This article develops the theoretical concept of critical media practices. Critical media practices are characterised by two aspects: 1) In critical media practices actors reflect on routines relating to media (as organisations, content, or technologies) and/or on the meta processes mediatisation, digitisation or datafication. 2) On the basis of this reflection actors develop alternative routines in their media practices and shape processes of mediatisation, digitisation or datafication. Critical media practices aim at influencing society and are therefore always political. Conceptualizing the term critical media practices, this article on the one hand contributes to further developing media practices as an approach in communication and media studies, on the other hand, it adds to general debates on critique in this field.