1. News & Events
  2. News

News

Find News

Lit-up boxes showing social media icons against black background. From L to R: Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook.
Research

Is Social Media Good or Bad for Social Unity?

Annenberg professors Sandra González-Bailón and Yphtach Lelkes reviewed all of the previous literature to compile what scholars have discovered to date.

Woman holding a cigarette
Research

How Do Media Depictions of Tobacco Influence Smoking Decisions for Young Adults?

Two studies from the Annenberg School for Communication’s Robert Hornik find that media portrayals of such behaviors can change actions and perception, but how and by how much depends on a range of factors.

Red and blue paper cutouts of a donkey and an elephant
Research

Want to Reduce Political Polarization? Start by Looking Beyond Politics

Is bonding over non-political similarities the key to depolarizing political discussions? New research sheds light on how even hardliners can be swayed when coming in contact with opposing viewpoints.

Art of Washington DC skyline
Call for Submissions

COMPASS Summer Fellowship Program Now Accepting Applications for 2022

Applications for the Consortium on Media Policy Studies Summer Fellowship Program in Washington, D.C. are due January 7, 2022.

Homa Hosseinmardi
Research

What Big Data Reveals About Online Extremism

Homa Hosseinmardi and her colleagues at Penn’s Computational Social Science Lab studied browsing data from 300,000 Americans to gain insights into how online radicalization occurs — and to help develop solutions.

Houston Hall, a green stone building on Penn's campus, surrounded by trees and green grass, photo credit Scott Spitzer / University of Pennsylvania
News

PennMAP Research and Outcomes to Expand Thanks to Leadership Gift

Duncan Watts's Penn Media Accountability Project (PennMAP) is expanding, thanks to a new leadership gift from a Wharton alum.

a modern architecture building on Penn's campus with a blue sky and sunshine in the background, photo credit Scott Spitzer / University of Pennsylvania
News

Duncan Watts Launches Computational Social Science Lab

The new Computational Social Science Lab aims to thrive on mass collaboration and open science.

stack of books next to a notepad; Photo by Debby Hudson on Unsplash
Research

Women Are Under-Cited and Men Are Over-Cited in Communication

An analysis of citations in 14 Communication journals found that men are over-cited and women are under-cited, especially in papers authored by men.

sign that reads free wifi inside; Photo by Bernard Hermant on Unsplash
Research

Policing the Digital Divide: How Racial Bias Can Limit Internet Access for People of Color

New research shows that the policing of nonviolent offenses, like loitering, restricts access to free WiFi, particularly for people of color.

Abstract image of interconnected web, photo credit Alina Grubnyak / Unsplash
Research

Study Finds Surprising Source of Social Influence

Want to promote your new product or trigger a shift in thinking? Steer clear of the influencers.