Cloe, 16
Media Consumption: 5-6 hours a day
Favorite Media/Technology: TikTok, Mobile Device
How do you and your family interact with media/technology?
When my brothers and I were younger, we used to all watch one or two episodes of TV together for the day. On Fridays, my whole family and I would come together to watch a movie at night. We were not on screens very often as children, but now that we’re older, we all watch TV on our own or use our own devices. We are on our screens a lot more than we used to be.
How do you and your peers interact with media/technology?
Most of my friends and I use media and technology to stay connected with one another. I think some of my friends use social media a lot more frequently, I have one friend who deleted her TikTok account because she felt as though she was on it too much. We use technology for different things. I use my laptop for school and to watch movies. Our phones are mostly to communicate and use social media.
What do you use media for?
I like to use media to see how other people live. Those are the types of videos I enjoy watching the most on TikTok and Instagram. On Instagram, I have two accounts, a personal account with a lot of followers and a dump account with only 30 followers. I can have fun with the second account and post pictures of whatever I want without maintaining a certain aesthetic. I know that only my close friends are seeing those pictures.
What is your favorite/least favorite thing about media/technology?
My least favorite thing about social media is the negative effects it can have on us. TikTok recently recommended a video to me about a girl who eats a 500 calorie a day raw vegan diet. She only eats fruit and vegetables. One of the next videos the app recommended to me was a girl talking about how she follows a 4,000 calorie a day carnivorous diet. I don’t think these videos are healthy and they can really mess people up.
What is one thing you want the people who create the media you like to watch/play/interact with to know?
I wish they would humanize social media apps more. Social media uses algorithms to intensify the content you see, it can drain you and leave you scrolling for more. I wish social media creators would regulate this. As for content creators, I think they should think about their audience and ask themselves how their videos can harm young girls.
What media do you interact with the most?
I use TikTok the most.
Where do you get most of your information about what’s happening in the world (e.g., news, internet, parents, etc.)?
I get a lot of news on social media and by watching/listening to the news with my parents, but I also keep up with the news for school and extracurricular activities.
What media helps you stay busy/stay calm during challenging times?
During the pandemic, I liked to watch a lot of movies to stay busy when we were out of school. Now, I like to listen to a lot of music. I have a long commute to and from school, so I usually put in headphones on the bus to relax and listen to Spotify.
What lessons have you learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenging times?
One thing I learned was how to limit my phone use. When I was younger, my parents used to put screen time limits on our phones so that my brother and I wouldn’t be on them too much. But we’ve outgrown that, so I regulate it myself. I don’t have my phone out when I’m talking with my parents, eating dinner, or spending time with family. I think that’s important.
Have you learned anything about how you use media and technology because of the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenging times?
Before the pandemic, I used to get upset when I saw people hang out without me or do things without me. But now I don’t mind as much, I know that social media can be misleading.
Interviewed by: Kimia Azad, UCLA student