Michel Walrave

Michel Walrave is a Professor at the Department of Communication Studies within the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Antwerp. He leads the MIOS research group (Media, ICT and interpersonal relations in Organisations and Society), focusing on digital communication dynamics since the 1990s.

• Research expertise in online self-disclosure, privacy, sexting, cyberbullying, and digital marketing
• Teaches courses on marketing communication, direct marketing, and public communication
• Former vice dean for service to society, internationalization, and student relations (2018-2021)

His work examines intimate digital communication and its risks, including non-consensual image sharing (NCII) and cyber dating abuse. He analyzes how users balance privacy concerns with persuasive digital environments, particularly in health app adoption and COVID-19 contact tracing behavior. Recent studies investigate grandsharenting practices and slow fashion consumption through the Prototype Willingness Model.

As associate editor of Cyberpsychology and chairman of the Flemish Knowledge Center on Media Literacy, he contributes to policy and education on digital risks. His team participates in international networks like Healthnar (narrative health communication) and World Internet Project. Collaborative projects include VR for social change, digital disconnection theory, and psychophysiological studies on boredom and smartphone use. He holds a PhD in Social Sciences (1999, KU Leuven) and has published extensively on topics ranging from gossip's stress effects to digital activism scales.