What does the media do to people? This is a time-honoured and quintessential question in media research. To media scholars, it is also a fascinating and frustrating field largely because evidence-based effects are elusive. Moreover, the rapid diffusion of digital media in society adds new complexity to media effects research, calling for new ways of thinking about the fundamental question of how the media influences people. In this talk, I will highlight both continuity in media effects research and paradigmatic change to be made for future research.

RAN WEI is Professor at the School of Journalism and Communication at the Chinese University of Hong Kong His research interests and publications include media effects, communication technology and mobile communication. He is chair of the Communication and Technology (CAT) division of International Communication Association (ICA), 2020–22.