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Researcher

Michel Walrave

  • Research Expertise:Michel Walrave is a full professor in the Department of Communication Studies of the Faculty of Social Sciences. He is the spokesperson of the MIOS research group. His research focuses on online disclosure of personal information (i.e. self-disclosure) and privacy. He conducts research on the motives of individuals to share personal information online, the opportunities this entails (e.g., social capital, online friendships, online dating) but also the risks individuals face (e.g., cyber dating abuse, cyberbullying, online hate speech). The potential consequences of intimate forms of online self-disclosure (especially sexting) are also examined, including the unwanted further transmission of sexting messages (NCII, non-consensual intimate images), and also the creation and transmission of fake nude images (deepfake nudes or deepnudes). Furthermore, Michel Walrave investigates the motives and consequences of (grand)sharenting, the online sharing of personal information about children/youth by their (grand)parents. In addition to research on interpersonal online self-disclosure, he also studies the entrusting of personal information to companies/governments/public administrations and how individuals process and react to new forms of interactive and personalized digital communication (such as personalized forms of digital marketing).
  • Keywords:CYBERBULLYING, DIFFUSION OF INNOVATIONS, E-MARKETING, MEDIA-USE, E-PRIVACY, ICT, SEXTING, SHARENTING, Political and social sciences
  • Disciplines:Applied psychology, Human experimental psychology, Social psychology, Communication sciences, Media studies, Communication management, Interpersonal communication, Science and health communication, Digital media
  • Research techniques:- Surveys - In-depth interviews - Focus groups - Experimental research - Content analysis - Delphi method
  • Users of research expertise:- Government/public administrations - Non-profit/social-profit organisations - Media literacy and safer internet organisations - Schools - Media - Companies - Trade unions