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
Shane, 4
Media Consumption: Daily
Favorite Media/Tech: Tablet
How do you and your family interact with media/technology?
I play and watch on my tablet. Adri [his younger cousin] watches on her tablet. My grandparents watch TV shows and Netflix.
How do you and your peers interact with media/technology?
[Due to Shane’s limited contact with others outside of his household at this time, he isn’t currently around any peers.]
What do you use media for?
YouTube, Tobots, PJ Masks and FaceTime.
What is your favorite/least favorite thing about media/technology?
I get to watch a lot! I don’t like commercials and having to stop for bed time.
What is one thing you want the people who create the media you like to watch/play/interact with to know?
I want it to be more long.
What media are you using more now because of the coronavirus (COVID-19)?
[Shane seems to be using the same amount of media during the pandemic due to the fact that he hasn’t started school yet.]
Where do you get most of your information to learn more about the coronavirus (e.g., news, internet, parents, etc.)?
I learn about Coronavirus from my aunt.
What media has been helping you stay busy/stay calm during this difficult time?
YouTube and tablet games.
What lessons have you learned from COVID-19?
We have to wear masks when we go out, and always wash our hands. 10. Have you learned anything about how you use media and technology because of COVID-19? [Because Shane is fairly young, it seems that he is not yet able to realize the impact that COVID- 19 has on his current media use.]
Interviewed by: Fabian Chavez, UCLA Rising 4th Year Student