Since the start of the week, the website smartwielen.lu has been assisting voters in determining which party aligns most closely with their political views ahead of the European elections.
Speaking to RTL, Marc Schoentgen from the ‘Zentrum fir politesch Bildung’ (Centre for Citizenship Education) explained that the online test, developed in cooperation with the University of Luxembourg, allows users to answer over 38 questions to not only determine their own political views, but also understand the political priorities of the candidates running for office.
“The internet is the primary source of information for many. We’ve observed a decline in attendance at political rallies, reduced consumption of distributed materials, and a gradual decrease in the use of posters. The digital space is the first place where people go to receive information – smartwielen.lu then serves as an accessible and informative online platform”, Schoentgen noted.
Smartwielen.lu aims to be a neutral information platform, offering an alternative to the personalised content often found on social media platforms.
Raphael Kies, a researcher at the University of Luxembourg, emphasised: “On social media, the algorithm plays a crucial role in shaping our online experiences. It can create filter bubbles, isolating us from diverse perspectives. Smartwielen helps mitigate this by encouraging us to engage with differing opinions.”
During the parliamentary elections, the platform saw approximately 300,000 uses. That represents about 80,000 users, which corresponds to 30% of the voters.
