Season 2024

Whether Tinder, Bumble, Hinge or Grindr – dating apps have changed our dating culture. Preferences can be adjusted, algorithms show the best matches... But what influence do they have on our relationships? Our psyche? Our society as a whole?

“Politicians take the concerns of young people seriously” - only 20 percent of the 16 to 30 year olds surveyed agreed with this statement in a 2023 survey by Infratest dimap. The average age in the Bundestag was 47.3 years at the end of 2021.

Many people have taken to the streets in recent months and demonstrated against right-wing extremism. The protests against the right were triggered by revelations by the research network Correctiv about a meeting of “high-ranking AfD politicians, neo-Nazis and financially strong entrepreneurs”.

Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser clearly names right-wing extremism as the greatest threat to our democracy. Nevertheless, left-wing extremism is also a topic that is being discussed in Germany.

Whether globules, drops or ointments: Just over half of Germans have a positive attitude towards homeopathic medicines - this is according to a 2022 survey by the Federal Association of Drug Manufacturers (BAH).

Since Russia's attack on Ukraine at the beginning of 2022, war has been raging in Europe again. “We are experiencing a turning point,” announced Chancellor Scholz shortly after the start of the war. Germany supports Ukraine with humanitarian support, direct payments or in the form of weapons.

The prevailing image of masculinity is changing in society: modern men appear emotional, soft and sensitive. Stars like Timothée Chalamet and Harry Styles, who openly and confidently show their feminine side, have established themselves and are role models for many young people.

Abortions are illegal in Germany. However, they remain unpunished if certain conditions are met. In order to end the pregnancy, a mandatory consultation appointment must be attended and a three-day waiting period must be observed.

Whether it's a pink jersey, mouth-to-mouth gestures, racism in the stadium or homosexual professional players coming out: the football field is not an apolitical space.

Less work, more free time and higher productivity? Too good to be true – or perhaps possible with the four-day week?

Is it really just the truth? Cash is the most popular payment method in Germany - in 2023, according to the Deutsche Bundesbank, 51 percent of all payments in Germany were made with cash. In an international comparison, Germany lags behind when it comes to the possibility of digital payment. So does the cash have to go?

Danger to society or chance for a big breakthrough? TikTok has become an integral part of many young people's everyday lives. With 1.6 billion users worldwide, TikTok is one of the most popular social networks among GenZ.

The wealthier the parents, the higher the child's level of education? That's actually true. In Germany, whether a child goes on to high school after primary school depends largely on their social background.

Is artificial intelligence the end of our creativity? In 2023, an AI created the song “Heart on my sleeve” with artists Drake and The Weeknd, without their involvement. At the same time, Harrison Ford appeared on the screen in the “Indiana Jones film” in 2023, again as young as in previous years thanks to AI.

Should more weapons be delivered to Ukraine – or is diplomacy the solution?

When are you the best version of yourself? Trends like #CleanGirl #ThatGirl or biohacking promise self-optimization. In times of fitness trackers, mindfulness apps and 5AM clubs, this seems to have become the new mantra of our society.

Reality TV – just trash or is there more to it? Whether “Jungle Camp”, “Love Island” or “The Summer House of the Stars”: Reality formats are ratings hits that delight millions of viewers. The participants are looking for love, fame or use the shows as a springboard to media success.

Floods in Austria and Spain, hurricanes in Florida – the effects of climate change are being felt worldwide. How can we stop climate change and, above all, what can each and every one of us do?

Several hundred euros for a concert ticket? Large concerts can now cost almost as much as a short vacation. Whether Adele in Munich or Taylor Swift in Gelsenkirchen – in 2024, fans often had to pay a lot of money to see their favorite artists live.