Jacob, 6
Media Consumption: Everyday; roughly 2-4 hours a day
Favorite Media/Technology: “phone“ aka old iPod that connects to wifi; Favorite apps include Minecraft, Roblox, and YouTube
How do you and your family interact with media/technology?
One of Jacob’s favorite activities is to watch YouTube with his Dad, but they aren’t just passively watching. His dad is actively engaging with the videos he carefully chose to relate back to real life. Their favorite series on Youtube is called “What if?”. Jacob and his dad sit and watch these information videos that are basically “really cool facts” as Jacob would explain it.
How do you and your peers interact with media/technology?
No kids bring their phone to school. On some playdates they sit and play Roblox, Melon Playground, and other games together. Loves to watch YouTube with his friends, specifically ‘Mr. Beast.’ Teachers use some iPads and apps on the computer in class.
What do you use media for?
For games and videos on YouTube. “I like learning the fun facts and how to be better at games” - referencing youtube videos of streamers who show tips and tricks about different games.
What is your favorite/least favorite thing about media/technology?
He doesn’t love when his older brother won’t play with him.
What is one thing you want the people who create the media you like to watch/play/interact with to know?
“Can you make a game that has chainsaws, legos, and teams?”
What media do you interact with the most?
YouTube
Where do you get most of your information about what’s happening in the world (e.g., news, internet, parents, etc.)?
YouTube
What media helps you stay busy/stay calm during challenging times?
When he is bored he likes to watch YouTube videos or TV with his dad.
What lessons have you learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenging times?
Always wash your hands, cover your mouth when you cough, and wear a mask.
Have you learned anything about how you use media and technology because of the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenging times?
I’m not sure this is applicable to Jacob. He was too young to really understand the pandemic and to him it was just a time not to go to school.
Interviewed by: Lauren Umansky, UCLA student
Alexander, 9
Media consumption: 5 hours
Favorite media/technology: Tablet to watch YouTube & play FIFA
How do you and your family interact with media/technology?
We use media to watch videos and play music; we also use it to learn things. My dad uses it to learn his crafts with wood and tools, my mom uses it to pray, and my sisters use it to watch movies and stuff. I use it to play games. We also use it to watch the world cup 2022 Qatar and other soccer/sports games and that keeps us entertained because if the team you like wins a game you go back to see the replay and it’s exciting to see your team qualify or win.
How do you and your peers interact with media/technology?
My friends use it to play games like Minecraft, Fortnite and Roblox. And they use it to watch videos like gaming videos, to play music, and they also use it to do school work cause sometimes our teacher asks us to go to Schoology and Clevver portal.
What do you use media for?
I use media for watching videos, playing FIFA, and learning how to do certain things like drawing, how to play instruments. I also use it for school, we do Amplify, Brainpop, ST Math, and sometimes our teacher lets us play Minecraft education.
What is your favorite/least favorite thing about media/technology?
My favorite thing is that you can go experience different things. You can play games online with your friends, you can learn and ask questions to Google or Siri. My least favorite thing is cyberbullying because if you post a video on YouTube and you get a lot of hate it can affect your life and feelings which will make you depressed, angry, and can lead you to try and commit suicide and hate.
What is one thing you want the people who create the media you like to watch/play/interact with to know?
To be more safe because once you really get to know it people just start hating on it. They should take responsibility of updating it because if you leave it like that people won’ t like it anymore and leave bad reviews. They should make media more safe because there could be cyberbullying, death threats, sexual things like “ooo imma come to your house and do this to you.” They should restrict comments on certain things like YouTube, Instagram, and Twitter because they could send hate comments.
What media do you interact with the most?
Games like FIFA, Animal crossing, Duolingo to learn French, and YouTube videos like gaming, unboxing, influencers: Faze Rug, Mr.Beast, Caylus.
Where do you get most of your information about what’s happening in the world (eg. news, internet, parents, etc.)?
From the TV news, notifications from Apple News, friends. Like last time they told me about the war in Ukraine and I didn’t know that. Oh and ads like on YouTube that if you click on it it shows you about what is happening in the world.
What media helps you stay busy/stay calm during challenging times?
Breathing videos in school, satisfying videos: slime, soap cutting, cute animals, and watching Lego videos. I watch coloring videos of people painting pastels landscapes and celebrities.
What lessons have you learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenging times?
How to interact with technology like FaceTime with your friends so that you don't feel lonely and so that you can be social. How to not get sick by wearing a mask all the time, wash your hands for 23 seconds because of the virus because you don't want to get sick. People die, it affected lives, we don't talk about that.
Have you learned anything about how you use media and technology because of the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenging times?
Yeah we took Zoom classes, which were boring. How to build things, because you couldn't go out with the pandemic and quarantine, so you had to go outside for certain necessities. That you could go use technology to be entertained and not be bored. Using technology to experience things that we could no longer do like watching videos of people vlogging in the past, cooking shows that you had to test negative for to be on. It taught you that if you do not get wifi you go crazy as hell and if you don’t have wifi you die, you get bored. If you didn't have certain money for wifi then the kids parents would have to teach them about what they know when they went to school, if they even went.
Interviewed by: Angela Ramirez, UCLA student
Caleigh, 6
Media Consumption: 3-4 hours everyday
Favorite Media: Glee and YouTube
How do you and your family interact with media/technology?
