The mediatised way of life goes hand in hand with the constant use of online content and connectedness with others who are not present. Various projects are investigating these phenomena, both the factors that contribute to ‘permanent connectedness’ on an individual and social level and the consequences associated with it.

For example, together with colleagues from the University of Mannheim, the ‘Mediatisation Mobile’ project for the Media Authority of North Rhine-Westphalia investigated how children and young people use mobile phones and the mobile Internet, what influences functional vs. dysfunctional use and what role parents and friends play in mobile phone behaviour. To this end, group discussions were held with natural peer groups and children and young people and their parents were interviewed both qualitatively and quantitatively.

Prof. Dr. Christoph Klimmt
Dr. Dorothée Hefner

2012 to 2015