COM 246—Media and Well-Being

For the past century, the scientific study of media use has primarily focused on potential negative effects: violence, stereotypes, misinformation, body dissatisfaction, just to name a few. But over the past decade, a growing body of scholarship has explored the positive sides of media (particularly entertainment), including how media content and technologies can benefit our overall health and well-being. This course will introduce students to the scientific theories and research that help us better understand how media use and technologies can positively impact the health and well-being of individuals.