Natalie Pennington
Assistant Professor of Communication Studies
Expertise: Online Relationships, Communication Technology, Grief, Social Support, Interpersonal Communication
Biography
Natalie Pennington is an expert in interpersonal communication within the context of communication technology. An assistant professor of communication studies, she examines how private topics become public on social networking platforms and the resulting impact on relationships. Her research looks at how users of social media build and maintain relationships, the potential benefits and harms associated with technology use, and social support and grieving online.
Pennington’s work has been published in several academic publications, including New Media & Society, Social Media + Society, Computers in Human Behavior, and the Journal of Broadcasting and Electronic Media.
Education
- Ph.D., University of Kansas, Communication Studies
- M.A., Kansas State University, Communication Studies
- B.S., Missouri State University, Communication Studies
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communication, psychology & human behavior, relationships, social issuesNatalie Pennington In The News
December 27, 2019
More and more people are questioning the value that social media brings into their lives, with many users choosing to disconnect and trading in blue screens for blue skies, or at least, a life less dependent on checking notifications every three seconds.
Hello Giggles
December 27, 2019
Signing off from social media due to depression, stress, and anxiety is common, says University of Nevada, Las Vegas communication studies professor and social media researcher Natalie Pennington.
Topical Thunder
December 23, 2019
Does social media play a big role in politics? Most people would say yes. But what are the dynamics of that role? How does social media impact our understanding of politics, and in what ways should politics take platforms like Facebook and Twitter into account?
Rewire
December 3, 2019
Are you one of the millions of younger people quitting Facebook? For more than a decade, we’ve used Facebook as a way to keep up with friends.
Articles Featuring Natalie Pennington
ResearchDecember 26, 2019
A collection of stories featuring interesting discoveries driven by UNLV that have made news in 2019.
Campus NewsDecember 2, 2019
A collection of local, national, and international news stories highlighting the people and programs of UNLV.
ResearchNovember 4, 2019
UNLV communication studies professor and social media researcher Natalie Pennington unveils the biggest online dealbreakers, cling makers, and tips for culling your contact list.
PeopleMarch 4, 2019
To unfriend, to unfollow, or to keep in touch? Communication studies professor Natalie Pennington helps answer questions about the human connection to social media.