Journalism and Communications
Media Effects and Technology Lab (METL)
Led by Kun Xu · Media Production, Management, and Technology
What we study
The lab studies how people interact with AI, robots, and virtual reality. Researchers use experiments, VR/AR, and computational methods to explore presence, social norms, and human-machine relationships.
What working here is like
- Computational
- Surveys & interviews
- Human participants
- Coding helps
- Papers
- 5
Recent papers, explained
- Charting the evolution of human–machine communication: a systematic review of 25 years of empirical research
2026 · Annals of the International Communication Association
Reviews 25 years of human-AI communication research, showing growth and trends.
- Shifting dynamics in human–machine communication: the interplay of user and chatbot gender across two studies
2026 · Communication and Change
Tests how chatbot gender and user gender affect trust and attraction in AI interactions.
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- Face-off: facial expression disclosure affects the processing of proxemic norms in virtual reality
2026 · Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication
Tests how face tracking in VR affects reactions to proxemic norm violations, showing it influences cognitive and affective responses.
- A Systematic Review and Thematic Synthesis of the 4Cs Marketing Framework, Perceived Value, and Customer Satisfaction
2026 · Journal of Advances in Humanities Research
Reviews how the 4Cs marketing factors relate to perceived value and customer satisfaction.
- Practicing love with algorithms: How online communities narrate and make sense of human–AI intimacy
2026 · New Media & Society
Analyzes online discussions on human-AI intimacy, identifying themes like co-construction and infrastructure.
Plain-language summaries are AI-written and reviewed by us; check the paper for details.
How to reach out
Kun Xu hasn't set up this page yet. Their UF Scholars profile lists their publications.