When I was a baby (12 months) I used to watch Peppa Pig everyday. Now I have my own iPad and iPhone that I use everyday. When I’m traveling in the car I watch Disney movies and when I am traveling on the plane I watch them with my dad and when I go to Grandma and Grandpa’s house, I watch Glee and sing and dance to the songs they sing.
How do you and your peers interact with media/technology?
I call my friends everyday (Facebook Messenger Kids) and then I show them my toys. We also play Roblox and Toca Boca together.
What do you use media for?
I like to see all my friends since some of us go to different schools or live far away. I also like to watch YouTube. I like to play Toca Boca with them ‘cus it’s a lot of fun. I never play Toca Boca by myself but sometimes I play Roblox or find new games to play but my Daddy sometimes says no. He says no when it asks for his credit card.
What is your favorite/least favorite thing about technology/media?
I like to watch people on YouTube play the games I like to play and also I like that I get to learn how to braid my hair and put on makeup but then I wipe it off because it looks sometimes crazy. I don’t like the adult games. Sometimes they show up when I am playing a game or watching Adley (on YouTube). And sometimes my friends aren’t home so they can’t pick up. I also like my iPad more than my phone because it has more internet.
What is one thing you want the people who create the media you like to watch/play/interact with to know?
I’ve watched Stranger Things before this one time at my mom’s house but it was just this one time that I can’t remember when and I didn’t like it. Also I know where Adley (YouTuber) lives. She lives in Utah and my dad told me that he lived there before.
What media are you using more now because of the COVID-19 pandemic?
"Oh, corona? Jesus died to save us from the corona." Later I learned from her dad that since she goes to a private catholic school they never closed during the pandemic and she wasn’t affected. However, her dad also mentioned that is when she started using FaceTime on her phone with the friends that went to a different school than her.
Where do you get most of your information to learn more about what’s happening in the world (e.g., news, internet, parents, etc.)?
I ask Siri on my phone and then she gets it from the internet and tells me. Sometimes my teachers at my school or my dad talks to me about it too.
What media helps you stay busy/stay calm during challenging times?
I like to use the Nickelodeon where I push the button and I say what I want to say and then it sends it to my friends and they do the same thing back. I have Nickelodeon on my phone (her father clarified this is the voice memo feature she uses when texting since she doesn’t know how to text yet).
What lessons have you learned from the COVID-19 pandemic?
I learned that people can die from the corona and that’s why we wear masks.
Have you learned anything about how you use media and technology because of the COVID-19 pandemic?
I wear my mask more but I’ve used my phone and iPad my whole life but I am happy I get to talk to my friends and play games with them everyday using my iPad.
Interviewed by: Patricia Bryan, UCLA student
Chloe, 9
Media Consumption: 1-2 hours a day on my iPhone
Favorite Media/Technology: Using iPhone for YouTube and Roblox games
How do you and your family interact with media/technology?
My dad goes on his computer to play games and my mom likes to use her phone to look at Facebook. Sometimes my mom and I watch Netflix shows together like, Full House, but other than that I am not allowed to watch shows with inappropriate scenes like Wednesday Addams, because it has violence.
How do you and your peers interact with media/technology?
My friends and I love texting each other or playing Roblox games together, I am not allowed to have social media like Instagram even though some of my friends do use that. When I am bored I usually FaceTime one of my friends.
What do you use media for?
I mostly go on YouTube and watch reaction videos where people watch funny or cringey videos and react to them. I also like playing games on Roblox. Sometimes I play with snapchat filters on my mom’s phone because I am not allowed to have Snapchat on my phone.
What is your favorite/least favorite thing about media/technology?
My favorite thing about media is that I can talk to my friends outside of school or keep in touch with friends that don't live in the same area as me. I also love how I can be creative on apps where I make my own filters stickers, which I use on my pictures. I don't like how addicting using media can be at times. Sometimes I just want to keep staring at my phone and I don’t know how to stop. I am also scared of how much artificial intelligence is becoming used and if it can control people one day.
What is one thing you want the people who create the media you like to watch/play/interact with to know?
Some of the YouTubers I watch make really cringey videos and are really dramatic for views and attention. I want them to know that it's pretty embarrassing when they make videos like that and they should stop click-baiting people.
What media do you interact with the most?
I use YouTube or TikTok the most to watch different videos, but my mom does set a time limit for me or else I will keep scrolling and streaming.
Where do you get most of your information about what’s happening in the world (e.g., news, internet, parents, etc.)?
I don’t really keep up with the news, I just hear it from my parents when they talk about it to each other.
What media helps you stay busy/stay calm during challenging times?
I like watching shows on Netflix with my mom. We look forward to our watch parties together.
What lessons have you learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenging times?
I have learned that sometimes there is information online that may not always be coming from a known source with evidence and it's not always good to trust everything you see or hear.
Have you learned anything about how you use media and technology because of the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenging times
I realized I actually used media more during COVID-19 than I do now because I was bored at home with no one to play with. Now, I like to play with my friends more and go to the park.
Interviewed by: Sara Gharibian, UCLA student
Pedro, 12
Media Consumption: Hulu, everyday, YouTube 1x a week, Xbox every Weekend (8hours), YouTube on iPhone during car rides, 2 hours a week, Alexa listening to music every day, Laptop for school everyday, and Apple Watch for messaging, everyday.
Favorite Media/Technology: Xbox (Apex and Fortnite games), because you get to play with friends and it’s fun.
How do you and your family interact with media/technology?
We interact through texting. I text my family when something happens like, I text my mom when I’m coming home and we also watch movies and TV shows together.
How do you and your peers interact with media/technology?
