@gvanhoffelen.bsky.social was a guest on the @vrtnws.be Late News. With @timverheyden.bsky.social, VRT's digital media expert, she contextualized the recent social media ban in Australia and answered live questions from viewers about the impact of social media on youth👏 📺 www.vrt.be/vrtmax/a-z/v...

In an interview with the Dutch newspaper @nu.nl, our PhD student @gvanhoffelen.bsky.social explained the implications of Australia’s social-media ban for children under 16. Read the article below for more details. www.nu.nl/tech/6378867...

Australië is eerste met socialemediaverbod, maar dat lost probleem niet op

In Australië mogen jongeren onder de zestien jaar vanaf woensdag niet meer op socialemediaplatforms zoals TikTok, Instagram en Snapchat. Ook in Nederland gaan regelmatig stemmen op voor zo'n verbod, m...

nu.nl

@lauravandenbosch.bsky.social and @jasminarosic.bsky.social wrote a blog for @medialearning.bsky.social, sharing key insights from the @erc.europa.eu MIMIc project, wrapping up this year. 🧠 Curious about what the research uncovered? Read the full blog: media-and-learning.eu/subject/medi...

Mimicking the screen: what the MIMIc project reveals about teens and screens

by Laura Vandenbosch and Jasmina Rosič, KU Leuven, Department of Communication Science, Media Psychology Lab, Belgium. In the years after the COVID-19 pandemic, the World Health Organization urged…

media-and-learning.eu

@lisemarienassen.bsky.social spoke with @vtmnieuws.be about a Harvard study showing that social media detox can benefit well-being 🎥 youtube.com/shorts/7CJ59... With @lauravandenbosch.bsky.social she also discussed teens' disconnection habits in @standaard.be 📰 www.standaard.be/binnenland/l...

Parasocial has been named the Cambridge Dictionary’s Word of the Year. @lauravandenbosch.bsky.social was invited to @vrtnws.be Laat to unpack what parasocial interactions really are and why they’ve become so central in our increasingly digital media landscape 📺Watch: www.vrt.be/vrtmax/a-z/v...

Great news from the Media Psychology Lab! 🎉 Femke Konings was elected Secretary of ICA’s Mass Communication Division, and Lise-Marie Nassen of the Mobile Communication Division. 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.bsky.social! During her visit, she delivered inspiring lectures for our Master’s students and research department on 'Sephora Kids', social media, aging anxiety, and skincare consumer behavior, sparking interesting discussions

Our postdoctoral researcher @gonzalezanaelle.bsky.social won 3rd place at the One Health Day Art & Photography Competition by #OneHealthInstitution for her poem–collage The Object. The piece reflects on how screens & 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 @lauravandenbosch.bsky.social, he and @jasminarosic.bsky.social examined the views of parents, teachers, and coaches on young athletes' digital well-being. Best of luck with your PhD, Alfredo!

@lauravandenbosch.bsky.social has been taking part in an @erc.europa.eu 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/...

ERC Workshop on data access under the Digital Services Act (DSA) Article 40

The Digital Services Act (DSA) is an European legislation that specifies a set of rules to make the digital space safer and more trustworthy for users.

erc.europa.eu

To what extent and which adolescents experience positive digital experiences? In a recent KU Leuven Child and Youth Institute blog post, @jasminarosic.bsky.social and @lauravandenbosch.bsky.social explore this question. 🔗 Read more: www.kuleuven.be/child-youth/...

De realiteit achter positieve digitale ervaringen: ja, tieners kunnen online floreren—maar niet allemaal en niet even sterk

kuleuven.be

Our PhD student @margotlissens.bsky.social returned from a research stay with @desireeschmuck.bsky.social at the @vmci-univie.bsky.social. 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.bsky.social for defending her PhD: “Growing up in a digital world: Understanding the perceived positive experiences of digital media use among (disadvantaged) adolescents” supervised by @lauravandenbosch.bsky.social & Bojana Lobe, and funded by @erc.europa.eu.

🎓Last Monday, @gonzalezanaelle.bsky.social successfully defended her PhD dissertation “Politics Undercover: Understanding the role of social media personalities in adolescents’ development of the political self,” supervised by @lauravandenbosch.bsky.social and funded by @erc.europa.eu👏Congrats!

