Madisyn, 16

Media Consumption: ​ About 3 hours a day

Favorite Media/Technology: ​Instagram

How do you and your family interact with media/technology?

My family and I interact with technology by contacting each other when needed. We use our phones to let our parents know when we get to places. None of us really like using technology, because we like to spend most of our time together outside. None of us are allowed to have our phones at the dinner table or during any type of family time.

How do you and your friends interact with media/technology?

My friends and I use social media to keep in contact and for school. Other than contact and school, I don’t use it much. For example, I only have one post on Instagram, but due to COVID- 19, I had online class for the rest of the year. I prefer hanging out with people in person rather than spending all my time on any type of device.

What do you use media for?

I use my phone every day, because I like to keep in touch with my friends that I left behind since I have moved around a lot. My family is used to changing bases all across the world every couple of years, because my dad is in the military. Social media helps me to keep up with everybody that I know without the trouble of figuring out schedules to make a time to FaceTime. Social media gives me big current events on my friends so I don’t feel so out of the loop all the time.

What is your favorite/least favorite thing about media/technology?

My least favorite things about technology are that you can get addicted to them and that they are pretty negative. My friends are quite addicted to their phones and have a hard time putting them down. I also don’t like how negative digital media can be. It should be less about the likes and comparison and more about loving others the way Jesus does. I would be so happy if spreading uplifting quotes, bible verses, and positive stories that inspire people to help others became a viral constant.

Interviewed: Cali Thompson, UCLA 4th year student