Prof. Dr. Arnd Florack will be featured in the upcoming Dimensionen episode “Netzwerk ohne Nähe: Die Spielregeln der Einsamkeitsökonomie” ("Network Without Closeness: The Rules of the Loneliness Economy"), airing on May 11, 2026 at 19:05 on Ö1 (ORF) and also available as a podcast.

Dimensionen is Ö1’s long-running science and society program, focusing on current developments in culture, technology, politics, and everyday life through in-depth radio features and discussions.

This episode examines how loneliness has become a social, political, and economic issue in the digital age. Although people are more connected online than ever before, social isolation continues to rise – especially among younger generations. Social media platforms, influencers, streamers, and personalized digital services increasingly create a sense of intimacy and closeness that also functions as a business model.

Prof. Dr. Florack, Professor of Psychology at the University of Vienna and head of the Applied Social Psychology and Consumer Research Group, contributes his expertise on consumer behavior, advertising, digital media, and social influence in online environments.