In the wake of a recent court hearing, a study by the Institute for Democracy and Civil Society in Jena has revealed that the far-right magazine Compact has profited from the attention surrounding its ban. The magazine’s online presence has seen a significant surge in followers and engagement, particularly on the social media platform Telegram, where it now has over 80,000 fans.
Researchers at the institute, who analyzed the magazine’s online metrics, found that not only did the controversy surrounding the ban boost the magazine’s social media presence, but it also led to a lasting increase in its online reach. According to Senior Data Scientist Christian Donner, the magazine’s Telegram channel gained 20,000 new followers, a 30% increase, following the ban’s temporary lifting in the summer of 2024.
The study also found that the magazine’s presence on the video-sharing platform YouTube and the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, saw a significant increase in followers and engagement. The researchers attributed this growth to the magazine’s ability to fill a void left by the ban, allowing it to attract new followers who were seeking alternative sources of content.
IDZ researcher Franziska Martini noted that the Telegram channel of Compact had the strongest increase in subscribers following the ban, suggesting that users are actively seeking out alternative sources of content when faced with bans and restrictions. Martini also highlighted the magazine’s role as a connector between different extremist groups, stating that its content is being received and shared by a range of populist and conspiracy-theory oriented groups.
The Bundesverwaltungsgericht in Leipzig is set to deliver its verdict on the magazine’s ban in the coming days, with the court having heard arguments in the case earlier this month. The magazine’s future is uncertain, as the court must decide whether to uphold the ban or allow the magazine to continue publication.