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Given the vast amount of permanently available entertainment content and the high pleasure that viewers derive from it, the question of when and why users disengage from a media entertainment viewing session becomes more pressing. We argue in this paper that communication theories lack a conceptualization of the disengagement part of the communication process. The study presents a novel dynamic view on media use, and argues that specific processes that occur during media exposure contribute to its termination. The assumptions of the theoretical framework are tested with an event-based experience sampling study during TV series viewing sessions among 89 participants (1,952 answered surveys). The findings show that negative and positive response states evolve (partly) independently of each other in the course of entertainment viewing sessions: Despite an increase in negative experiences of goal conflict, guilt, and fatigue, individuals' level of enjoyment remained stable during a viewing session. These results indicate that negative responses do not necessarily interfere with the experience of enjoyment. The level of enjoyment was the strongest predictor for whether someone stopped a viewing session indicating that hedonic experiences might overrule rational decisions to stop due to being fatigued or having other things to do.

In response to the growing public concern about digital well-being, many tools have been developed for individuals to reduce their screen time. An understudied but promising self-nudge intervention is turning off smartphone screen colors (i.e., grayscaling). Since a grayscale setting is available on all smartphones, it has the potential to be an easily implemented intervention. The main aim of the current study was to assess the efficacy of a grayscale intervention by addressing its effects on both objective smartphone behavior as well as on daily subjective indicators of digital well-being. Participants' smartphone use was tracked for 2 weeks ( N  =  84). The first week served as a baseline measure, followed by a 1-week grayscale intervention. Findings indicate that daily screen time was significantly reduced by 20 min, yet the daily number of phone unlocks did not change, suggesting deep-rooted checking habits. Moreover, grayscaling improved perceived control over one's smartphone use, and reduced perceived overuse, online vigilance, and stress, but did not affect productivity or sleep quality. Overall, findings indicate that grayscaling is an effective strategy to reduce screen time and improve digital well-being.

Mobile connectivity can negatively affect smartphone users by eliciting stress. Past research focused on stress-inducing potentials of smartphone use behaviors and, recently, on the cognitive-motivational engagement with online interactions. However, theoretical perspectives as the mobile connectivity paradox and the IM³UNE model further suggest that digital stress effects may be conditional. A preregistered experience sampling study ( n = 123; 1,427 use episodes) investigated relationships of cognitive-motivational (online vigilance) and behavioral (communication load, media multitasking) smartphone use patterns with perceived stress and introduced two situational boundary conditions (goal conflict, autonomy need dissatisfaction). Results demonstrate that online vigilance can induce stress directly and via increasing communication load. Goal conflict and autonomy need dissatisfaction moderated the influence of online vigilance and media multitasking on stress. Findings are discussed in the context of effect directionality and the need to further investigate boundary conditions in digital well-being research.

Jugendliche und junge Erwachsene verbringen einen substanziellen Teil ihrer Zeit mit der Nutzung von Medien. Dies ist von besonderer Bedeutung, da junge Menschen in der Phase von der Adoleszenz bis zum frühen Erwachsenenalter vor zentralen entwicklungsbezogenen Herausforderungen stehen, auf deren Bewältigung sich die Mediennutzung auswirken kann. So streben junge Menschen unter anderem danach, Beziehungen mit Gleichaltrigen aufzubauen, Autonomie zu erlangen und eine stabile Identität auszubilden. Vor diesem Hintergrund widmet sich diese Aufsatzsammlung der Frage, wie Jugendliche und junge Erwachsene Medien nutzen, welche Wirkungen die Mediennutzung nach sich zieht und inwiefern entwicklungspsychologische Aspekte diese Beziehungen beeinflussen. Neben Beiträgen zu Determinanten und Typen der Mediennutzung beinhaltet der Band Aufsätze zur Wirkung der Nutzung sozialer Medien und der Rezeption von Werbung, Product Placements und Public Service Announcements.Mit Beiträgen vonSusanne E. Baumgartner, Katharina Emde-Lachmund, Hanna Gölz, Dorothée Hefner, Sven Jöckel, Anja Kalch, Kathrin Karsay, Christoph Klimmt, Karin Knop, Constanze Küchler, Rinaldo Kühne, Adrian Meier, Tino Meitz, Christine E. Meltzer, Brigitte Naderer, Julia Niemann-Lenz, Peter, Jochen, Leonard Reinecke, Michael Schenk, Benedikt Spangardt, Peter Vorderer, Johanna M. F. van Oosten, Claudia Wilhelm

The main aim of this study was to examine the norms of expressing emotions on social media. Specifically, the perceived appropriateness (i.e. injunctive norms) of expressing six discrete emotions (i.e. sadness, anger, disappointment, worry, joy, and pride) was investigated across four different social media platforms. Drawing on data collected in March 2016 among 1201 young Dutch users (15–25 years), we found that positive expressions were generally perceived as more appropriate than negative expressions across all platforms. In line with the objective of the study, some platform differences were found. The expression of negative emotions was rated as most appropriate for WhatsApp, followed by Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. For positive emotion expression, perceived appropriateness was highest for WhatsApp, followed by Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. Additionally, some gender differences were found, while age showed little variations. Overall, the results contribute to a more informed understanding of emotion expression online.

Adolescents commonly use media and communication devices during academic activities, also referred to as academic-media multitasking. Although there is evidence for the short-term effect of academic-media multitasking on academic achievement, support for its long-term effect is lacking. Therefore, we investigated the long-term relationship between academic-media multitasking and academic achievement, and the possible underlying mechanism of academic attention problems using a three-wave longitudinal study, with time intervals of 3–4 months, among 1215 adolescents (11–15 years, 52% boys). Although academic-media multitasking and academic achievement were cross-sectionally related, the findings showed neither support for a direct nor indirect long-term relationship between academic-media multitasking and subsequent academic achievement scores. However, academic-media multitasking was associated with an increase in subsequent academic attention problems. This study indicates that concerns regarding the long-term impact of academic-media multitasking on academic achievement need to be qualified.

During a pandemic outbreak, timely and accurate information that matches the information needs of the public is vital to inform the public. In April 2020, 977 individuals completed a questionnaire that measured the Dutch public's health information needs and media consumption during the early stages of the coronavirus outbreak. Results show that respondents sought information about prevention of contamination, (the severity of) symptoms, treatment, and vaccination. News outlets, both online and offline, were the most preferred sources for information. Older people were more likely to search for information in traditional media, such as on TV, in newspapers, and on the radio. Younger people more often used news websites to find information. Respondents with lower levels of education obtained information via TV more frequently than respondents with higher levels of education, who in turn used newspapers more frequently. This study, guided by the Risk Information Seeking and Processing (RISP) model, was conducted during the early stages of the pandemic in the Netherlands to provide information that public health officials and governments can use to optimise information provision during pandemics. Presently, news media have the highest degree of coverage and impact and should thus be used first to convey reliable information.