Media has always been linked to emotions: films that move us to tears, radio dramas so gripping that they make listeners’ hair stand on end, newspaper stories that make us angry, and so on. The feelings evoked by engaging with media play a major part in why people turn to it. Social media platforms such as YouTube, TikTok, Instagram and so on use algorithms to recommend content to users that appeals to them emotionally, thereby keeping them on the platform or social network for longer. However, emotions do not merely extend the time spent on these platforms; they also play a significant role in how people use, perceive and process media, and in the learning processes that are triggered in the process. merzWissenschaft approaches questions regarding the interplay between media and emotions from various perspectives; whilst highlighting starting points for practical work in media education, it also makes it clear that there are still numerous gaps in our understanding that require more in-depth academic examination.