Lily, 16

Media Consumption: About 6-7 hours per day

Favorite Media/Technology: TikTok/iPhone

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

We use it to interact with each other. We use our phones to call and text each other and I use social media to stay in contact with my cousins and other family who I don’t see often.

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

My friends and I are all on social media. I think I’m on Instagram the most. My friends all follow me on there, and we watch each other’s stories and interact with each other’s posts. We also text each other a lot and like to send each other memes.

What do you use media for?

I use it to interact with my friends and also keep up with my favorite celebrities. I like fashion too, so I follow a lot of fashion pages on Instagram and Pinterest. I also really like watching Netflix on my phone.

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

My favorite thing about social media is that I get to keep up with what’s going on in the world. My least favorite thing about social media is the hate. People are really mean online and super judgmental. I always think twice before I post something.

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

I would say thank you. Especially Netflix; I get really into shows on there and I feel like I get close to the characters, so I would say thank you to the creators and directors for making the show.

What media are you using more now because of the coronavirus (COVID-19)?

I’m using TikTok more. Ever since we started quarantine, everyone started talking about TikTok, so I checked it out and now it’s the app I spend the most time on. My friends and I make videos on there and I also love to watch other people’s TikToks.

Where do you get most of your information to learn more about the coronavirus?

I get the most information from Twitter. They do daily updates on there so I mostly get my news from there. I also get it from my sister because she tells me and my mom if there’s anything new with COVID.

What media has been helping you stay busy/stay calm during this difficult time?

I would say Netflix. Because of school, I didn’t have a lot of time to watch all of these shows because I was in sports and clubs, but now I have a lot of time, so I’ve been watching a lot of Netflix and also YouTube videos as well.

What lessons have you learned from COVID-19?

I have learned not to take things for granted. I didn’t go out a lot with my friends before because I would be tired from practice or being busy, and now I’m a little sad that I can’t hang out with them anymore and I really wish I could.

Have you learned anything about how you use media and technology because of COVID-19?

Because of COVID-19 I think I learned that I use media and technology a lot. I’ve noticed my family as well have started using technology a lot more than usual. I think that it’s our main source of entertainment.

Interviewed By: Chelsea Mejia, UCLA 4th year student