Deep Read: "We live in a society with blocked paths to advancement"

Sociologist Steffen Mau has expressed surprise at how quickly Germany's societal landscape has changed, with the country's parties of the center in a precarious position due in part to the rise of the AfD. Mau notes that young people are protesting in Germany and other European countries, driven by frustration with politics and a sense of uncertain futures due to factors like artificial intelligence and the legacy of the COVID-19 pandemic.

He believes that the current protests may not be a lasting political movement, citing the fleeting nature of social media-driven mobilization. The weakness of traditional parties has so far mainly benefited the AfD, with Mau warning that social media platforms' emphasis on polarization threatens the functioning of democracy.