Welcome!

 

The Vienna Media Change and Innovation (VMCI) Lab, as part of the Department of Communication of the University of Vienna, deals with changes in the media environment due to the presence of digital technologies and artificial intelligence (AI) and their consequences on the individual, social relationships, and society as a whole.

The research focus of our group includes areas like media socialization, political engagement, bias and stereotypes, as well as digital media literacy with a particular focus on media use and effects across the life-span. Integrating theoretical perspectives from communication science, social and developmental psychology, sociology and political science, we study these pressing questions using quantitative, qualitative and computational methods. In doing so, we strive to generate knowledge that both advances the scholarly debate and is relevant for society and practice.

 News

04.02.2026
 

Desirée Schmuck shared research-informed insights on ORF Kulturmontag.

27.01.2026
 

A new article by Darian Harff on the phenomenon and effects of deinfluencing is now out in the Journal of Interactive Advertising.

15.01.2026
 

Members of the VMCI Lab have been awarded the HUJI–UNIVIE Joint Research Grant 2025 for a new international research collaboration.

05.01.2026
 

Blog article from Darian Harff on the Best Paper now online.

02.01.2026
 

Ellen Van Houtven is part of the editorial team of the special issue 24 Hours of the Communication Science 2025 Bruges

 

16.12.2025
 

A new article by Michaela Forrai is now available in the latest issue of Cyberpsychology.