Media Psychology Lab

@L__Vandenbosch and @JasminaRosic_ wrote a blog for @MediaLearning, sharing key insights from the @ERC_Research-funded MIMIc project, wrapping up this year. 🧠 Curious about what the research uncovered? Read the full blog: media-and-learning.eu/subject/media-…

@lisemarienassen spoke with @VTMNIEUWS about a Harvard study showing that social media detox can benefit teen's well-being 🎥youtube.com/shorts/7CJ59eF… With @L__Vandenbosch, she also discussed young people’s conscious disconnection habits in @destandaard 📰standaard.be/binnenland/leg…

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…

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!

@L__Vandenbosch has been taking part in an @ERC_Research pilot project with a select group of grantees on data access for research under the Digital Services Act. On 22 October, the ERC will host an event to share insights from this project.👀Interested? erc.europa.eu/news-events/ev…

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…

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…

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/verhalen/…

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-…

🎉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/ne…

🌞Here’s a look back at the research our team and valued collaborators published during summer 2025.

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: ….research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/en/horizon-mag…