Abigail, 15
Media Consumption: 2-4 hours a day on weekdays, 6-7 on weekends
Favorite Media/Technology: YouTube
How do you and your family interact with media/technology?
My family and I usually interact with media/technology by watching movies together using platforms such as Netflix or Disney+.
How do you and your peers interact with media/technology?
My friends and I use online platforms like Google classroom for class assignments and contact info for reaching out to each other. Occasionally, we use discord or WhatsApp to connect with each other.
What do you use media for?
I like to update myself on current events like what’s going on in the world, or my favorite celebrities. I also like to view stuff about my interests and learn new things in my free time after school.
What is your favorite/least favorite thing about media/technology?
My favorite thing is how people can connect with one another who share similar interests, beliefs, etc. But my least favorite thing is the toxicity, such as unrealistic beauty standards which impacts people in real life (offline). I see it affecting people around me and my friends. It sucks.
What is one thing you want the people who create the media you like to watch/play/interact with to know?
One thing I want people who create the media I like to use is that while media can be toxic at times, it is important to highlight the benefits of it by creating a positive environment that anyone can enjoy. It helps me connect with other people who are fans of the same thing I am and to have all this cool information to access. I just hope they know it’s positive as well as negative.
What media do you interact with the most?
I interact with YouTube the most. I love watching videos such as video essays or movie analysis.
Where do you get most of your information about what’s happening in the world (e.g., news, internet, parents, etc.)?
I get most of my information on the local news, which I watch at home with my parents, and sometimes in my classes at school when we catch up on what’s going on in the world.
What media helps you stay busy/stay calm during challenging times?
If I feel stressed or overwhelmed, I like to use Netflix or Disney+ to watch something that will calm me down. I enjoy watching TV shows and movies, especially animated ones.
What lessons have you learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenging times?
I’ve learned that spending all the time I have on my phone is not beneficial for me and will end up doing more harm than good. I spent a lot of time on my phone and later realized I could have been trying new hobbies, reading books, or spending time with my family. So later on in quarantine I would go on walks or bake with my sister.
Have you learned anything about how you use media and technology because of the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenging times?
I have learned how easily addictive social media is to young teens like me. Social media can suck people in and leave them in loopholes where they spend hours on social media without realizing.
Interviewed by: Idella Smolyar, UCLA student