As we approach the 2025 American Psychological Association Convention, Division 46 is proud to present a program that not only honors our rich history but boldly explores the emerging frontiers of our field.

This year’s theme, “Media Psychology and Technology: Past, Present, and Future,” invites us to reflect on the remarkable evolution of media psychology, from its early theoretical foundations to its current applications across clinical, organizational, and societal contexts. More importantly, it challenges us to imagine the future of media and technology in psychological science and practice—a future that Division 46 continues to help shape.

Our 2025 programming represents some of the most dynamic, future-forward thinking across the entire convention. We invite you to join us as we explore critical topics at the intersection of human behavior, media, and technology.

A Program That Looks Ahead

Our Division’s sessions this year reflect the most urgent conversations in both psychology and society at large. Among our featured symposia:

• The AI Revolution: Exploring Social and Psychological Impact of Strong AI will tackle the sweeping changes artificial intelligence is bringing to human identity, creativity, decision-making, and ethical standards.
• The Understudied Psychology of Privacy: From Controlling Our Data to Controlling Our Stories brings a fresh lens to privacy in the digital age, offering a humanistic perspective on why control over personal information is essential to autonomy and well-being.
• Innovations in Digital Mental Health: The Intersection of Media, Technology, and Psychological Care showcases groundbreaking approaches to digital interventions for mental health, a crucial step toward more accessible and equitable care.
• Music Fandom and Media Representation among Young Adults examines how media figures and popular culture shape young adult identity development and mental health, especially among LGBTQ+ populations.
• Device Use Impact on the Caregiver-Child Relationship presents compelling new research on how caregiver engagement with technology may influence attachment and relational health in families.
• Countering Health Mis, Dis, and Malinformation on Social Media, a skill-building session, equips psychologists to play a leading role in combating misinformation—a growing public health and societal threat.
• Digital Connections: Centering Marginalized Communities in Media Psychology Research highlights the importance of representing marginalized voices in media psychology research and offers interdisciplinary approaches to more inclusive inquiry.
• Generative AI and Youth Safety: Risks, Solutions, and Best Practices explores ethical frameworks and innovative uses of AI to protect youth mental health and safety, offering actionable guidance for balancing innovation with human-centered care.

This expansive and forward-looking program ensures that our members and attendees will leave the convention not only better informed but also better equipped to lead in an increasingly media-saturated world.

A Moment of Distinction: Division 46 on the Feature Stage

We are also thrilled to share that one of our critical conversations, “TikTok and Self-Diagnosis: The Influence of Social Media on Adolescent and Young Adult Mental Health,” has been selected to be presented on the APA 2025 Feature Stage.

This honor recognizes sessions that highlight the best of the best in convention programming—sessions that are timely, engaging, and pivotal to the advancement of psychological science and practice. To have Division 46’s work showcased on this platform is a testament to the relevance, rigor, and innovation that our members bring to media psychology today. We encourage everyone to attend this outstanding session and celebrate this moment with us.

Posters and Networking Opportunities

Beyond our symposia and featured sessions, Division 46’s program also includes two robust poster sessions. These sessions showcase a broad range of emerging research and practical applications at the intersection of media and psychology. Poster sessions are a valuable opportunity to engage directly with researchers, explore new ideas, and foster collaborative conversations—we encourage all attendees to make time to explore these presentations.

And of course, we look forward to welcoming everyone to the Division 46 Social Hour. This is a wonderful opportunity to meet colleagues, forge new professional relationships, and build the community that sustains and inspires our work throughout the year.

A Vision for the Future of Media Psychology

As media technologies continue to evolve, so too must our discipline. The research, discussions, and innovations presented in this year’s program affirm that Division 46 remains at the forefront of understanding and shaping the dynamic interplay between human behavior and technology.

A particularly meaningful opportunity to reflect on the future of our field will come during the Division 46 Presidential Address and Panel: Media Psychology and Technology: Past, Present, and Future. This distinguished panel, featuring current and past presidents of Division 46, will examine the key issues, enduring challenges, and inspiring possibilities that lie ahead for media psychology. This session promises not only to celebrate our Division’s legacy but also to illuminate the road forward, guided by wisdom, experience, and visionary leadership.

We must continue to ask: How can psychology inform the ethical use of emerging technologies? How can media serve as a tool for greater mental health, equity, and social connection? And how can our research and practice ensure that future technologies are developed and deployed with a human-centered, evidence-based approach?

Division 46 is poised not just to answer these questions, but to lead them. This year’s programming is both a celebration of how far we have come and a clarion call to continue pushing the boundaries of what media psychology can achieve.

I would also like to extend my sincere gratitude to everyone who submitted proposals for this year’s Division 46 programming. Your contributions reflect the innovation, critical thinking, and passion that define our field. I am equally grateful to the dedicated members of our review team, who carefully evaluated submissions, provided thoughtful feedback, and played a critical role in shaping the final program. A special thanks goes to our outstanding Convention Committee Chairs, Christopher L. Heffner, PsyD, PhD, and Alexandria Ortiz, MA whose leadership, organization, and commitment made this year’s exceptional program possible.

We warmly invite you to be part of this exciting future. Registration for APA 2025 is now open, and we encourage you to secure your place at what promises to be one of the most forward-thinking and impactful conventions yet.

Come learn, share, and imagine alongside us.

The future of media psychology is here—and it is ours to create.