The term "nostalgic media" describes entertainment and content that triggers feelings of nostalgia in consumers, including but not limited to TV shows, movies, music, video games, websites, and advertisements. This kind of media frequently uses historical allusions and elements to evoke sentimentality and nostalgia for the past. A variety of media can evoke nostalgia (Niemeyer, 2014).

With the rise of streaming platforms and technological advancements in recent years, TV shows from the past have resurged, allowing new generations to watch an old show for the first time or an older generation to re-watch a show from their past. This also holds true for movies, websites, music, video games, and other forms of media (Wulf, Rieger, Schmitt, 2018). Nostalgic media affects a wide range of people, and it continues to expand.

The media is responsible for generating content and narratives that serve not only as nostalgic representations but also as drivers for nostalgia. The use of media, with a specific focus on new technologies, can serve as platforms, spaces for projection, and instruments for the expression of nostalgia (Niemeyer, 2014).

Multiple studies have been done that measured nostalgia for several media outlets. A study was done on popular music of the past and how nostalgia plays a role in listening to songs (Barett, Grimm, Robins, Wildschut, & Sedikides, 2010). Studies examining video games (Bonus, 2017) and past social media channels showed that they played a significant role in nostalgic media (Cox, Kersten, Routledge, Brown, & Van Enkevort, 2015). 

Natterer (2014) looked into the difference between historical and personal media nostalgia in her research. When people come across media content to which they were exposed when it was initially released, a phenomenon known as personal media nostalgia occurs. Personal nostalgia is a person's unique perspective and feelings about these topics. Historical media nostalgia happens when people come across contemporary material that alludes to an era that existed before their own birth.

Nostalgic feelings can be triggered by a wide variety of events, from conversations with friends to musical compositions to the disappointment of romantic relationships to the horrors of war. If someone or something from your past comes to mind, these feelings may appear (Turner & Stanley, 2021). Nostalgic feelings can be encountered in various age groups and cultural contexts, due to distinct associations and individual experiences (Sedikides, 2015).

Media-induced nostalgia is defined by Wulf, Rieger, and Schmitt (2018) as a mixed-emotional response that is either directly or indirectly brought on by interacting with media content or technologies that bring back memories of a person, event, or other item that evokes strong feelings in the past.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, individuals turned to nostalgic media to escape the monstrosities going on in the world. When the news was full of terror and uncertainty, nostalgic media was used as a coping mechanism to retreat to a more comforting and familiar past. In these trying times, people developed nostalgic feelings, reflecting back on old memories and yearning for the past (Wulf, Breuer, & Schmitt, 2022).

Emotionally charged themes such as childhood, first love, or simpler times are often the focus of nostalgic media content. Strong emotional reactions to these themes strengthen the bond between the audience and the nostalgic elements that are presented. Nostalgic feelings are characterized by a sentimental yearning and wistful fondness for previous experiences or periods of time. The experience evokes a combination of positive sentiment and a subtle tinge of sadness (Vaccaro, Kaplan, & Dimasio, 2020). 

Consuming nostalgic media has been shown to have a positive impact on a person’s psychological well-being. The positive effects of nostalgia fall into one of three different categories, which are self-oriented, existential, and social benefits (Frankenbach, 2021). These three functions are connected to psychological growth and well-being (Wulf, Rieger, Schmitt, 2018).

The self-oriented function of nostalgia is associated with self-exploration, self-esteem, and individual growth. Nostalgic media can enhance self-positivity and increase thoughts of a positive future for individuals (Sedikides, 2015). In a study that contained a sample of 664 volunteers with a diverse age range, participants were randomly assigned to either a nostalgic or control song. The results stated that the participants who listened to the nostalgic song reported higher self-esteem than the participants who listened to the control song (Cheung, 2013). 

The existential function of nostalgia provides a sense of meaning in one’s life and is associated with life satisfaction (Wulf, Rieger, Schmitt, 2018). Media that contains nostalgic elements has been shown to improve psychological well-being and enhance life satisfaction (Geirdal, Ruffolo, Leung, Thygesen, Price, & Bonsaksen, Schoultz, 2021).

The social function of nostalgia intensifies social connectedness and closeness. Feelings of loneliness are reduced, and the sense of belonging is enhanced. (Wulf, Rieger, Schmitt, 2018). As mass media has progressed over the years, some individuals find it hard to adapt to the new changes within technology and have sentimental feelings toward past media. Some people feel a stronger connection to society when they share the longing for nostalgic media (Menke, 2017). 

Hedonic and eudaimonic experiences, as well as psychological well-being, can be influenced by media-induced nostalgia. Eudaimonic experiences are linked to feelings of vitality, environmental mastery, and healthy relationships, whereas hedonic experiences are linked to pleasure, life satisfaction, and happiness (Hepper & Dennis, 2023).

