Dr. Magdalena Obermaier

Magdalena Obermaier is a postdoctoral researcher at the Department of Media and Communication at LMU. Her work is mostly located in (digital) media use and effects research from the perspective of various groups of recipients and focuses on anti- and prosocial online communication and victimization. She has been a DDCxTrygFonden Fellow at the University of Southern Denmark (SDU) in Odense, and has served as a Visiting Scholar at City, the University of London (UK) and the University of California, Santa Barbara (USA).

Project at CAS:

As digital violence becomes increasingly widespread, the role of bystanders in online spaces is more crucial than ever. These silent observers can play a powerful role in reducing harm when they choose to intervene in prosocial ways. The research residency at the CAS explores how to empower such intervention and queries about ways to enhance safety for those targeted online. It also investigates how AI can be leveraged—both its promises and its risks—to support and protect those who step in, as well as the affected. By examining these dynamics, the project seeks to foster more supportive, and safer digital environments.