Anne van Eldik

Anne van Eldik is a Researcher and External PhD candidate at Erasmus University Rotterdam, affiliated with the Department of Media and Communication within the Erasmus School of History, Culture and Communication. Her research focuses on urban media engagement, particularly how young people construct urban identities through creative media use. She is part of the Erasmus Research Center for Media, Communication & Culture and the Erasmus Initiative Vital Cities and Citizens.

Van Eldik holds a Bachelor’s in English Language & Culture (American Studies) from Radboud University Nijmegen (2014), followed by a Master’s in Media, Culture & Society (2015) and a Research Master’s in Sociology of Culture, Media and the Arts (2016) from Erasmus University Rotterdam. Her master’s theses explored social media norms on Mobile Instant Messaging platforms and social media use during international students’ adaptation in the Netherlands.

Her research interests include social media’s role in identity formation, youth culture, media literacy, and urban studies. Key projects analyze how adolescents use platforms like YouTube and Instagram to express local identity in super-diverse cities like Rotterdam. She has investigated influencers’ content, peer coaching for refugee youth, and the interplay between digital media and urban belonging.

Van Eldik’s work bridges media studies and urban sociology, emphasizing participatory media practices. She has presented at international conferences and published on topics ranging from urban identity construction to the socio-cultural impacts of digital media. No scientific awards are listed, though her research has been widely disseminated through academic and public channels.