Patti Valkenburg

Plugged In: How Media Attract and Affect Youth

Now, as never before, young people are surrounded by media—thanks to the sophistication and portability of the technology that puts it literally in the palms of their hands. Drawing on data and empirical research that cross many fields and continents, authors Valkenburg and Piotrowski examine the role of media in the lives of children from birth through adolescence, addressing the complex issues of how media affect the young and what adults can do to encourage responsible use in an age of selfies, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

This important study looks at both the sunny and the dark side of media use by today’s youth, including why and how their preferences change throughout childhood, whether digital gaming is harmful or helpful, the effects of placing tablets and smartphones in the hands of toddlers, the susceptibility of young people to online advertising, the legitimacy of parental concerns about media multitasking, and more.

Reviews

“Patti Valkenburg is a prominent scholar of media and children and one of the most prolific scholars of communication globally. Jessica Taylor Piotrowski is a rising star in our field and one of the leading scholars of the upcoming generation. Together, these two are a powerhouse.”
Dafna Lemish, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

“Screen media are among the most pervasive influences in the lives of infants, children, and adolescents. A cutting-edge and forward-thinking book of this sort is greatly needed.”
Heather Kirkorian, University of Wisconsin-Madison

3 May 2024

Patti Valkenburg gives seminar at Stanford Policy Center

On Tuesday April 30, Patti Valkenburg gave a seminar titled: "Screen Struggles and Screen Delight: Is Social Media Sabotaging or Saving Adolescent Mental Health?"

You can watch the seminar here:

20 april 2024

Patti Valkenburg invited to join Academia Europaea

Patti Valkenburg has been invited to join Academia Europaea, the prestigious European Academy. Academia Europaea recognizes individuals who have demonstrated sustained academic excellence. Valkenburg's selection reflects her leadership in media psychology and her innovative approaches to studying media's impact on youth.

14 December 2023

Essay for UNICEF

Dutch adolescents spend about six hours per day on their mobile phones, of which two and a half hours are spend on social media. What does this their mean for their mental health?

Social media good for friendships, bad for self-concept

Still 06 Members of Project AWeSome (Adolescents, Well-being, and Social media) interviewed 480 adolescents aged 14 to 17 about the pros and cons of social media, relying on a survey study and qualitative interviews.