Connected Generations: Media, Communication, and Intergenerational Exchange in Contemporary Lives (17-18/Sept/2026)

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Connected Generations: Media, Communication, and Intergenerational Exchange in Contemporary Lives

ECREA 2026 postconference

Today's sociotechnological transformations—marked by conflict, crisis, and rapid change—have profoundly reshaped how generations interact, learn, and build relationships through media. As younger and older generations navigate increasingly dense media landscapes, critical questions emerge about digital divides, knowledge transfer, shared media practices, and the evolution of family and community communication patterns.
This post-conference proposes to examine intergenerationality as a vital dimension of contemporary mediated lives. Building on ECREA 2026's conference theme "Shifting Grounds: Paths, Connections, and Futures," this event explores how mediated environments create new pathways for intergenerational exchange while addressing persistent barriers and challenges.

By bringing together scholars, practitioners, and stakeholders researching or working across generational contexts, this post-conference creates space for peer sharing, networking, and critical reflection on current research, practices, and policies.

We welcome contributions on topics including: intergenerational approaches in research and intervention; educational approaches in formal and non-formal settings; social media use across age groups; digital literacy initiatives; grandparent-grandchild communication technologies; multigenerational households' media practices; age-diverse online communities; and research methodologies in intergenerational contexts. We particularly encourage critical perspectives on ageism in digital platforms, generational stereotypes in media representations, and policies supporting intergenerational digital inclusion.

By fostering dialogue between researchers and practitioners whose work focuses on children, youth, and aging populations, this event challenges siloed approaches to age and media studies, recognizing that digital futures are inherently intergenerational—shaped by those who grew up digital and those adapting to digital life, innovators and users, educators and learners across age boundaries.

Call for papers

Details available here (copy & paste the link): https://forms.gle/EYDRHzMTrBoRCokx6
Deadline for abstract submission: May 30th 2026
Notification to authors (accepted / waiting list / not accepted): July 15th 2026

Registration (free but mandatory)

Deadline: 12 September 2025

Organizing and scientific committee

Organising Committee: Ana Filipa Oliveira, Mireia Fernández-Ardèvol, Ana Lamy Silva, Cora Van Leeuwen Denise Mensonides, Felix Ortega, Mael Bombaci, Margarida Maneta Maria José Brites Marisa Mourão, Simone Mulargia, Viivi Korpela

Scientific Committee: Mireia Fernández-Ardèvol, Ana Filipa Oliveira, Cora Van Leeuwen, Denise Mensonides, Felix Ortega, Mael Bombaci, Margarida Maneta, Maria José Brites, Marisa Mourão, Simone Mulargia, Viivi Korpela

Support

This post-conference is jointly organized by the Children, Youth and Media Section and the Temporary Working Group on Aging and Communication and the logistic support of the CNSC research group. The event counts with the support of the STORYline project - Shaping Youth Citizenship Through Intergenerational Approaches and Digital Narratives (10.54499/2023.11571.PEX). The event also counts with the support of the Open University of Catalonia / Universitat Oberta de Catalunya.