We text each other about stuff that happens in school and funny things like memes. We chat and play [video games] together.
What do you use media for?
I use media for video games , soccer, questions I want to be answered, funny memes, roasts, crazy expensive things online that I like to look at, to see what video games are the best, I text my friends to see if they can play outside, to see what they are doing and if they want to play xbox, I see the weather
What is your favorite/least favorite thing about media/technology?
My favorite thing about media is the variety to it, the internet gives a lot of options and you can do a lot of things on it and at once too. My least favorite thing are the cyberbullies on the Internet, when I go to the YouTube video comments I see cyberbullies making mean comments.
What is one thing you want the people who create the media you like to watch/play/interact with to know?
Stop doing 3 minute sponsors in the beginning, announcing sponsors on YouTube and stop finding ways to place ads in the middle of videos, too many ads. Don’t do not necessary talking in video games, the people talk all about their lives. Do a reset for video games to reset it for season 1. Instead of updating the game they create a new version which cost like 100$.
What media are you using more now because of the COVID-19 pandemic?
It’s back to the same now, during quarantine it was different. I was watching a lot more YouTube during Zoom meetings, which I got in trouble for while doing online school during pandemic.
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 give me info about the COVID-19 pandemic.
What media has been helping you stay busy/stay calm during the COVID-19 pandemic?
Memes help me stay calm because they make me laugh, video games help me focus on something else.
What lessons have you learned from the COVID-19 pandemic?
Toilet paper is precious, and that people on the internet lie. My dad was watching the news and people were saying how the pandemic is government planned.
Have you learned anything about how you use media and technology because of the COVID-19 pandemic?
I use media a lot, because I resort to it when I’m bored, I like one genre of entertainment, which is comedy and action adventure, and on YouTube just comedy.
Interviewed by: Paloma Pfeiffer, UCLA Student
Greggy, 9
Media Consumption: 5 hours a day
Favorite Media/Technology: iPad to play Minecraft and Roblox
How do you and your family interact with media/technology?
I don’t really use technology with my family. The most we do together with technology is watch movies on our TV.
How do you and your peers interact with media/technology?
My friends and I go on Minecraft together and try to get onto the higher levels. We talk about the different things we had to do to get to those levels and how to get the most amount of points. We also send each other TikToks about things we think are funny.
What do you use media for?
I use it to play games with my friends and talk with them when we’re not at school.
What is your favorite/least favorite thing about media/technology?
My favorite is that I get to play Minecraft with my friends and my least favorite thing is that my mom always takes away the iPad if I haven’t finished my homework.
What is one thing you want the people who create the media you like to watch/play/to interact with to know?
They need to add different features to Minecraft because it’s starting to get a little boring. My friends and I are thinking about switching over to Fortnite.
What media are you using more now because of the COVID-19 pandemic?
I’m using my mom’s computer more. Before COVID, I didn’t use an actual computer that much, I only used iPads. I’m going on Google more to look up information for school, and not just playing games.
Where do you get most of your information to learn more about changes during the COVID-19 pandemic (e.g., news, internet, parents, etc.)?
I get most of my information from TikTok. On my For You Page (FYP), I get TikToks about mostly Minecraft or funny videos, but sometimes I’ll get news about COVID.
What media has been helping you stay busy/stay calm during the COVID-19 pandemic?
I’ve been on YouTube a lot watching my favorite gamers. Their channels are teaching me how to level up in Minecraft.
What lessons have you learned from the COVID-19 pandemic?
I haven’t learned much from the COVID pandemic, other than we can do almost everything at home. It’s nice that I get to see my friends at school, but I liked it when I could do my classwork through Zoom.
Have you learned anything about how you use media and technology because of the COVID-19 pandemic?
Not really. I just learned how to use different apps, such as Zoom. Nothing really changed with how I use my iPad.
Interviewed by: Kaitlyn Bigman, UCLA Student
M, 7
How do you and your family interact with media/technology?
My parents allow us to play video games and stuff like that on our own time…the rules about it are: You're not allowed to have it before dinner or before school and we have to finish all our homework and we aren’t allowed to watch anything scary or inappropriate. We’re also not allowed to take pictures of each other if we don’t like it. If we search up something scary or inappropriate we delete YouTube then reinstall it, then it’ll think it’s an entirely new person.
How do you and your peers interact with media/technology?
I believe my friends use more [technology] than me. My friend has [an Xbox] and he allows me to use it, and it’s really fun. We play street fighting games, and we go on missions to defeat people. When we play Super Smash Bros we choose our characters and fight with different moves. When we play Star Wars battlefront we choose the light or dark side and then get to use different people to destroy others.
What do you use media for?
I like to use technology cause it’s entertaining and because it’s really fun. I use the Promethean board in school for about three hours a day, and for two extra hours a day if I have a project for homework. On Wednesdays I have 30 minutes in my computer class, which is coding and stuff. I use technology for fun for about two hours per day, and I can’t count how many hours I use it for fun on the weekends. I also really like to read Harry Potter with regular books. I listen to music on my mom’s phone sometimes and FaceTime and text my brothers. I don’t use any social media. Sometimes I watch movies with my family. I have my own ChromeBook for school and I got my own iPad when I was 6 years old.
What is your favorite/least favorite thing about technology/media?
