In today’s digital public sphere, institutional engagement is no longer simply about visibility. Messages compete in an environment shaped by fragmented audiences, algorithmic platforms, and rapidly evolving narratives. For European institutions, the challenge is no longer only what to communicate, but how to create meaningful links with citizens. That is why Make.org joined Cronos Europa’s efforts, alongside Communities, and BeInfluence. We developed “The Ripple Effect” - exploring how institutions can adapt to this new environment. We argue that sustainable communication does not come from isolated campaigns but from interconnected waves of engagement, the ripples, that spread through communities, technology, and, curically, dialogue.
👉 You can read the full report here.
The digital information ecosystem has fundamentally changed how Europeans encounter political information. Social media platforms and online communities now shape how citizens discover, discuss, and interpret public issues.
59% of Europeans now rely primarily on digital channels for information, and for younger citizens aged 15-24, social media has become the leading source of news and public affairs.
At the same time, the public sphere is increasingly fragmented. Citizens interact within smaller networks, such as online communities, creators’ audiences, or issue-based groups, rather than in shared national or European media spaces.
This transformation presents a challenge for institutions that traditionally relied on top-down communication. Messages alone rarely generate trust or sustained engagement. What citizens increasingly expect instead is participation, interaction, and the opportunity to shape conversations themselves.
This is where the concept of the Ripple Effect plays an important role.
Within this ecosystem, Make.org is a key player when it comes to transforming communication into dialogue, engagement and participation.
Our methodology is built around several key principles:
This approach allows institutions not only to gather opinions but also to structure collective intelligence at scale.
Participation is open and inclusive, while advanced data analysis ensures that contributions are synthesised into actionable insights for policymakers. In this way, citizen input becomes part of a continuous dialogue between institutions and society, which is the main desirable action coming out from this report.
In a time of geopolitical tensions, disinformation, and declining trust in institutions, strengthening democratic dialogue is more important than ever.
Make.org has implemented many initiatives that illustrate how digital participation platforms can help rebuild connections between citizens and institutions.
By enabling large-scale consultations, structured deliberation, and transparent feedback loops, civic tech solutions transform communication into a shared democratic process.
The Ripple Effect framework highlights this shift clearly: meaningful communication today is not only about amplifying institutional voices, but about creating spaces where citizens and institutions can interact, exchange perspectives, and co-create solutions.
When dialogue complements broadcasting, communication becomes more than information: it becomes democracy in action.
👉 You can read the full report here.