Meryem Seyda Ozcan
Track
Research Frontiers
Faculty Mentor
Koeun Choi
Associate Professor, Human Development and Family Science
Research Focus
In my postdoctoral research at Virginia Tech, I am contributing to and leading projects that examine how contemporary online viewing platforms such as YouTube, shape young children’s attention and learning. The central problem addressed by this work is that children’s digital media experiences have shifted rapidly toward algorithm-driven, on-demand video platforms, yet empirical evidence on how these environments influence early cognitive processes remains limited.
Young children engage with online video platforms more than ever before. Over half of children in early childhood have access to their own tablet devices, and recent U.S. national survey data indicate that among children aged 0 to 8, approximately 32% watch long-form videos and 16% watch short-form videos on YouTube (Common Sense, 2025), making these platforms a major component of early digital media exposure. Despite this widespread use, most existing research on media and child development focuses on more traditional forms of screen media and does not adequately capture the unique features of online video platforms, such as rapid video switching, short-form content, and algorithmic recommendations.
The expected impact of this work is both theoretical and applied. By extending developmental science research to contemporary media environments, this project advances understanding of how modern digital platforms relate to children’s attention and learning. At the applied level, findings are expected to inform parents, educators, and policymakers by providing evidence-based guidance on young children’s engagement with online viewing platforms, supporting more developmentally informed media use recommendations.
Why did you choose to pursue postdoctoral training at Virginia Tech?
I chose to pursue postdoctoral training at Virginia Tech because it offers a uniquely strong and interdisciplinary environment that closely aligns with my research interests in children’s digital media use, attention, and learning. An important factor in this decision was the opportunity to work under the mentorship of Koeun Choi, whose work in child development and digital media closely aligns with my own research agenda. Virginia Tech’s emphasis on collaborative, cross-disciplinary research allows me to work with experts in developmental psychology, brain development, and computer science, which is essential for studying contemporary digital media environments.
In my current postdoctoral project, I am part of a diverse research team examining children’s engagement with digital media using advanced methodological approaches under Dr. Choi’s mentorship. This environment provides opportunities not only to deepen my expertise in developmental science, but also to expand my prior training by integrating perspectives and tools from neuroscience and computing. This interdisciplinary training at Virginia Tech is critical for my development as an independent researcher and for positioning my work at the intersection of child development and emerging technologies.
What are you most looking forward to as you begin in this fellowship at Virginia Tech?
I am most looking forward to contributing high-quality research to the literature while continuing to grow as an independent researcher. This fellowship provides an ideal environment to advance my research on children’s digital media use while strengthening my skills in study design, analysis, and scholarly dissemination.
I am also particularly excited about the professional development opportunities offered through the Virginia Tech Presidential Postdoctoral Fellowship Program. The structured programming and institutional support for professional growth will allow me to further develop as a scholar, mentor, and collaborator, while preparing for the next stage of my academic career.