My favorite thing about technology is that I get to play video games with my friends and watch entertaining YouTube videos. It’s a good way to relax after school and homework. I like to watch people play video games [like Roblox and Minecraft] on YouTube more than I actually like to play them. I like to play on my friend’s Xbox because the Xbox is supposed to have better graphics than the PS5. I like to play street fighting games and we play Super Smash Bros…we also really like Star Wars Battlefront…there’s a Tony Hawk Skating game but that’s not on the Xbox.
What is one thing you want the people who create the media you like to watch/play/interact with to know?
I just like to watch and play video games, I don’t like the scary and inappropriate stuff. I like video games with better graphics!
What media are you using more now because of the COVID-19 pandemic?
I use texting, FaceTime, and video games more because of quarantine, because it’s hard to see my friends. I try to call my friends but it’s hard to do. I send my grandma pictures, like last year my brother got a new bike. When we make gingerbread houses I send her pictures of that.
Where do you get most of your information to learn more about changes during the COVID-19 pandemic (e.g., news, internet, parents, etc.)?
When we re-download YouTube and it thinks we’re a new person it shows us news about COVID, but I don’t usually look at it. I learn things about COVID from my parents and teachers.
What media has been helping you stay busy/stay calm during the COVID-19 pandemic?
I play video games and watch YouTube to stay busy during the pandemic.
What lessons have you learned from COVID-19?
I have learned that family and friends are important.
Have you learned anything about how you use media and technology because of the COVID-19 pandemic?
I have learned that I like to use technology to keep myself entertained when I’m bored, and also that it’s fun to talk to my friends that way.
Interviewed by: Hattie Bleeker, UCLA Student
Yue, 5
Media Consumption: Every day
Favorite Media: Paw Patrol/Peppa Pig/Patty Shukla Kids TV
How do you and your family interact with media/technology?
When Yue was two years old, she liked dancing with Patty Shukla on YouTube. Since she was 3 years old, Yue started to watch cartoons such as Peppa Pig. Currently, her favorite TV show is Paw Patrol.
How do you and your peers interact with media/technology?
Because of COVID, Yue and her school had to use video meetings for online classes. For the past two years, Yue has been using Voov Meeting and DingTalk to take lessons from pre-school and practice dance with teachers.
What do you use media for?
Yue mostly uses media for learning and entertainment. For one, due to COVID, Yue took advantage of media to take classes with her classmates and teachers from pre-school. For another, she also uses media to watch cartoons. This also helps her to learn English.
What is your favorite/least favorite thing about media/technology?
Yue said her favorite thing about media is that she can watch the stories of dogs in Paw Patrol. Her least favorite thing about media is that her mom turns it off after 1 hour.
What is one thing you want the people who create the media you like to watch/play/interact with to know?
To make each episode of cartoons longer so that others will not notice how many episodes have passed.
What media are you using more now because of the COVID-19 pandemic?
Yue started to use Voov Meeting, Zoom, and Dingtalk more often as tools to have video meetings with her class. She uses WeChat and Zoom as a form of communication with friends and teachers, chatting online with play dates and taking dance classes when school was closed.
Where do you get most of your information to learn more about changes during the COVID-19 pandemic (e.g., news, internet, parents, etc.)?
Yue gets most of the information about COVID-19 from her parents.
What media has been helping you stay busy/stay calm during the COVID-19 pandemic?
As a 5-year-old girl, Yue does not understand much about the anxiety and frustration people have regarding COVID-19. She is busy with the activities that school and her parents have planned for her. She took online lessons when the school was closed, and she was occupied with YouTube Kids and Disney movies at home when there were lockdowns. She also does crafts with online tutorials, such as making puzzles or doing paper folds.
What lessons have you learned from the COVID-19 pandemic?
It is important to stay healthy and follow the rules (such as wearing masks and maintaining social distancing).
Have you learned anything about how you use media and technology because of the COVID-19 pandemic?
Yue thinks media brings convenience to people. She thinks it is amazing that she can communicate with others through video even though they are physically apart. Yue also feels that she had learned new knowledge because of media, such as sharing.
Interviewed by: Annie Qingyang Li, UCLA Student
Riley, 12
Media Consumption: 3 hours per day
Favorite Media/Technology: TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube
How do you and your family interact with media/technology?
Riley shares some of the larger pieces of technology at home but has been given the responsibility of her own personal smartphone. Her mother allows her to use most apps. There are a few apps Riley isn’t yet allowed her own account with, like Facebook.
How do you and your peers interact with media/technology?
Riley describes the media usage at home as very similar to her friends. Some have their own phones, some do not, and they all use laptops or iPads for school.
What do you use media for?
Riley understands how to use the technology and the apps but doesn’t yet produce much of her own content. She does not feel pressured to post frequently on her social media feeds; she just posts what she wants, when she wants.
What is your favorite/least favorite thing about media/technology?
“My favorite thing is that I get to interact with people, you get to see the daily lives of other people. My favorite thing is also other people motivating others to, you know, live life in a good way. The thing I don’t like about technology and media is that people use it for the wrong things such as cyberbullying.” A few years ago she had been playing a game with her brother on an app that was popular with kids. Kids Riley considered friends “got on the app and began calling me names.” When asked if this turned her off from playing the game, she answered that, “It didn’t turn me off from the game, but it motivated me a lot. They called me some names I didn’t like so I started working out with my dad to get into better shape. It really changed me, and it made me realize, this isn’t going to stop unless I do something about it. So, I went outside, started working out, got myself in shape, made a lot more friends, friends that I knew were better for me.”
What is one thing you want the people who create the media you like to watch/play/interact with to know?
“All I can say is that it is very addictive.”
