Benjamin, 13
Media Consumption: About 3 hours per day during the week, and about 6 hours per day on the weekends
Favorite Media/Technology: I really like YouTube and Discord, which I use on my iPhone
How do you and your family interact with media/technology?
My dad has the NextDoor app so that he can connect with our neighbors, but other than that my parents don’t use social media. My grandma has Facebook, though, and she posts pictures of me which are sometimes cute but other times I wish she would let me see the pictures first. My parents set rules for what I can access online–I’m not allowed on Instagram or Twitter. I don’t know why, but I just listen to my parents’ rules.
How do you and your peers interact with media/technology?
Sometimes when my best friend watches the same videos as me on YouTube we’ll talk about it but I mostly interact with my friends on Discord and Snapchat. On Discord, my friends and I have a group chat where we always talk about something different–one day we’ll talk about homework, the next day we’ll talk about funny meme pictures. I used to keep Snapchat streaks with my friends but I don’t really anymore. People my age keep Snapchat streaks to show off their popularity with their high “Snap Scores” because they care a lot about that.
What do you use media for?
I mostly use Snapchat and Discord to be social and connect with my friends. I use YouTube for entertainment and to watch comedic videos. I don’t really play as many games on my phone as I used to.
What is your favorite/least favorite thing about media/technology?
I like using YouTube because it has a positive environment. I also like how social media is a good way to connect with people and be able to talk to friends. I don’t like how apps like TikTok are toxic and negative. There’s a lot of cyberbullying on social media and people say a lot of things online that they wouldn’t say in person. Sometimes the hate comments on other people’s videos can make me feel bad about myself.
What is one thing you want the people who create the media you like to watch/play/interact with to know?
I get a lot of ads on YouTube, usually for Grammarly or different game apps. YouTube should know that I don’t pay attention to their ads, and I always skip them right away.
What media are you using more now because of the COVID-19 pandemic?
During remote learning, I watched a lot of YouTube–a lot more than before quarantine. I didn’t watch it during classes because I had to pay attention to those but I watched it while I was doing homework.
Where do you get most of your information to learn more about changes during the COVID-19 pandemic (e.g., news, internet, parents, etc.)?
My parents watch the news and then they tell me about things like changes to online learning or vaccine requirements.
What media has been helping you stay busy/stay calm during the COVID-19 pandemic?
Every day during quarantine I watched something different on YouTube. I was just trying to find something to fill in the blanks in my day because I wasn’t able to do a lot. I thought that since there was nothing to do I could watch someone else do something on YouTube.
What lessons have you learned from the COVID-19 pandemic?
It’s really important to keep in touch with friends online when you can’t see them in person.
Have you learned anything about how you use media and technology because of the COVID-19 pandemic?
I use a lot more media when I’m bored. It’s kind of a last resort for me. I use media to feel better and be entertained with funny YouTube videos. I also think social media is a really good way to connect with friends.
Interviewed by: Sophie Lawrence, UCLA 3rd Year student