Isabella, 18

Media Consumption: 2 hours

Favorite Media/Technology: Cell phone

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

My family and I do not use media together very often. Sometimes my dad posts pictures of our family on Facebook, but the most interacting I do with my family is sending the occasional TikTok.

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

My peers and I follow each other on our social media accounts and occasionally send videos back and forth. If I post on social media, they will like my photos. Sometimes we FaceTime.

What do you use media for?

I use media for shopping and reading mostly.

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

My favorite thing about media is getting to hear about cool/new products. My least favorite thing is the insecurity/body dysmorphia that I get from being exposed to so much picture-perfect content.

What is one thing you want the people who create the media you like to watch/play/interact with to know?

I would congratulate them on creating platforms and media that I enjoy, and I also watch a lot of calming content so I would thank creators for helping me sleep.

What media do you interact with the most?

I think the media that I interact with the most is predominantly fantasy e-books, but in terms of more conventional social media, definitely videos.

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 from the news and Google. My parents, grandparents, and I will all talk about our thoughts regarding current events when we see each other.

What media helps you stay busy/stay calm during challenging times?

ASMR videos, and also video games (specifically Call of Duty) help me to decompress.

What lessons have you learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenging times?

I learned that I learn better virtually, and I have grown a huge appreciation for online schooling. I think online schooling is better because I can work at my own pace whereas in person school moderates the workload for you, which I personally don’t like.

Have you learned anything about how you use media and technology because of the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenging times?

During the pandemic, I learned that it was very easy to get sucked into a media hole, where I would decide to watch a couple minutes of TikToks that could very quickly become hours if I was not aware.

Interviewed by: Sofia Nicolau, UCLA student