KU Leuven Media Psychology Lab; researchers interested in the academic and fundamental study of the uses and effects of the media
KU Leuven
Joined January 2015
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Parasocial has been named the Cambridge Dictionary’s Word of the Year.
@L__Vandenbosch was invited to @vrtnws Laat to unpack what parasocial interactions really are and why they’ve become so central in our increasingly digital media landscape.
📺vrt.be/vrtmax/a-z/vrt-nws-la…
Great news from the Media Psychology Lab! 🎉
Femke Konings (Mass Comm) and Lise-Marie Nassen (Mobile Comm) were elected ICA Secretaries.
Ellen Van Houtven joined NeFCA’s Media Psychology Division as PhD Rep, and Ines Boeckxstaens the Young Scholars Network. 👏
We had the honor of hosting Prof. Erica Scharrer from the @UMassAmherst! During her visit, she delivered inspiring lectures for our students and research department on 'Sephora Kids', social media, aging anxiety, and skincare consumer behavior, sparking interesting discussions
Our postdoctoral researcher @GonzalezAnaelle won 3rd place at the One Health Day Art & Photography Competition for her poem–collage “The Object.”
The piece reflects on how screens and social media connect and distance us from ourselves, others, and our environments.
We were delighted to host Alfredo Zarco Alpuente (University of Valencia) for a research stay! Hosted by @L__Vandenbosch, he and @JasminaRosic_ examined the views of parents, teachers, and coaches on the digital well-being of young athletes. Best of luck with your PhD, Alfredo!
To what extent and which adolescents experience positive digital experiences? In a recent KU Leuven Child and Youth Institute blog post, @JasminaRosic_ and @L__Vandenbosch explore this question.
🔗Read more: kuleuven.be/child-youth/nl/b…
Our PhD student @margotliss returned from a month-long research stay with @DesireeSchmuck at the @VMCI_univie. She worked on an ongoing project and participated in the symposium “How Digital Interventions Affect Political Attitudes and Knowledge among Young Citizens”.
🎓Congratulations to @JasminaRosic_ for defending her PhD: “Growing up in a digital world: Understanding the perceived positive experiences of digital media use among (disadvantaged) adolescents” supervised by @L__Vandenbosch & Bojana Lobe, and funded by @ERC_Research.
🎓Last Monday, @GonzalezAnaelle successfully defended her PhD dissertation “Politics Undercover: Understanding the role of social media personalities in adolescents’ development of the political self,” supervised by @L__Vandenbosch, funded by
@ERC_Research 👏Congrats!
📅 Op 24/10 organiseren we met @ChildYouthInst een studiedag over digitale media & het mentale en fysieke welzijn van jongeren. Voor leerkrachten, jeugdwerkers, beleidsmedewerkers en iedereen met interesse. Gratis, registratie verplicht!
👉 kuleuven.be/child-youth/en/e…
In a recent @FSW_KULEUVEN SWAY (Social Sciences for Society) blog, @KoningsFemke, @L__Vandenbosch & Sindy Sumter unpack how mobile dating apps shape young adults’ self-image, relationships, and well-being.
👉soc.kuleuven.be/sway/verhale…
Yesterday, our Lab joined Eetexpert’s Kennisdag with two talks on youth body satisfaction.
@L__Vandenbosch shared new findings on social media and body perception, while
@NeleJanssens_ & Laure Dedecker presented media parenting practices. Thanks, Eetexpert, for an inspiring day!
✨ We’re wrapping up our writing retreat—reflecting on our work from the past year and recharging with fresh ideas. Feeling inspired and ready for the new academic year ahead!
📺 Prof. @kathbeullens (KU Leuven) in De Afspraak over het #smartphoneverbod in het onderwijs. Hoe vullen scholen dit in? Hoe controleer je naleving? En: helpt het écht tegen schermverslaving?
👉 Herbekijk via VRT Max: vrt.be/vrtmax/a-z/de-afspraa…
🎉Great news: our PhD student Esmée Mooren has received the University Study Prize from @Radboud_Uni Nijmegen for her master’s thesis “They have made me prouder”: A generational perspective on the collective histories and future of lesbian representation. ru.nl/en/about-us/news/these…
Our research from the MIMIc project, funded by the
@ERC_Research, has been featured in HORIZON: the EU Research & Innovation magazine! 📰 Read the full article: projects.research-and-innova…
#EUfunded researchers are uncovering the far-reaching impact of digital media on teens - and why it often goes unnoticed.
How are experts driving better policies and helping create safer online spaces for the next generation? ➡️ bit.ly/3THy7Oz
#Science4EU
Two major projects from the Media Psychology Lab are coming to an end: MIMIc Project and #SmokeFree Project. On October 25, we will organize a study day in Leuven to share insights and practical tools from the projects. Join us! Participation is free, but registration is required
We proudly share that our Professor @lara_schreurs has received the 2025 KU Leuven Research Council Prize for the Humanities & Social Sciences!🏆The award recognizes her theoretical & empirical work & community-driven interventions to empower youth in their social media literacy
New season, new publications! 🌸Here's what our research group has published in March and April 2025: soc.kuleuven.be/smc/news/med…
