Kayla, 11
Media Consumption: 3-4 hours per day
Favorite Media/Technology: Discord & Nintendo Switch
How do you and your family interact with media/technology?
I spend a lot of time with my family watching movies or playing video games. We usually watch animated movies because of my younger sister, or play games like Super Smash and Animal Crossing.
How do you and your peers interact with media/technology?
I communicate with my friends after school using Discord to chat, since I don’t have any other forms of social media. We also all use technology for homework assignments.
What do you use media for?
I mainly use media to watch random YouTube. I mainly watch content that is related to my interests, like percussion and skateboarding. I also play Minecraft when I’m bored.
What is your favorite/least favorite thing about media/technology?
I don’t like how media makes us have shorter attention spans and less present in our daily lives. We’ve also learned in school about how information online can be misleading and not-credible, which is scary. I do like how technology makes it easier to communicate and makes doing homework faster, because it allows me to type everything out.
What is one thing you want the people who create the media you like to watch/play/interact with to know?
I don’t like all the YouTube ads. I swear there used to only be one ad in the beginning of videos but now they pop up so often.
What media do you interact with the most?
I spend the majority of time on my laptop or iPad watching YouTube or listening to music.
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 peers or videos online. Whenever I tell my Dad about something I learned he immediately Googles it because he doesn’t trust my sources.
What media helps you stay busy/stay calm during challenging times?
Listening to music helps me to relax and unwind.
What lessons have you learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenging times?
The pandemic taught me how to entertain myself. There were times when I was bored at home, so me and my sister had to get creative in how we would preoccupy ourselves in ways that didn’t only rely on our devices.
Have you learned anything about how you use media and technology because of the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenging times?
I struggled to adapt to doing school online at first. I even missed a few assignments because I didn’t know how to check when things were due. Now, I’m more comfortable with using technology and COVID has forced me to learn quickly.
Interviewed by: Amelia Weintraub, UCLA student
Karo, 10
Media Consumption: I watch 2 hours of my favorite gamers on YouTube every day
Favorite Media/Technology: YouTube on my iPhone
How do you and your family interact with media/technology?
The way my family and I interact with media is they give me a 2 hour limit to watch my favorite gamers on YouTube everyday, but only after I have finished my homework. My dad sometimes watches them with me.
How do you and your peers interact with media/technology?
My friends and I usually watch the same gamers, but their parents have different rules for them.
What do you use media for?
YouTube on my iPhone.
What is your favorite/least favorite thing about media/technology?
My favorite thing about technology is I can use it for video games, videos and help with homework. My least favorite thing is the ads on the videos.
What is one thing you want the people who create the media you like to watch/play/interact with to know?
One thing I want people who create the media I like to watch to know about me is they help me with playing games and make me laugh.
What media do you interact with the most?
The media I interact with the most is YouTube on my iPhone.
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 read anything about the news. I just hear my parents talk about it.
What media helps you stay busy/stay calm during challenging times?
The media that helps me stay busy during challenging times is my phone and Xbox.
What lessons have you learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenging times?
Lessons I have learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenging times is to stay calm and let it pass because tough times go away.
Have you learned anything about how you use media and technology because of the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenging times?
I have learned how to be a little more careful with what applications I open and my parents also turned on parental controls, so I do not read or see anything I am not supposed too.
Interviewed by: Daniel Tashchyan, UCLA student
Jennifer, 20
Media Consumption: 3 hours per day, 2 and ½ on weekends
Favorite Media/ Technology: TikTok, medium, and Reddit
How do you and your family interact with media and technology?
We occasionally show each other more entertainment-based media by sharing it in the family group chat, or through social media apps. When we are far from one another we text each other with minor updates about our day.
How do you and your friends interact with media and technology?
I mostly text message friends though it's hard for me to keep up with people, I prefer to send funny videos through apps such as TikTok.
What is your favorite and least favorite thing about media and technology?
Favorite: How much it amplifies communication with others, we can easily send them a text or funny video to have something to laugh about and share while strengthening our communication.