What media are you using more now because of the COVID-19 pandemic?
Riley has begun using her laptop more frequently because of COVID, not only for homework, but also to keep up to date on the virus.
Where do you get most of your information to learn more about changes during the COVID-19 pandemic (e.g., news, internet, parents, etc.)?
While her parents mostly educate her about what is happening, she likes to know what is happening for herself. When her mother suggested they make the decision to get vaccinated as a family, she and her brothers already knew they wanted to do it.
What media has been helping you stay busy/stay calm during the COVID-19 pandemic?
TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube.
What lessons have you learned from the COVID-19 pandemic?
Riley tries to stay cognizant of how long she is using a screen versus her time on other off-screen activities. “There are things on the phone that you can see, but there is so much more around us that is not on the phone.” She hopes that the virus doesn’t stop her school play from happening again. Last year she got Alice in Alice in Wonderland, but it didn’t happen because of the virus. Now she got the part of Charlie Bucket, and she is really excited to be one of the leads.
Have you learned anything about how you use media and technology because of the COVID-19 pandemic?
Online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic “did not” disturb Riley’s learning. She had no challenges adapting to the technology, although she prefers in person learning because online classes “can lag.” Riley is a very energetic kid who is always eager to learn so it is not surprising that she says that all the online learning during covid taught her to value her offscreen activities that much more.
Interviewed by: Tiffany Schwanz, UCLA Student
Mary, 11
Media Consumption: On weekdays, about 2 hours per day. On weekends, about 6 hours online per day.
Favorite Media/Technology: My favorite media is TikTok, and my favorite piece of technology is my iPad
How do you and your family interact with media/technology?
We watch YouTube, television shows, and movies together. My mom uses social media, and my dad watches videos or whatever is on TV. We usually use a moderate amount of media, but we sometimes use a lot on weekends. However, we do not use any media during family bonding time or dinner.
How do you and your peers interact with media/technology?
My friends and I like to use media to interact with each other. We talk to each other on TikTok, Discord, FaceTime, and any other social app. I also like to play Roblox, which is an online game, with my friends. My peers seem to use social media a lot. As far as I know, everyone my age at school uses a phone and has at least one social media account.
What do you use media for?
I use media for educational purposes and entertainment. I look at YouTube to watch Math and History videos, especially when I don’t understand the concepts taught at school. I also watch arts and crafts videos, and I love watching documentaries with my dad.
What is your favorite/least favorite thing about media/technology?
My favorite thing is that I can watch videos about things that I can’t even imagine. I get to see breathtaking scenes and travel all over the world just with the click of a button on my iPad. For example, through vlogs, I can travel to New York City and see Times Square. My least favorite thing is that you can get a lot of criticism online. People can anonymously condemn people and share negative comments that they would never say in real life. Media can be an ugly place when people are disrespectful and rude to each other.
What is one thing you want the people who create the media you like to watch/play/interact with to know?
I wish you would look out for our safety more. Kids like me shouldn’t be afraid of our photos or other things getting leaked. You should have more safety rules and frequently check if someone is doing something wrong online. For TikTok, you should pay more attention to what people write in the comments. For YouTube, you should stop putting in so many advertisements.
What media are you using more now because of the COVID-19 pandemic?
I am using TikTok way more now because of the pandemic. More people have taken interest in TikTok during the pandemic and have posted tons of videos. So, there is a greater variety of content on that platform than before. Also, TikTok personalizes my feed, and I get to post videos and find audios I like.
Where do you get most of your information to learn more about changes during the COVID-19 pandemic (e.g., news, internet, parents, etc.)?
I get my information from my mom and dad because the internet can be wrong sometimes. Also, my mom and dad talk about it during dinner. They usually mention anything big that happens, such as when the restaurants started closing or when the vaccine came out.
What media has been helping you stay busy/stay calm during the COVID19 pandemic?
YouTube, Roblox, and TikTok have been helping me stay calm. YouTube lets me watch any video I want when I’m bored. Roblox lets me escape into my own world, where I can build my own house or design my own characters. TikTok keeps me busy by letting me watch videos so that time goes by faster, which was especially helpful during the quarantine period.
What lessons have you learned from the COVID-19 pandemic?
I learned that I need to be more careful in the future because there are a lot of viruses and bad people in the real world. The world can be a dangerous place, especially with the increase in crime rates. I also learned to not believe everything I see on the internet. Some people can spread false rumors about things online, and many people will believe it.
Have you learned anything about how you use media and technology because of the COVID-19 pandemic?
Now I realize I need to be more cautious of the negative effects of social media. I learned that social media is not as cool as I thought it was. Before the pandemic, I didn’t really use social media that much; I only used Instagram a little bit. However, during the pandemic, when I used social media more, I started to see the dark side of it. I began seeing how easy it is to compare yourself to someone else.
Interviewed by: Sydney Kong, UCLA Student
Ruvim, 9
Media Consumption: Daily
Favorite Media/Technology: Popular Science YouTube Channel by Mark Rober
How do you and your family interact with media/technology?
I have my own phone, but I still share it with my little brothers. I also have an iPad, but mom and dad sometimes use it too. We have a TV that everybody shares when we watch movies together. I like to choose what we watch but I also don’t mind watching what my younger brothers want to watch. My favorite activity though is to hike, like going on adventures, and I would rather spend a day in nature with my family than be on my phone. I believe I spend most of the time outside and only a little using technology.
How do you and your peers interact with media/technology?