 Professors from the Departments of Psychology at Texas Christian University and North Dakota State University performed a study on the psychological effects of consuming nostalgic media, specifically nostalgic websites. The main result was that people who visited certain websites for nostalgic blogging felt more nostalgic and had positive effects like being happier with their lives and relationships (Cox, Kersten, Routledge, Brown, & Van Enkevort, 2015). After exposure to these websites, the thought of nostalgia intensified psychological and social well-being. 

A study conducted by Bonus (2017) looked at the potential impact of engaging in an augmented reality (AR) video game on the psychological well-being of players. Through an online survey, a sample of 399 adults in the United States, ages 18 to 75, revealed a correlation between engagement in the game Pokémon Go and several favorable outcomes. These outcomes included increased positive emotions, nostalgic feelings, thoughts of new friendships, the strengthening of existing friendships, and increased physical activity through walking. The majority of these outcomes were found to be suggestive of improved overall well-being.

People are less likely to feel lonely when they think back on special occasions rather than routine occurrences because it makes them more receptive to social support (Wildschut, 2010).  Those who experience more nostalgia also react less strongly to death reminders (Routledge, 2008). It has been discovered that consuming nostalgic media lessens the strength of these reactions and enhances psychological well-being.

1. Around what time did you first start watching “One Tree Hill?”
2. What memories or emotions does watching "One Tree Hill" bring to mind for you?
3. As an OG fan of the series, you had the opportunity to be an extra on the show. What was that experience like?
4. You’ve watched the show go from cable television to streaming platforms. Why do you think the show has continued to stay relevant all these years later? 
5. One Tree Hill turned 20 this year. What aspects of the show create nostalgia for you, and why? 
6. When did you start attending One Tree Hill Conventions, and what made you want to attend?
7. You volunteer for FWB which is a non-profit organization that hosts One Tree Hill events and donates to charity. When did you start volunteering for their events, and what has the experience been like for you? 
8. You recently got to attend the 20th-anniversary celebration of the show, where the cast reunited in Wilmington, North Carolina. How did it feel seeing the cast all together again celebrating in the place where it all started?
9. My over-arching research question is How does nostalgic media positively impact a person’s well-being? Would you say that One Tree Hill has positively impacted you, and how so?

1. When did you first start watching “Friends?”
2. When you watch “Friends” today, do you experience any nostalgic emotions or memories?
3. Friends is a pop-culture phenomenon. When watching it back in the day, did you think it would become what it is today?
4. Why do you think the show is still relevant today?
5. In 2021, a reunion special was made, and the cast got together to celebrate 25 years of “Friends.” How did you feel about the six friends coming together to celebrate their show that stood the test of time?
6. Matthew Perry, who played Chandler, recently passed away. Can you talk about how that impacted you? 
7. My over-arching research question is How does nostalgic media positively impact a person’s well-being? Would you say that “Friends” has positively impacted you, and how so?

1. At what age did you start listening to One Direction?
2. In what ways do you think One Direction has shaped your teenage years?
3. One emotions or memories does listening to One Direction bring to mind for you?
4. Do certain One Direction songs transport you back to a specific time or place in your life? If so, can you describe that moment?
5. Which album or era of One Direction holds the most nostalgic value for you? Why?
6. Did you attend any One Direction concerts, and if so, what was that experience like for you?
7. How has your relationship with One Direction's music evolved over the years, and do you still find new meanings in their songs?
8. My over-arching research question is How does nostalgic media positively impact a person’s well-being? Would you say that One Direction’s music has positively impacted you, and how so?

1. Around what age were you when you first started listening to Taylor Swift?
2. Are there specific Taylor Swift songs that take you back to a particular moment or period in your life? 
3. How has your relationship with Taylor Swift’s music evolved over the years, and do you still find new meanings in her songs?
4. This year, you attended “The Eras Tour,” which is a performative lookback on each of Taylor’s albums. Can you talk about how that experience was like?
5.  This tour in a way could be tied to nostalgia because she features a lot of her old music. Did you experience any nostalgic feelings at her concerts?
6. Taylor has re-recorded and re-released her past albums and titled them “Taylor’s Version." How has the release of “Taylor’s Version” created nostalgia for you or pop culture in general?
7. My over-arching research question is How does nostalgic media positively impact a person’s well-being? Would you say that Taylor Swift’s music has positively impacted you, and how so?

1. How old were you when you started listening to Bon Jovi?
2. What emotions or memories does Bon Jovi's music bring to mind for you?
3. Do any Bon Jovi songs transport you back to a specific time or place in your life? 
4. Have you attended any Bon Jovi concerts, and if so, what was that experience like for you?
5. What feelings are presented when you listen to Bon Jovi today? Do you experience nostalgia?
6. How has your relationship with Bon Jovi's music evolved over the years, and do you still discover new meanings in their songs?
7. My over-arching research question is How does nostalgic media positively impact a person’s well-being? Would you say that Bon Jovi’s music has positively impacted you, and how so?