The Dangers of Focusing on the Danger of Digital Media Use

Join the Tech Impact and Policy Center on November 17th from 12PM–1PM Pacific for a seminar with Robin Nabi.

Stanford affiliates are invited to join us at 11:40 AM for lunch, prior to the seminar. The Fall Seminar Series continues through December; see our Fall Seminar Series page for speakers and topics. Sign up for our newsletter for announcements.

About the Seminar:

Extensive attention has been paid to the potential harms of media consumption generally, and social media use in particular, with relatively little consideration given to the potential psychological benefits of media use. This talk will address why this bias exists and its potential for unintended negative consequences. Evidence of how self-selected and prescribed digital media content can support desirable outcomes, including reduced stress and procrastination, increased goal motivation and pursuit, and increased empathy and relational satisfaction, will be shared to highlight the need for better understanding of how to empower users to make media choices that can support their psychological well-being.

About the Speaker:

Robin L. Nabi is a Professor of Communication at the University of California, Santa Barbara. With degrees from Harvard and the University of Pennsylvania, she has published over 100 journal articles and book chapters investigating the effects of media use on emotional experiences, decision-making, and well-being. She is the co-editor of two volumes: The SAGE Handbook of Media Processes and Effects and Emotions in the Digital World (Oxford University Press). She is a Fellow of the International Communication Association, and her research has been featured in numerous media outlets, including the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, USA Today, NPR, CBC/Radio-Canada, and the Harvard Business Review.