Themed call: from Liking to Listening

Algorithms reward extreme content

Polarisation is not inherently harmful and is even important for a democracy. However, in online forums, polarisation often becomes toxic. It sharpens divisions, impedes constructive dialogue and feeds mutual mistrust. The algorithms used by the dominant social media platforms aggravate the problem of online polarisation. They reward extreme content, maintain filter bubbles and facilitate the rapid dissemination of misinformation.

Alternative electronic media remain small-scale

More and more alternative electronic social media are available, which promote unity instead of division. These media consciously depart from the data-driven earnings models used by Big Tech. However, scaling up alternative media is challenging. Many of the existing initiatives are reactive or too small-scale. Others focus on offline solutions, when it’s online that many of the problems play out.

About your idea/project:

• It has societal value in the form of general social significance and impact, and isn’t intended to serve the interests of a particular person or a particular commercial or political organisation.

• It focuses on a Dutch context, but also has potential added value at the European level.

• It preferably has co-funding from another source.

• It preferably uses a multidisciplinary approach (e.g. involving collaboration between technical personnel and civil society organisations, or between academics and journalists).

• It preferably has a communication vision and an impact realisation vision.

• It’s high quality. We’ll assess the quality by looking at the problem outline and the rationale given for the proposed solution.

• It’s scalable.You’re building on an existing project or study with a project that serves a large user group and has a clear upscaling pathway.

• It’s innovative. You can convincingly show that it involves a new idea, an existing idea applied in a new context, the broadening of access to an existing, promising tool, or a new application of digital technology.

• It’s potentially capable of achieving long-term impact in relation to the objectives of the call. You can also show how continuity will be assured beyond the project period.

• It meets a real need and is therefore result-oriented. The need addressed by your project must be clearly defined and evidenced. You’ll need to show how you identified the need within the target group, who the target group is, and how you can reach them.

• It’ll be completed within 2 years of the start date.

About you, the applicant:

• You are a legal entity (or a legal entity currently in formation, which will be in existence by the time of the grant award, if made). A legal entity is, for example, a foundation, an association, a cooperative, a mutual guarantee company, a public limited company, or a private limited company.

• You demonstrably possess the capacity and expertise to successfully undertake the project. Wherever possible, the team itself should possess the required expertise, and not be reliant upon third-party providers. Diversity within the team is desirable. It’s also desirable to have outside parties collaborating on the project.

• You’ve got a strong contact network.

• You’ve got a clear picture of the current situation in the relevant field.

• You aren’t already running another project supported by SIDN Fund (or your current project will be complete by October 2025).

Your application will be unsuccessful if:

• You’re developing or refining a website or app, without any substantive innovation of services, functions or processes that support the mission of SIDN Fund.

• You’re looking for event sponsorship.

• What you’re planning is a standalone media production, e.g. a podcast or video that isn’t part of a larger project and/or for which there are no definite distribution and usage plans.

• Your initiative has a religious or party-political objective.

• Your application relates to structural organisational expenditure, operating costs or personnel costs that aren't directly attributable to a qualifying project.

• The initiative will exclusively benefit one person or business, is a purely B2B initiative, or involves product development for the benefit of a single business.

• The initiative involves the use of innovative technology but does not address a clear societal problem or meet a demonstrable need within a defined target group (‘technology looking for a problem’).

• You have no clear plans to actively and proactively share results and knowledge.

• You’re charging commercial rates. Particular attention will be given to this point during the assessment.