Drew Cingel

Drew Cingel is an Associate Professor and Graduate Advisor in the Department of Communication at the University of California, Davis. His research focuses on the interplay between human development—particularly child and adolescent development—and media effects, with an emphasis on understanding how developmental stages influence media choices and how media exposure impacts development. He regularly consults with media companies and policymakers to design media that supports healthy child and adolescent development.

Education:

• Ph.D., Media, Technology, and Society, Northwestern University, 2016
• M.A., Communication, Wake Forest University, 2012
• B.A. (two degrees), Media Effects and Psychology, Pennsylvania State University, 2010

Research Interests:

• Effects of social media on adolescent mental health
• Children’s learning from media (e.g., television, tablets)
• Moral reasoning development through media exposure
• Parental mediation strategies for media use

His work bridges experimental and survey methodologies, often addressing societal concerns about digital media’s role in youth development.

Publications & Trends: Recent articles explore personalized social media algorithms’ impact on minors, cross-cultural comparisons of media use during the pandemic, and the validation of moral intuition measurement tools. His research consistently highlights the dual-edged nature of media: while media can foster learning and moral development, it also poses risks like mental health challenges and social comparison effects.

Teaching & Advising: Teaches CMN 147 (Children, Adolescents, and the Media) and CMN 141 (Media Effects). As Graduate Advisor, he mentors students in communication studies and supports academic programs.

Labs & Teams: Affiliated with UC Davis’ Media Labs, which investigates digital media’s societal impacts. Collaborates with the Human Development Graduate Group to integrate interdisciplinary perspectives.