We are not allowed to bring phones to school, so we usually play active games, like basketball or soccer during recess. Sometimes, I just walk. I don’t have any social media, so I talk to my friends when I see them everyday at school. I know that some of my classmates use Snapchat when not at school.
What do you use media for?
I use computer and Xbox to play games with my brothers and sometimes with dad. I also use my iPad or my phone to take photos. I really like taking pictures because it helps me remember what I was doing. I take pictures of anything: my home, nature, my brothers, my mom, and dad.
What is your favorite/least favorite thing about media/technology?
I sometimes get bored with it and I’d rather spend time outside, playing with my friends or brothers. I also don’t like it that you have to charge technology a lot.
What is one thing you want the people who create the media you like to watch/play/interact with to know?
I like it when you can learn from videos. I think people who create videos like that are cool. There is this YouTuber that I like to watch because he is an engineer, and he does really fun science experiments. His name is Mark Rober. I even tried some of the things that he showed in his videos.
How are you using media during COVID-19 pandemic?
I used to have to be on Zoom for my classes and I didn’t like it. The only thing that I liked about it was that I could get up anytime I wanted and walk around the room if I was tired of sitting.
Interviewed by: Lia Gugava, UCLA Student
Hannah, 16
Media Consumption: iPhone screen time about 10 hours per day
Favorite Media/Technology: iPhone
How do you and your family interact with media/technology?
My dad rarely uses his phone because he consciously tries to minimize his phone usage. My mom is the exact opposite because she uses her phone for work, and she is online all day. I use my phone pretty often to use social media and watch YouTube.
How do you and your peers interact with media/technology?
During lunchtime, even though my friends and I are sitting together, we are all on our phones. This is probably because we are not that familiar with each other. My best friends are either in Northern California or in Japan, and we interact through social media applications like WeChat and Instagram. We use iMessage to text, too.
What do you use media for?
I use media for basic communication with friends. I also browse through Little Red Book (a Chinese app similar to TikTok) and Weibo (Chinese Twitter) to kill time. I like K-pop and C-pop groups, so I need to be caught up with trends.
What is your favorite/least favorite thing about media/technology?
Every coin has two sides. I guess my favorite and least favorite part about media is the same. My favorite part about media is that I get to stay focused and forget everything else. However, if I don’t pay attention, I waste a lot of time. It is time-consuming but entertaining.
What is one thing you want the people who create the media you like to watch/play/to interact with to know?
I think the founders of the applications don’t even use them. They should limit screen time for children and teenagers because they don’t have enough self-control.
What media are you using more now because of the COVID-19 pandemic?
2019 was so long ago, I don’t quite remember. I probably used TikTok more back then. Since TikTok is stigmatized in my friend group, I don’t use it anymore. Now I use Little Red Book more often as a substitute for TikTok.
Where do you get most of your information to learn more about changes during the COVID-19 pandemic (e.g., news, internet, parents, etc.)?
I get information from my parents and friends. I seldom read the news. Even though Weibo posted some information about COVID-19, I don’t really pay attention to it.
What media has been helping you stay busy/stay calm during the COVID-19 pandemic?
I used WeChat and Little Red Book. One for communication, and one for entertainment.
What lessons have you learned from the COVID-19 pandemic?
First, people should not go against nature. Second, human interaction is very valuable. I really miss those days when we could see people’s expressions on their faces and enjoy physical touches because it really makes a difference.
Have you learned anything about how you use media and technology because of the COVID-19 pandemic?
Without Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and Canvas, schools cannot survive COVID-19. I am really grateful to those teaching technologies and social media platforms.
Interviewed by: Alice Deng, UCLA Student
Don’t Just Listen! The Social Benefits of Active Music-Making for Children
I’m a professor, but I’m also a parent. So, the long months of the pandemic have found me spending every Thursday teaching nine children from Pre-K to 2nd grade in my home, with my spouse as my fearless co-teacher. We are both lifelong musicians – the guitar-toting, songwriting, traveling kind – and when we started our remote school co-op with four other families, we knew music would be a big part of our day. What we didn’t realize was that it would become so central to so many aspects of our teaching approach. We began by sourcing a handful of affordable ukuleles, adding a few extra tambourines to our bucket of percussion instruments, and off we went. At first, we scheduled dedicated music time around math and reading and science, but we quickly discovered that no subject was beyond the reach of our voices, our guitars, our bodies, and the children’s rapidly evolving rhyming capabilities! We have found ourselves co-creating silly songs about snails and trees, exploring the physics of sound using electric guitars and banjos, and practicing greetings in Spanish over two chords on the ukulele. Music has come to infuse almost everything we do with these kids, but here’s the key: they have to be actively making the music – not just listening. Singing, swaying, marching, making up words, beating a drum – these are all examples of what researchers call “active music-making.” And more and more research is confirming that using active music-making with young children in a group setting offers unique social benefits.
As a social scientist, I am interested in how making music with other people can help bring us together. A 2010 study conducted with preschool-age children showed that when kids participated in active music-making that involved singing and dancing together, they exhibited increased helping and cooperation with peers when compared to a group in a control condition without musical elements. I recently published a study extending this work to unfamiliar adults; preschool-age children who participated in a singing and movement activity were more helpful and willing to share with a new adult than children in a non-musical condition. Why would that be? Well, the children in the musical condition in our study spent more of their time looking at their partners. They also made more attempts to move together, and moving together in synchrony has been shown to increase sharing and cooperation in preschool-age children. Dr. Miriam Lense and Dr. Stephen Camarata from Vanderbilt University have proposed that active music-making offers a convergence of qualities that make it ideal for encouraging social interaction. It requires shared attention between participants, it is predictable, and it is easily and naturally integrated into play for many young children. Because it is fun for most kids, it is also naturally reinforcing. Dr. Lense and I recently collaborated on a study showing preliminary results of a parent-child music class involving children with and without Autism Spectrum Disorder, and many participating parents emphasized that making music with their child over the course of the program strengthened their parent-child bond outside of the class. A picture begins to emerge: actively engaging with music through singing and movement connects us to one another.
