasingly taking place there, reaching young voters in particular. The influence of this content on opinion-forming is at the heart of this year’s action day. In cooperation with Antonia Wurm and Maria Grub from the Institute for Communication Science at the Universität Jena, the event offers a mix of scientific impulses, practical reports, and open panel discussions.
The Program: International Perspectives and Interactive Learning Worlds
The full-day program examines the topic from various angles and combines research with practical insights into content creation. Highlights include:
- 09:45 AM: Insights into the project „When gaming wins elections: Twitch as a platform for political opinion-forming among young voters“ (Antonia Wurm & Maria Grub, Uni Jena).
- 10:30 AM: Online lecture „Game Live-Streaming in Australia and Japan“ by Mark R. Johnson (University of Sydney).
- 11:15 AM: „Harnessing Player Emotions for Political Persuasion in Video Games“ with Andrei Nae (University of Bucharest).
- 01:30 PM: The practical perspective: „Content Creation from a Streamer’s Perspective“ by Nico Frank (kalixTV).
- 02:00 PM: An interactive format on the question „Does digital learning software survive contact with school classes?“ with Joel Kessler and Jonas Heinke (Playinsight Studios Jena).
- 03:30 PM: Keynote on perspectives from municipal education and youth work.
Background: The MitmachFORUM and the Stadtlab
The MitmachFORUM is a joint project of the Friedrich-Schiller-Universität and the City of Jena, funded by the Stifterverband. The aim of the initiative is to strengthen direct dialogue between science, administration, and urban society. The Stadtlab at the historic Jenaer Marktplatz serves as a central, low-threshold contact point. Here, new ideas for knowledge exchange and social coexistence are to be developed together. In particular, media literacy and the understanding of digital communication channels play an increasingly important role in the modern educational mandate of schools and municipal youth work.
Source:
MitmachFORUM: From Minecraft to Opinion? Gaming between Politics and Entertainment
Transparency Note: This article was automatically generated, editorially reviewed, and expanded with AI support.