As an Associate Professor at the Amsterdam School of Communication Research (University of Amsterdam), I combine research, teaching, and service work in the department of communication science. 
 
My research focuses on the interplay between digital media and socio-emotional functioning among young people. I'm particularly interested in the way digital (mobile) technologies and entertainment media can shape social interactions and identity formation of tweens, teens and young adults.   

You can find my academic publications in communication science, psychology, and interdisciplinary journals, including Journal of Adolescent Health, New Media and Society, Media Psychology, and Social Science Computer Review.  

In our Bachelor program, I teach introductory courses sharing the latest research on youth, media, and technology. In the Master Entertainment Communication, I facilitate the thesis process, coaching students during the preparatory stages of their thesis and while conducting their thesis research. In addition, I have taught courses like Clashing Views on Media Effects and Tech4Good in which students are encouraged to critically reflect on media effects research and contemporary developments in the context of digital technologies, including the impact of design features in mobile (social) media.  

Administrative Roles

• TLCoach  - UvA Teaching and Learning Center

Teaching

• Topic - Always Connected: Key insights in youth, media and technology
• Clashing Views on Media Effects
• Tech for Good: Responsible innovation
• Thesis Phase 1 - Preparation Master Thesis Entertainment Communication
• (Research) Master thesis supervision

PhD Supervision

• Liza Keessen - Digital Me Time: Designing for Solitude
• Cynthia Dekker - The Impact of Social and Mobile Media Design Features on Digital Overuse
• Femke Konings - Mobile Dating and Well-Being (November 2024)

Designing for REALS - Representation, Engagement Agency, Love, and Solitude

Representation in the media. As young people develop their identities, they increasingly turn to social media, for reflection and inspiration. However, the design of social media platforms can influence how easily they find role models that resonate with their own identity. This research explores how the design of social media impacts the ability of youth, with diverse identity characteristics, to find relevant role models and engage with content that supports their identity development. The studies also examine young people's preferences for media content and storylines. This research is conducted in collaboration with Dr. Irene I. van Driel and Dr. C.J. (Chei) Billedo.

Engagement Agency. Most social media are strategically designed to keep users engaged and encourage frequent returns to the app or platform. These design choices can sometimes be seen to promote engagement at moments when young people themselves may prefer to disengage - resulting in digital overuse. The studies of this research line seek to identify which design strategies are used to promote engagement and which strategies can be implemented to support disengagement efforts. This research is conducted in collaboration with Cynthia Dekker and Dr. Susanne E. Baumgartner.

Love in Digital Spaces. Increasingly people find romantic partners via dating apps. This research line highlights the motivations of mobile daters, the impact of mobile dating on relationship development and identity-related practices, as well as considers how specific design features of dating apps shape the user experience. This research is conducted in collaboration with Prof. Laura Vandenbosch and Dr. Femke Konings (KULeuven).

Solitude and Technology. The growing dependence on media and technology has often been framed as a threat to individuals' ability to experience solitude. In the digital age, it raises the question of how feasible it is to truly experience solitude while navigating a digitally connected society, and whether one can still reap the benefits that solitude is theorized to offer. This project explores how the design features of technology can either disrupt or facilitate young people's need for solitude. This research is conducted in collaboration with Liza Keessen, Prof. Jessica T. Piotrowski, and Dr. Annemarie van Oosten.