Least Favorite: The chokehold that media has on users making their life significantly only about someone online (chronically online users) not directly about media, but occurs due to media.
What do you use media for?
For a variety of reasons, some of these include laughing, gaining more knowledge, and communicating with friends and family.
How did you use media during the COVID-19 pandemic?
During the pandemic, I was online learning so I would watch class recordings live via Zoom, and read articles and YouTube.
What is one thing you want the people that create the media you like to watch, play and interact with to know?
This is something that is already happening, but I would like for media to become more personalized to each individual person. Thanks to stored data a lot of videos we see and articles that we read they are becoming more personalized. I think that is a good thing, I believe that influencers and other professionals should make media more human, individuals should not be afraid to say what they think but rather say the truth instead of trying to appease everyone. The more human type of media. Influencers try to portray a life that “everyone” wants, showing that it's not just a straight path forward.
Would you want to live in a world with or without media?
With media, although the overconsumption of media can lead to several harmful mental and health factors, the only one who can control how much media you consume is yourself. If you are disciplined enough to moderate how much media you consume and that it's valuable to you, it should not affect you as much. I was able to gain so much knowledge based on the internet as a limited and extracted valuable information that would help me in the long run.
Where do you get most of your information about what’s happening in the world (e.g., news, internet, parents, etc.)?
I usually get my information from the Internet and my parents.
What media helps you stay busy/stay calm during challenging times?
During challenging times I enjoy taking a day for myself while watching humorous media on TikTok or YouTube.
What lessons have you learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenging times?
I have learned that we should enjoy every moment, though it may be going outside and getting a breath of fresh air, that is a moment in time that shouldn’t be taken for granted.
Have you learned anything about how you use media and technology because of the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenging times?
I have learned that I consume too much media and technology, so I have learned to set limits for myself.
Interviewed by: Ashley Flores Gracias, UCLA student
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
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
Abigail, 15
Media Consumption: 2-4 hours a day on weekdays, 6-7 on weekends
Favorite Media/Technology: YouTube
How do you and your family interact with media/technology?
My family and I usually interact with media/technology by watching movies together using platforms such as Netflix or Disney+.
How do you and your peers interact with media/technology?
My friends and I use online platforms like Google classroom for class assignments and contact info for reaching out to each other. Occasionally, we use discord or WhatsApp to connect with each other.
What do you use media for?
I like to update myself on current events like what’s going on in the world, or my favorite celebrities. I also like to view stuff about my interests and learn new things in my free time after school.
What is your favorite/least favorite thing about media/technology?
My favorite thing is how people can connect with one another who share similar interests, beliefs, etc. But my least favorite thing is the toxicity, such as unrealistic beauty standards which impacts people in real life (offline). I see it affecting people around me and my friends. It sucks.
What is one thing you want the people who create the media you like to watch/play/interact with to know?
One thing I want people who create the media I like to use is that while media can be toxic at times, it is important to highlight the benefits of it by creating a positive environment that anyone can enjoy. It helps me connect with other people who are fans of the same thing I am and to have all this cool information to access. I just hope they know it’s positive as well as negative.
What media do you interact with the most?
I interact with YouTube the most. I love watching videos such as video essays or movie analysis.
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 on the local news, which I watch at home with my parents, and sometimes in my classes at school when we catch up on what’s going on in the world.
What media helps you stay busy/stay calm during challenging times?
If I feel stressed or overwhelmed, I like to use Netflix or Disney+ to watch something that will calm me down. I enjoy watching TV shows and movies, especially animated ones.
What lessons have you learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenging times?
I’ve learned that spending all the time I have on my phone is not beneficial for me and will end up doing more harm than good. I spent a lot of time on my phone and later realized I could have been trying new hobbies, reading books, or spending time with my family. So later on in quarantine I would go on walks or bake with my sister.
Have you learned anything about how you use media and technology because of the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenging times?
I have learned how easily addictive social media is to young teens like me. Social media can suck people in and leave them in loopholes where they spend hours on social media without realizing.
Interviewed by: Idella Smolyar, 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
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
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