Pengfei Zhao, on the job market

Research

My research centers on the socio-technical, psychological, and interpersonal processes in communication technology (e.g., social media, AI and algorithms, smartphones). Specifically, my past and ongoing research address several key topics: 1) generative AI and healthy information environment, 2) online harm/toxicity intervention, 3) digital divides and literacy, 4) online privacy, relationships, and social support, and 5) technology, well-being, and mental health. My recent work focuses on moderating and intervening in online toxicity/hate/harassment from both bottom-up and top-down perspectives, relying on AI (artificial intelligence) capabilities and community efforts. You can also access my research on Google Scholar.

Generative AI and Healthy Information Environment

Green, B.E., & Shea, A.L., Zhao, P., & Margolin, D. “It seems to be cheering on someone named Brandon”: Comparing human and GPT-4 classification performance on complex social media data. Under review.

Online Harm/Tocixity Intervention

Zhao, P., Bazarova, N. N., Bae, I., Kizilcec, R., Hui, W., DiFranzo, D., & Margolin, D. Vigilante justice: How do different justice responses against online toxicity shape community dynamics? Paper presented at the 74th Annual Conference of the International Communication Association (ICA), Gold Coast, Australia.
Zhao, P., Bazarova, N. N., DiFranzo, D., Hui, W., Kizilcec, R., & Margolin, D. (2024). Standing up to problematic content on social media: Which objection strategies draw the audience’s approval? Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 29(1), 1-13. [Link]

Digital Divides and Literacy

Valle, N., Zhao, P., Freed, D., Gorton, K., Chapman, A. B., Shea, A. L., & Bazarova, N. N. (2024). Toward a critical framework of social media literacy: A systematic literature review. Review of Educational Research. [Link]
Zhao, P., Bazarova, N. N., & Valle, N. (2023). Digital parenting divides: The role of parental capital and digital parenting readiness in parental social media mediation. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 28(5), 1-13. [Link]

Online Privacy, Self-Disclosure, Relationships, and Social Support

Bazarova, N. N. & Zhao, P. (2023). Individualistic privacy theories. In S. Trepte & P. Masur (Eds), The Routledge handbook of privacy and social media.
Zhao, P., & Yan, K. (2022). “Not as attractive and communicatively competent as I expected”: The effects of expectancy violations on relational outcomes during modality switching in online dating. Computers in Human Behavior, 131. [Link]
Taylor, S., Zhao, P., & Bazarova, N. N. (2022). Social media and close relationships: A puzzle of connection and disconnection. Current Opinion in Psychology, 45. [Link]
Zhao, P., Lapierre, M.A., Rains, S.A., & Segrin, C. (2021). When and why we disclose distress on SNSs: Perceived affordances, disclosure goals, and anticipated negative evaluations. Computers in Human Behavior, 125. [Link]
Lapierre, M. A. & Zhao, P. (2021). Smartphones and social support: Longitudinal associations between smartphone use and types of support. Social Science Computer Review, 1-13. [Link]

Technology, Mental Health, and Well-Being

Lapierre, M. A. & Zhao, P. (2022). Problematic smartphone use vs “Technoference”: Examining their unique predictive power on relational and life satisfaction. Psychology of Popular Media. 13(1), 23–33. [Link]
Zhao, P., & Lapierre, M. A. (2020). Stress, dependency, and depression: An examination of the reinforcement effects of problematic smartphone use on perceived stress and later depression. Cyberpsychology: Journal of Psychosocial Research on Cyberspace, 14(4). [Link]
Lapierre, M. A., Zhao, P., & Custer, B. E. (2019). Short-term longitudinal relationships between smartphone use/dependency and psychological well-being among late adolescents. Journal of Adolescent Health, 65(5), 607-612. [Link]

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