Arantxa Vizcaíno-Verdú, PhD

Neurodivergent (autistic) researcher in media literacy and digital culture, with a particular focus in transmedia storytelling, fandom, advertising literacy, and popular culture on the Internet. My research examines how social media and digital environments construct identities, communities, and consumer dynamics as well as the broader challenges and opportunities emerging within media realms.

Associate Professor at UNIR (International University of La Rioja, Spain) and Teacher Training Coordinator of the School of Internet Didactics (EDI) within the Faculty of Economics and Business. PhD in Communication in the field of Educommunication and Media Literacy (University of Huelva), MA in Communication and Audiovisual Education (UHU), BA in Advertising and Public Relations (University of Alicante), and Certificate of Higher Education in Plastic Arts and Design – Illustration (Massana School of Barcelona).

Beyond my academic role, I actively contribute to international research networks, serving as a Key Regional Leader in the TikTok Cultures Research Network, Section Editor & Social Media Manager for Revista Mediterránea de Comunicación / Mediterranean Journal of Communication (Scopus Q1/Q2), member of the COYSODI research group at UNIR, external collaborator in the COMPUBES group at the University of Alicante, and alumnus of the Influencer Ethnography Research Lab (IERLab).

Last articles

Behind the adolescent filter: Unveiling the connection between digital body image edition, satisfaction and well-being

Arantxa Vizcaíno-Verdú, Beatriz Feijoo, Charo Sádaba

Atlantic Journal of Communication, 2025

‘Influencers are just mannequins’: Decoding teenagers’ perception about advertising content creators

Arantxa Vizcaíno-Verdú, Beatriz Feijoo, Charo Sádaba

European Journal of Communication, vol. 40(1), 2025, pp. 3-22

The sign-sync trend on TikTok: navigating engagement and digital accessibility in music challenges

Arantxa Vizcaíno-Verdú, Mariola Moreno, Margarita Gil-Jerez

Information, Communication & Society, 2025

Cross-platform hatedom: Influencers’ strategies for managing affective aversion

Arantxa Vizcaíno-Verdú, Paloma Contreras-Pulido

Cuadernos.info, issue 60, 2025, pp. 68-92

The impact of social references on adolescents’ body satisfaction: Healthy and aesthetic perspectives

Beatriz Feijoo, Arantxa Vizcaíno-Verdú

Media Literacy and Academic Research, vol. 8(1), 2025, pp. 110-124

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[Chapters] Book

Books

Música transmedia y narrativas culturales. La melodía de las redes sociales

2023, Arantxa Vizcaíno-Verdú

Vizcaíno-Verdú, A. (2023). Música transmedia y narrativas culturales. La melodía de las redes sociales. McGraw-Hill, Aula Magna.

Chapters Book

De la pizarra al trending topic: docentes que conquistan redes sociales [From blackboard to trending topic: teachers captivating social media]

2023, Mónica Bonilla-del-Río, Elizabeth-Guadalupe Rojas-Estrada & Arantxa Vizcaíno-Verdú

This chapter focuses on the motivations driving educators’ prominence on social media, ranging from the desire to disseminate their pedagogical methodologies to the intention of inspiring future generations.

Sexual (mis)information: Pornography and adolescence in the digital space

2024, Elizabeth-Guadalupe Rojas-Estrada, Arantxa Vizcaíno-Verdú & Mónica Bonilla-del-Río

The escalating prevalence of pornography consumption among the youth has raised significant concern within the scientific community. This study aims to systematically examine the scholarly literature on adolescence and engagement with pornography.

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Projects

La incidencia del marketing de influencers en la construcción de la identidad digital de los adolescentes. INFLUIDENTITY

This project, funded by UNIR’s Vice-Rectorate for Research, examines how influencers shape the digital identities of children and adolescents, with the goal of encouraging ethical and moral reflection on their impact.

Influencers: Difusión y prevención de conductas autolesivas en los adolescentes. INFLUSUI-X

This project, funded by ITEI at UNIR, explores the impact of influencer content on the prevention of self-injurious behaviors among adolescents.

Entre lo saludable y el culto al físico. Incidencia del contenido publicado por fitinfluencers en el cuidado del cuerpo de los adolescentes. TEEN_ONFIT

This project, funded by ITEI at UNIR, explores how content created by fitness influencers impacts adolescents' body care practices and examines the role of body image ideals.

Diagnóstico de competencias digitales, mediáticas y parentales de las familias andaluzas. Propuesta formativa 4.0

This project, funded by Junta de Andalucía, Diagnostic study and training proposal for Andalusian families, focused on the interconnection between digital, media and parental competences.