So, the question becomes, how can we – as a community of scholars and storytellers creating content for preschool and elementary school children – make use of this information in meaningful ways? First, preschool and early elementary content with musical elements should be intentional about eliciting active musical engagement from children during and after viewing. One way to do this is to build on familiar and accessible melodies and rhythms; Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood has done this brilliantly, recycling melodies while tying lyrics to everyday contexts in which children can sing the tunes themselves. Research suggests that engaging deeply with music requires children to allocate their limited attention and processing ability to unfamiliar elements; thus, using familiar tunes and varying only the lyrics is a worthy approach if lyrical content is significant. Interactive apps with embedded recording features like OK Play offer a great blueprint for eliciting joint music-making from parents and children. Content creators can also incorporate opportunities for musical improvisation, a special category of active music-making. Children’s efforts at musical improvisation may sound messy to skilled adult musicians, but emerging work shows that musical improvisation may help consolidate memory following a learning activity. The take-home message is that even though active music-making may look like pure entertainment, there is measurable benefit to kids and families singing and moving together.
Actionable Insights
Don’t underestimate the value of musical segments in preschool and elementary children’s media! Musical bits that are memorable and relevant to children’s lives can be important building blocks for social interaction outside of viewing time.
When creating musical segments, consider using melodies repeatedly and pairing with new lyrical content, particularly if the lyrical content is intended to teach something.
Consider ways to elicit active musical engagement from the viewer both during and after viewing. Gross motor movements that are easy to follow – or even sign language elements – can engage children physically with the music-making experience.
Sara Beck, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Psychology at Randolph College
Collaborator of The Center for Scholars and Storytellers
Additional References:
Audrey, 8
Favorite Media/Technology: Roblox & YouTube
How do you and your family interact with media/technology?
I like how my family always texts each other and I’m able to text my sisters whenever I want. I like to play Roblox with my older sisters and watch scary movies with them.
How do you and your peers interact with media/technology?
A lot of my friends play Roblox so we talk about it during school. I don’t text my friends because we all don’t have our own cell phones. We like to just talk about the games we play in person at school.
What do you use media for?
I like watching YouTube videos like unboxing videos because I want to see how the toys look before I buy them because I will be sad if the toy doesn't look how I imagined. I like watching YouTube prank videos because they’re funny.
What is your favorite/least favorite thing about media/technology?
My favorite thing about technology is Roblox because, in the game, I can dress up my character to whatever I want it to be. I can buy pretty accessories and jewelry to make myself pretty. I can also dress up my character to whatever I want and change the color of my hair to pink. The thing that I don’t like is that sometimes people can be mean online and scam me in Roblox.
What media are you using more now because of the coronavirus (COVID- 19)?
Roblox
Where do you get most of your information to learn more about the coronavirus (e.g., news, internet, parents, etc.)?
Sometimes on TikTok, there are videos about COVID. But my parents and sister usually tell me about COVID.
What lessons have you learned from COVID-19?
I learned how to use Zoom. Online learning isn’t that fun because I don’t get to see my teacher or friends in person.
Interviewed by: Evelyn Xiong, UCLA 4th Year Student
Sam, 13
Favorite Media/Technology: Xbox
How do you and your family interact with media/technology?
We watched sports together before COVID and now we sometimes watch movies together or play games against one another. My family uses Houseparty to play online games together.
How do you and your peers interact with media/technology?
I play Fortnite and talk to my friends on Xbox. On TikTok I send my friends funny videos. I also use Snapchat to for streaks.
What do you use media for?
I use social media for anything sports-related. I also use TikTok and YouTube to search up funny videos or sports highlight reels. I play Fortnite and sports games on Xbox.
What is your favorite/least favorite thing about media/technology?
Media is fun, but I don’t like the news.
What media are you using more now because of the coronavirus (COVID-19)?
I used more technology once the pandemic began, because I began doing all my school work online and sports were cancelled. I hung out with his family and played games and kept up with friends through video games. Now that sports are allowed, I don’t use technology as much as I did.
Interviewed by: Sophie Graham, University of Cincinnati student
Charlie, 4
Favorite Media/Technology: Tablet
How do you and your family interact with media/technology?
Sometimes I watch Disney+ with my uncles, papa, and mommy; sometimes I don’t. I just watch stuff on my tablet sometimes. I play Sims on my mommy’s computer; I am a mermaid. When my Sim is out of the water, I am a human. When I am in the water, I am a mermaid.
How do you and your peers interact with media/technology?
We play outside and sometimes we stay inside; we do both things. I am on my tablet a lot and my phone a lot, I call people, I can call anyone I want. I usually facetime Callie and her mom Analicia, Callie is my friend. She lives in Connecticut.
What do you use media for?
I watch TV. I listen to music - I like country music. I have a pink tablet. I like to read books. I listen to the radio in the car. I have a phone but I can’t play games on it because it doesn’t have any. I just call people on my phone. I go on my white computer at home to play games like Barbie. I play on my Nintendo switch, I watch little kid videos on YouTube, and I watch SHE- RA on Netflix.