We attended the @digisoc.bsky.social International Conference for an Inclusive Digital Society in Leuven.👏@robynvanherle.bsky.social (co-)presented 2 mHealth studies, 1 with @svestkova-ady.bsky.social, @irtis.bsky.social. @luca-carbone.bsky.social presented on meritocratic masculinities in music.

Last week @ines-b.bsky.social & @laraschreurs.bsky.social took part in the 14th Media Psych Conference in Duisburg. Ines presented their study on parental mediation of children’s digital media and participated in the pre-conference doctoral workshop. Thanks to the organizers for the inspiring days!

In a recent SWAY (Social Sciences for Society) blog, @femkekonings.bsky.social, @lauravandenbosch.bsky.social, & Sindy Sumter unpack how mobile dating apps shape young adults’ self-image, relationships, and well-being. 👉 soc.kuleuven.be/sway/verhale...

Meer dan een swipe: hoe datingapps het zelfbeeld en welzijn van jongeren beïnvloeden | SWAY

Mobiele dating apps zoals Tinder en Bumble zijn niet meer weg te denken uit het liefdesleven van jongvolwassenen. Maar hoe beïnvloeden deze apps de manier waarop jongeren zichzelf presenteren, relatie...

soc.kuleuven.be

Yesterday, our Lab joined Eetexpert’s Kennisdag on youth body satisfaction. @lauravandenbosch.bsky.social shared new findings on social media and body perception, while @nelejanssens.bsky.social & @laurededecker.bsky.social 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 to the new academic year ahead!

📺 Prof. @kathbeullens.bsky.social (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: www.vrt.be/vrtmax/a-z/d...

🎉Great news from our team: our PhD student Esmée Mooren has received the University Study Prize from Radboud University Nijmegen for her master’s thesis “They have made me prouder”: A generational perspective on the collective histories and future of lesbian representation. www.ru.nl/en/about-us/...

🌞 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.europa.eu, has been featured in HORIZON: the EU Research & Innovation magazine! 📰 Read the full article: projects.research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/en/horizon-m... 🎥 Watch the video feature: www.facebook.com/horizon.maga...

🌐📱 How is digital media shaping the mental health of young Europeans? #EUfunded researchers are uncovering the hidden impact of extensive online activity on teens’ wellbeing, sense of identity and so...

🌐📱 How is digital media shaping the mental health of young Europeans? #EUfunded researchers are uncovering the hidden impact of extensive online activity on teens’ wellbeing, sense of identity and...

facebook.com

🧠✨ New from the Media Psychology Lab: Research on adolescents, social media, influencers, digital well-being & more — new publications from May–June 2025! Find out more: soc.kuleuven.be/smc/news/med...

Doctor with a Green Voice: Dr. Dekoninck successfully defended her PhD!🎓 We are thrilled to announce that @heleendekoninck.bsky.social from our lab has successfully defended her PhD in July! Read more: soc.kuleuven.be/smc/news/dr-...

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.

Some takeaways from our MIMIc project! www.projectmimic.eu

European Research Council (ERC)@erc.europa.eu · last yr.

The MIMIc project, led by @lauravandenbosch.bsky.social‬, investigates how ‘malleable ideals’—the constantly shifting portrayals of success & perfection in media—influence teenagers’ well-being, identity, and life aspirations. Discover more 👉 buff.ly/jLuzdnI

📍 Proud of our strong presence at #ICA2025 in Denver! Our lab members presented research on mobile media, identity, digital well-being, political influencers & more. 👏 Congrats to all presenters! 📄 Full overview: soc.kuleuven.be/smc/ica-2025...

PhD researchers from our lab were recognized with Top Paper Awards at #ICA2025! 🔹 @elienbeelen.bsky.social – Trigger warnings & media effects 🔹 @margotlissens.bsky.social – Gen Z news consumption 🔹 @darianharff.bsky.social – Trust in political influencers See more: soc.kuleuven.be/smc/news/phd...

Postdocs in the spotlight at #ICA2025 🔹 @luca-carbone.bsky.social won the Top Dissertation Award (CAM Division) for their work on success narratives in music. 🔹 @femkekonings.bsky.social received the Top Poster Award for her study on sexualized self-presentation on dating apps. Congrats to both!