Trust and reputation in the digital economy
12-01, 09:45–10:30 (Europe/Berlin), Stage 1, Leibniz-Saal, BBAW

In this keynote, Prof. Timm Teubner talks about how, when, and why (and why not) people trust online. The talk sheds light on research on trust and reputation and explores the mechanisms and designs that govern our perceptions and behaviors — as well as the side effects that come with it.


Our parents used to urge us not to get into strangers’ cars or houses, and not to meet people from the Internet. Yet, today, many share their cars with strangers, grant access to their homes, and use platforms to connect to others both online and offline. In this keynote, Prof. Timm Teubner talks about how, when, and why (and why not) people trust online. The talk sheds light on research on trust and reputation and explores the mechanisms and designs that govern our perceptions and behaviors — as well as the side effects that come with it.

See also: Presentation Slides

How is trust created between buyers and sellers on the Internet? Professor Dr. Timm Teubner, newly appointed to Technische Universität Berlin and the Einstein Center Digital Future (ECDF), conducts his research into this question from a perspective informed by sociology and economics. From 2004 to 2010, Teubner studied industrial engineering at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, where he also completed his doctorate and subsequently worked as a postdoctoral researcher. He spent one year studying at the University of Massachusetts (UMass) in the USA. Professor Teubner, Chair of Trust in Digital Services at Faculty VII, is looking forward to continuing his research into digital platforms from A (as in Amazon) to Z (as in Zalando), taking advantage of the interdisciplinary framework of the ECDF.