Buy, collect and play: Children's practices in media consumption worl...

Today, childhood is densely permeated by media and consumer practices. Media consumption worlds (MCWs) are a phenomenon that reflects both factors. They are cross-media and transmedia productions that use different media platforms (e.g., movies, computer games, smartphone apps) to tell a story. Complemented by toys, merchandising and events, they offer a specific lifestyle (e.g., the Frozen or Harry Potter lifestyle). As will be shown, on the one hand, they constitute valuable peer-group experiences, allow self-expression and acting out creativity, on the other hand, they reinforce consumer ideology and lure children to the screen.