What is your favorite/least favorite thing about media/technology?
My pink tablet is my favorite. I like my games; I have so many games and I downloaded some today. My mommy always types stuff in my tablet, she helps me when stuff costs money. We cannot get ones that cost money, we need to save our money for Hawaii. I want to go to Hawaii.
What is one thing you want the people who create the media you like to watch/play/interact with to know?
I wish I could get everything free. I wish everything was free on my princess game.
What media are you using more now because of the coronavirus (COVID-19)?
I have to do my ABC Mouse. There is only one thing I like doing on my ABC mouse - I like changing my avatar.
Where do you get most of your information to learn more about the coronavirus (e.g., news, internet, parents, etc.)?
From my mommy [she works in a hospital] and from TV.
What lessons have you learned from COVID-19?
The virus gets people very, very sick. I am not scared of the Coronavirus; I am just scared of the dark.
Interviewed by: Brooke Francis, University of Cincinnati student
Noah, 8
Favorite Media/Technology: Nintendo Switch
How do you and your family interact with media/technology?
My family sometimes has a movie night with pizza.
How do you and your peers interact with media/technology?
I don’t text people. I play Fortnite with my friends on Xbox. For school we did Zoom and talked about some stuff we needed to do for schoolwork.
What do you use media for?
I like playing my Nintendo Switch a lot. I also like listening to the radio and sometimes I watch videos on YouTube.
What is your favorite/least favorite thing about media/technology?
I don’t have a least favorite thing. My favorite thing is Lego City: Undercover. I like my Nintendo Switch because it’s interesting, it entertains people, and the challenges are really fun on it.
What media are you using more now because of the coronavirus (COVID-19)?
Lego City: Undercover.
What media has been helping you stay busy/stay calm during this difficult time?
Playing video games, watching YouTube, and music.
What lessons have you learned from COVID-19?
I learned how to use Zoom.
Interviewed by: Amanda Arlinghaus, University of Cincinnati student
Michael, 20
Media Consumption: 4-5 hours a day
Favorite Media/Technology: Texting
How do you and your family interact with media/technology?
I interact with media/technology through interacting with my family in a family group chat as well as watching television shows and movies with them.
How do you and your peers interact with media/technology?
I interact with my friends through media/technology by texting/calling, social media apps such as Snapchat and Instagram, as well as playing video games almost every day with them. I communicate with my friends through media/technology all day, every day.
What do you use media for?
I use media most to watch shows/movies on Netflix. I also have several social media accounts and I find it cool to stay connected with my friends, family, and my favorite celebrities. I have recently enjoyed spending time watching TikTok.
What is your favorite/least favorite thing about media/technology?
My least favorite thing about media/technology is that people oftentimes portray themselves to be someone they are not. I don’t like that people feel that they need to pretend to be what others would think would be viewed as “cool.”
Interviewed by: Erin McCaffrey, University of Cincinnati student
Adam, 5
Media Consumption: About 3.5 hours a day
Favorite Media/Technology: YouTube on his iPad
How do you and your family interact with media/technology?
I have my own iPad, and Jasmine (his sister) has her own. This is mine. I like YouTube and I watch stories about Red Riding Hood and play games. This is my game on Fortnite.
How do you and your peers interact with media/technology?
I like to play Fortnite with my friends and my cousins. Sometimes I play soccer on the Xbox when my friends come to my house.
What do you use media for?
I like watching stories on YouTube and hearing the songs. I also really like to go on the Instagram and look at pictures.
What is your favorite/least favorite thing about media/technology?
I love YouTube and Fortnite and Instagram because they’re really fun. I don’t like it when I have to share my iPad with Yasmeen because she didn’t charger hers.
Interview By: Rema Khalifah, UCLA 4th Year Student
Aiyana, 3
Media Consumption: 2 hours per day
Favorite Media/Technology: YouTube on her iPad
How do you and your family interact with media/technology?
My grandpa bought me this iPad that I love and Grandma lets me watch it while I eat breakfast. Sometimes Daddy lets me watch YouTube before I sleep, too.
How do you and your peers interact with media/technology?
I FaceTime my cousins when I miss them. When I can’t see my cousins, I can call them!
What do you use media for?
I love to watch YouTube and see Wendy and Jannie. They have so many toys. I love them.
What is your favorite/least favorite thing about media/technology?
I don’t like when I have to wait to press ‘the thing’ [Skip ad button on YouTube].
What is one thing you want the people who create the media you like to watch/play/interact with to know?
I want to tell them thank you for letting me spend time with my friends on YouTube. Oh, tell them too that I love watching girls like me sing!
What media are you using more now because of the coronavirus (COVID- 19)?
YouTube. And Grandma bought me ABC Mouse, but I only play that with Grandma.
Where do you get most of your information to learn more about the coronavirus (e.g., news, internet, parents, etc.)?
Grandma is scared of Coronavirus. We can’t touch anything because the germs, remember? And you can’t take your mask off! I have a pink mask with kitties on it. It’s so cute.
What lessons have you learned from COVID-19?
Coronavirus says you have to stay inside. I play outside in the backyard, but we can’t go to the park.
Have you learned anything about how you use media and technology because of COVID-19? I can only play on the iPad when someone lets me, but we play outside more now.
Interviewed by: Danielle Rivas, UCLA 4 th Year Student