Universität zu Köln

Meier, Jennifer Virginie ORCID: 0000-0003-3118-3711 (2026). The transformative role of digital media in different social settings during the COVID-19 pandemic. PhD thesis, Universität zu Köln.

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Abstract

The increasing spread of digital media has led to the dissolution of traditional social, spatial, and temporal boundaries, a development closely tied to the concept of mediatization. Mediatization refers to the process by which digital media increasingly mediate and shape social interactions, communication, and cultural practices. This transformation is particularly evident in how people use digital media to communicate, learn, and work. Following earlier waves of mediatization shaped by print and broadcast media, today’s third wave is characterized by the pervasive integration of digital media into everyday life. Digital media play a transformative role in various social settings, enabling new forms of networking, collaboration, and participation in areas such as leisure, work, and education. During the COVID-19 pandemic, digital media became particularly important as contact restrictions severely limited face-to-face interactions. In many cases, they were the only means of maintaining social relationships. This exceptional situation gave new urgency and visibility to mediatization processes. In this dissertation, I examine how these processes unfolded in social relationships (Article 1), therapeutic approaches (Article 2), and educational settings (Articles 3 and 4) during different phases of the COVID- 19 pandemic. I investigate how different age groups engaged with digital media in informal and formal settings to maintain relationships, adapt professional practices, and support learning. Drawing on qualitative and quantitative methods, the findings offer insights into both habitual and reflective forms of media appropriation and show how these practices were shaped by the unique social and institutional conditions of the pandemic.

Item Type:	Thesis (PhD thesis)
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID ORCID Put Code Meier, Jennifer Virginie j.meier@uni-koeln.de https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3118-3711 UNSPECIFIED
URN:	urn:nbn:de:hbz:38-795990
Date:	2026
Language:	English
Faculty:	Faculty of Human Sciences
Divisions:	Faculty of Human Sciences > Department Psychologie
Subjects:	Psychology
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Keywords Language Media appropriation English Digital media use during COVID-19 pandemic English Mediatization English
Date of oral exam:	17 December 2025
Referee:	Name Academic Title Kaspar, Kai Prof. Dr. Dr. Hugger, Kai-Uwe Prof. Dr.
Refereed:	Yes
URI:	http://kups.ub.uni-koeln.de/id/eprint/79599