About
Kamilla Knutsen Steinnes is a Researcher in Technology and Sustainability at Consumption Research Norway. In her dissertation titled 'Free to play - pay to win', as part of her PhD in Behavioral Analysis, she examined young people's consumer behavior and identity in online games. She is a trained social psychologist, and has previously studied emotions, nudging, and behavioral economics at the University of Oslo and the University of Cambridge. Her research interests include social media, gaming, gender, social relations, identity, emotions and affect, privacy, and digital marketing.
Field of study
Gender Emotions Market structure Body image Computer games Identity Digital media Sustainable consumption Consumer psychology Sustainable behavior Social media Mixed methods Children and young people Digital marketing
Research groups
Research projects
Ongoing research projects
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A profile-based political public sphere: profiles and their significance for young people's engagement, attitudes, and trust
The project will analyse the role that influencers and social media profiles play in young people's political engagement, attitudes, and trust.
-
DRUGTREND: Youth cultures and emerging patterns of drug use in a digital age
The main objective of DRUGTREND is to enhance understanding of the cultural and social factors driving changes in youth drug use patterns, with a specific focus on the role of social media platforms.
Completed research projects
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Plateforms: Enabling sustainable food practices through socio-technical innovation
The Research Project PLATEFORMS aims to produce in-depth knowledge on how food practices in the home are affected by innovations in food provisioning platforms.
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“Free to play – pay to win”: Understanding young people’s social inclusion through their consumer behavior in gaming
PhD project about social inclusion and exclusion though gaming.
Publications and research
Scientific publications
Steinnes, Kamilla Knutsen
;
Reich, Clara Julia
(2026).
Cosmetics as social currency: young people playing out identities through skins in free-to-play games.
Consumption and Society.
https://doi.org/10.1332/27528499Y2025D000000066
Borch, Anita
;
Steinnes, Kamilla Knutsen
(2025).
Lootbokser = tilhørighet? En studie av unges sosiale motiver for å kjøpe forundringspakker i dataspill.
Borch, Anita; Bilgrei, Ola Røed (Ed.).
Barns tilhørighet blant mennesker og ting. p. 95-122.
Cappelen Damm Akademisk.
https://doi.org/10.23865/cdf.250
Reich, Clara Julia
;
Steinnes, Kamilla Knutsen
;
Teigen, Helene Maria Fiane
(2025).
Digital economy of dignity: children’s belonging(s) and digital facework.
Information, Communication & Society.
Vol. 28.
https://doi.org/10.1080/1369118X.2025.2472949
Steinnes, Kamilla Knutsen
(2024).
‘Gamers’ crafted by consumption: The influence of consumption on gender identities in video games.
Jacobsen, Eivind; Strandbakken, Pål; Dulsrud, Arne; Skuland, Silje Elisabeth (Ed.).
Consumers and Consumption in Comparison (Volume 37). p. 167-187.
Emerald Group Publishing Limited.
https://doi.org/10.1108/S0195-631020240000037008
Steinnes, Kamilla Knutsen
(2024).
Architecting virtual storefronts: how in-game shops are designed to encourage consumption.
Consumption Markets & Culture.
Vol. 27.
https://doi.org/10.1080/10253866.2024.2385562
Steinnes, Kamilla Knutsen
; Lyshol, Johanna Katarina Blomster; Zickfeld, Janis H.; Schubert, Thomas Wolfgang; Seibt, Beate
(2024).
Kama Muta: The Cuteness Emotion.
Al-Shawaf, Laith; Shackelford, Todd K. (Ed.).
The Oxford Handbook of Evolution and the Emotions. p. 339-356.
Oxford University Press.
https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780197544754.013
Reich, Clara Julia
;
Bøyum, Live
;
Steinnes, Kamilla Knutsen
;
Teigen, Helene Maria Fiane
(2024).
“You don’t have to share every single small moment on social media” Exploring Tensions Between Parents and Children in Sharenting Practices.
Nordisk tidsskrift for ungdomsforskning (NTU).
Vol. 5.
https://doi.org/10.18261/ntu.5.2.1
Steinnes, Thea Knutsen
;
Steinnes, Kamilla Knutsen
(2023).
"The male gamer stereotype" - En barriere for inkludering?.
Speilvendt.
https://hdl.handle.net/11250/3251605
Teigen, Helene Maria Fiane
;
Steinnes, Kamilla Knutsen
;
Gjerløw, Beate Goldschmidt-
(2022).
Ungdom og kroppspress i sosiale medier.
Gjerløw, Beate Goldschmidt-; Eriksen, Kristin Gregers; Jore, Mari Kristine (Ed.).
Kontroversielle, emosjonelle og sensitive tema i skolen.. p. 149-168.
Universitetsforlaget.
https://hdl.handle.net/11250/4985422
Prøitz, Lin; Langeland, Fredrik;
Steinnes, Kamilla Knutsen
;
Mainsah, Henry
(2022).
Hybride maskuliniteter og hatideologi på nett: en litteraturgjennomgang om incels i et feministisk medievitenskapelig perspektiv.
Norsk medietidsskrift (NMT).
Vol. 29.
https://doi.org/10.18261/nmt.29.2.3
