UC Blue Ash professor receives international recognition for research on popular media and culture

Stein is primarily interested in media that are often dismissed as frivolous, including reality television and social media. She sees these forms of entertainment as valuable opportunities to examine how people understand relationships, identity, gender and power. She examines how content creators turn their everyday lives and relationships into content, how platforms profit from those experiences, and how therapeutic language has become increasingly common in popular culture. 

"I've never been particularly interested in defending reality television or TikTok as worthy of scholarly attention. To me, their importance has always been obvious," Stein said. "Millions of people spend time with these media, form relationships through them and use them to understand their own experiences. Of course we should be studying them." 

These topics are at the center of Stein's forthcoming book, titled "And How Does That Make You Feel? Theratainment and the Digital Commodification of Mental Health," which is under contract with the University of California Press and is projected for publication in 2028. The book explores how discussions of trauma, boundaries, healing and mental health have become intertwined with entertainment and social media, where personal experiences can also generate attention and profit.

Selected for a fellowship through a research proposal focused on therapeutic culture, artificial intelligence and digital mental health, Stein is advancing her research at the Center for Advanced Internet Studies (CAIS) in Bochum, Germany. The fellowship started in October and runs through December of this year. During her time at CAIS, she is working to complete her first book manuscript while beginning research for a second book examining AI therapy platforms, chatbots and algorithmic care. The fellowship also provides opportunities to exchange ideas with researchers from different disciplines who study the internet and digital society.

As a first-generation college student, Stein understands how difficult it can be to envision a career in academia without knowing what opportunities are available. Her own journey has shaped her approach to teaching and mentoring, where she encourages students to take their interests seriously and explore the questions that excite them.

"I hope that seeing someone who was once in their position pursuing her passions and building a career around them encourages students to dream big and take their own interests seriously," Stein said. 

In the classroom, Stein connects students' everyday experiences with popular culture and emerging technologies to broader conversations about communication, identity, ethics and power. Whether discussing reality television, social media influencers or artificial intelligence, she encourages students to look beyond what they consume and think critically about how media shapes their understanding of the world.

Through her research and teaching, she hopes to show students that their interests and experiences can be the starting point for meaningful academic and professional opportunities, encouraging them to follow their curiosity, ask questions and pursue their passions.

Featured photo: Krysten Stein (third from left) joins fellow researchers at the Center for Advanced Internet Studies (CAIS) in Bochum, Germany, where she is completing a research fellowship focused on therapeutic culture, artificial intelligence and digital mental health. Photo provided.