Pengfei Zhao
she/her
Graduate Student, Department of Communication
I am Pengfei Zhao, a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Communication at Cornell University. I am a researcher at Cornell Social Media Lab. I am also a recipient of the 2022-2024 Meta Research Ph.D. Fellowship.
My research is driven by a pivotal question: How can we facilitate safe and prosocial digital experiences? To answer this question, my research focuses on identifying socio-technical and psychological mechanisms and developing behavioral interventions to mitigate online toxicity and maintain well-being related to emerging technologies (e.g., generative AI and algorithms, social media, smartphones). You can find more information on my personal website.
Education
- M.A., Communication, University of Arizona
- M.A., International Journalism, Communication University of China
- B.A., Advertising Design, Communication University of China
Interests
CMC and HCI; online toxicity/harm interventions; AI and algorithms; social media literacy; digital divides; self-disclosure and social support; technology and well-being
- Zhao, P., Bazarova, N. N., DiFranzo, D., Hui, W., Kizilcec, R., & Margolin, D. (2024). Standing up to problematic content on social media: Which objection strategies draw the audience’s approval? Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 29(1), 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1093/jcmc/zmad046
- Valle, N., Zhao, P., Freed, D., Gorton, K., Chapman, A. B., Shea, A. L., & Bazarova, N. N. (2024). Toward a critical framework of social media literacy: A systematic literature review. Review of Educational Research. https://doi.org/10.3102/00346543241247224
- Zhao, P., Bazarova, N. N., & Valle, N. (2023). Digital parenting divides: The role of parental capital and digital parenting readiness in parental social media mediation. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 28(5), 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1093/jcmc/zmad032
- Zhao, P., & Yan, K. (2022). “Not as attractive and communicatively competent as I expected”: The effects of expectancy violations on relational outcomes during modality switching in online dating. Computers in Human Behavior, 131. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2022.107203
- Taylor, S., Zhao, P., & Bazarova, N. N. (2022). Social media and close relationships: A puzzle of connection and disconnection. Current Opinion in Psychology, 45. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2021.12.004
- Zhao, P., Lapierre, M.A., Rains, S.A., & Segrin, C. (2021). When and why we disclose distress on SNSs: Perceived affordances, disclosure goals, and anticipated negative evaluations. Computers in Human Behavior, 125. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2021.106964
- Lapierre, M.A., Zhao, P., & Custer, B.E. (2019). Short-term longitudinal relationships between smartphone use/dependency and psychological well-being among late adolescents. Journal of Adolescent Health, 65(5), 607-612. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2019.06.001
- Zhao, P., Bazarova, N. N., Bae, I., DiFranzo, D., Hui, W., Kizilcec, R., & Margolin, D. (2024, June).“Retributive” vs. “Restorative:” The Audience’s Reactions toward Different Objection Strategies against Offenses on Social Media. Accepted for presentation at the 74th Annual Conference of the International Communication Association (ICA), Gold Coast, Australia.
- Zhao, P., Bazarova, N. N., DiFranzo, D., Hui, W., Kizilcec, R., & Margolin, D. (2023, May). “An eye for an eye” or “taking the high road”: What are effective objections against problematic content on social media? Paper presented at the 73rd Annual Conference of the International Communication Association (ICA), Toronto, Canada.
- Lapierre, M.A. & Zhao, P. (2022, May). Problematic smartphone use vs “Technoference”: Examining their unique predictive power on relational and life satisfaction. Paper presented at the 72nd Annual Conference of the International Communication Association (ICA), Paris, France.
- Zhao, P., Lapierre, M.A., Rains, S.A., & Segrin, C. (2021, May). When and why we disclose distress on SNSs: Perceived affordances, disclosure goals, and anticipated negative evaluations. Paper presented at the 71st Annual Conference of the International Communication Association (ICA; converted to virtual due to COVID-19).
- Zhao, P., & Yan, K. (2020, May). “Is your partner as physically attractive as you expected?”: The effects of expectancy violations on relational outcomes during modality switching in online dating. Paper presented at the 70th Annual Conference of the International Communication Association (ICA; converted to virtual due to COVID-19).
- Zhao, P., & Lapierre, M.A. (2020, May). Smartphones and social support: Longitudinal associations between smartphone use/dependency and types of support. Paper presented at the 70th Annual Conference of the International Communication Association (ICA; converted from Australia to virtual due to COVID-19).
- Zhao, P., & Lapierre, M.A. (2019, November). Stress, dependency, and depression: A longitudinal examination of the reciprocal effects of perceived stress and smartphone dependency on depression. Paper presented at the 105th Annual Convention of the National Communication Association (NCA; Human Communication and Technology Division), Baltimore, MD.
Pengfei in the news
News
Employment News Graduate Student Pengfei Zhao has accepted a tenure-track assistant professor position in the School of Communication at Florida State University. Events On Monday, March 10, 2:55, Associate Professor Neil Lewis, Jr., is...
News
Check out our final COMM Updates for the 2023–2024 academic year—and what a year it’s been! We’ll be back in fall 2024. Awards Congratulations to our graduate student award winners! The Outstanding CALS Graduate Teaching Assistant recognizes...