My research explores the relationship between media, family life and childhood in the twenty-first century. I'm interested in the ways commercial media becomes woven into everyday family experiences, shaping identities, bonds and memories across generations.

I am a specialist in whole family media - including Disney, Bluey, Harry Potter, LEGO, Pokémon and other multigenerational franchises - and the role they can play in developing a stronger sense of collective identity, belonging and shared traditions. Alongside this, I'm increasingly interested in the commercialisation of childhood, particularly the ways digital platform designs continue to shape children's everyday lives.

My research has been presented internationally and published in edited collections and journals, including work on inherited fandom in infancy, with forthcoming publications examining Disney Princess culture and Bluey in relation to Generation Alpha. You can find a full list of publications on my Publications page.

Current Research

The Disney Family

My doctoral research examines how Disney fandom is created, inherited and sustained across the family life cycle. While fandom research has traditionally focused on individual fans, often adolescents or young adults, my research asks what happens when fandom is understood as a family practice instead.

Drawing on interviews, surveys, participant observation in Disney theme parks, archival research and analysis of more than two decades of Disney vacation trip reports, I explore how Disney becomes embedded within family relationships across generations. I also examine the role Disney itself plays in cultivating these attachments through its media, merchandise and experiences.

Rather than viewing fandom simply as a form of entertainment or consumer identity, my research argues that it can become part of the architecture of family life. Shared media experiences create rituals and traditions, strengthen familial bonds, and contribute to a collective sense of identity that is passed from one generation to the next. At the same time, my work critically examines the commercial systems that leverage and, in some cases, exploit these emotional attachments.

Looking Ahead

My planned next stages of research expand this work beyond Disney to explore the broader role of shared media and play in contemporary family life. I'm interested in how popular culture can strengthen relationships, foster belonging and create opportunities for connection, particularly for families experiencing adversity or navigating periods of change. Understanding how shared media experiences support resilience has the potential to inform education, family policy and community practice.

Alongside this, I'm developing research examining the commercialisation of digital childhood. I want to better understand how today's digital environments shape children's play and wellbeing, and how commercial incentives increasingly influence those experiences. This includes emerging issues such as gambling-like mechanics in video games, including loot boxes, persuasive platform design, algorithmically curated short-form content and other systems deliberately engineered to maximise engagement.

I believe children's digital environments should be designed around healthy development rather than attention and revenue. My long-term research aims to contribute to evidence that helps parents, educators, policymakers and technology companies create digital spaces that support healthier relationships with media, encourage a better balance between online and offline play, and place children's wellbeing at the centre of digital design.