Nicolas, 17
Media Consumption: Around 7 hours a day
Favorite Media/ Technology: Instagram
How do you and your family interact with media/technology?
My parents use technology for work but don’t really use social media. My mom uses instagram and WhatsApp to keep in touch with her family and friends, but never posts anything. My dad only uses LinkedIn.
How do you and your peers interact with media/technology?
My friends and I send each other posts and talk about them- they’re usually pretty relevant. We also use it to just laugh and escape reality.
What do you use media for?
To kill time or when I’m in class and have nothing to do, even though I probably do have better
things to do.
What is your favorite/least favorite thing about media/technology?
How much time it consumes, I don’t care about anything else honestly, some people have problems with body image, but personally that motivates me! The main issue to me is how much time it kills. I'll check my phone and see those weekly reports of screen time and I’ll see 7 hours a day and I’m like ‘Dude are you kidding me?!?’ The frustrating thing is that I’m genuinely casually making my life worse by doing this and I’m completely accepting it.
What is one thing you want the people who create the media you like to watch/play/interact with to know?
It shouldn’t be an algorithm that gives people what they want, because when people get stuck in bubbles of their own thoughts and ideas they need to step outside those bubbles. Try to give people better content, instead of garbage. One in every four videos could be interesting or educational, but not anything boring. Make it engaging.
What media do you interact with the most?
Up until last year it was a mix of video games - because I still had time - and TikTok. Now this year, as school has come up, I don’t have time for video games — so they’re out of the equation — unless I have time to kill in class. Otherwise it was TikTok, which I have now deleted, so then I moved to Instagram but also deleted it, and now I’m onto whatever Snapchat has. I also deleted YouTube, because I was going down a rabbit hole watching shorts, but that was really inconvenient because I need to be able to watch videos for school. So now each platform is just degrading from bad to worse.
Where do you get most of your information about what’s happening in the world (e.g., news, internet, parents, etc.)?
I’ll see news articles on Snapchat, or posts on Instagram about important events. When my dad watches the news I’ll sometimes watch with him. I’ll also have discussions with my family about major events that are going on around the world.
What media helps you stay busy/stay calm during challenging times?
Music is definitely my go to. Anytime I just need to get out of my head I put my headphones in and try to just focus on the music.
What lessons have you learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenging times?
To have perseverance. It’s important to keep going and things will get better over time.
Have you learned anything about how you use media and technology because of the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenging times?
The main thing is that during hard times, I like to escape reality and use the media to do so, but it's usually detrimental. Every week I’m not doing that good on sleep, or I’m stressed because I have a test coming up, but if I wasn’t spending that much time on my phone, not only would I be getting sleep, but I would be studying good, genuinely be happy, and comfortable and fulfilled. It has really put it into perspective for me.
Interviewed by: Anaïs Eichner, UCLA student
Roxana, 16
Media consumption: Approximately 4 hours per day
Favorite Media/Technology: Instagram
How do you and your family interact with media/technology?
My family interacts with technology regularly, the whole family has the social media platform Instagram, and we all post stories and photos regularly and there aren’t really any restrictions as long as there’s nothing bad I am hiding, but at the same time both my parents follow me on Instagram so they know what I’m up to and I’ve never really hidden anything bad so I feel like I have much their trust having social media.
How do you and your peers interact with media/technology?
Me and my friends are on social media a lot, we use Snapchat, Instagram or TikTok regularly to post videos, photos, or just chat and see what other people are up to. Pretty much everyone has some form of social media so it’s easy to keep it touch.
What do you use media for?
I mostly use media to post photos and to keep in touch. I like to post videos or stories to memorialize the moment or certain places I went with certain people or specific events. Partly I feel like I do this to show things I’m involved in or have planned.
What is your favorite/least favorite thing about media/technology?
Honestly, my least favorite thing about social media is how downgrading it can be on your mental health. I know I can easily be caught in the current of TikTok or Instagram and end up scrolling for hours and then realizing that I wasted my time on nothing. But like at the same time I know many adults talk about this, but honestly it is kind of true, but when you’re on social media, you easily find yourself comparing yourself to like others on the Internet and what they’re up to or how they look like and certain items they own.
What is one thing you want the people who create the media you like to watch/play/interact with to know?
One thing that I would want someone who created the media is to know how dangerous Snapchat is. At my school we had a lecture of a kid’s mom whose son went through I think fentanyl poisoning from some dealer on Snapchat. I know and I would like anyone reading this to know I don’t do drugs or alcohol or anything but it’s scary to think the developers of this may know what’s going on but don’t wanna fix anything about it. But like it’s pretty scary media platforms can change people’s lives and things like that.
What media do you interact with the most?
The media I interact with the most is Instagram. I like to have a profile up to show what I’m doing and places I’m going to.
Where do you get most of your information about what’s happening in the world (e.g., news, internet, parents, etc.)?
Most of the information I get about what is happening in the world is from either from the radio, parents, friends, news, school, or Instagram.
What media helps you stay busy/stay calm during challenging times?
Honestly, Instagram is probably the social media platform that keeps me busy during challenging times because I can watch something for a bit or cruise around on people profile to see what they’ve recently posted.
What lessons have you learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenging times?
When COVID-19 happened I was in seventh grade so I feel like the lessons that I learned coming out of it was that I had to become more self-aware and I was maturing and becoming into a woman so I had to always be aware of my surroundings what I would say, how I would appear to other people.
Have you learned anything about how you use media and technology because of the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenging times?
So, during COVID-19 I used social media a lot to connect with people but once I came back to school, I kept using social media as much but then over time my usage of it declined a bit. Now I am a sophomore in high school and I really like lowered my usage of Snapchat and TikTok. I mean I’m still on them a lot, but I don’t really focus my time on it as much as I used to. But I have realized that I use social media a lot when I’m in my house by myself or when I’m honestly pretty bored and have nothing better to do. Which then relates back to the question of my use on social media it feels like I’m mostly on social media when I don’t have anything to do or anyone to hang out with or when I’m mostly bored, which parallels how I felt during COVID-19.
Interviewed by: Pedram Bazargani, UCLA student
Leen, 13
Media Consumption: 4-5 hours per day
Favorite Media/Technology: Instagram, Snapchat, Netflix
How do you and your family interact with media/technology?
I text my mom through iMessages or Snapchat and I text my dad through iMessages when we need to. With my younger sister, I use Snapchat. We don’t really interact together with media so we all do our own thing.
How do you and your peers interact with media/technology?
I talk to classmates through Google Classroom and Discord for school-related things. With closer friends, I use Snapchat and Instagram to text them. We also use Snapchat to send each other pictures and Instagram to post about ourselves.
What do you use media for?
I use it for entertainment by watching videos and talking to my friends online. I also post a lot on my social media accounts, but mainly on the accounts with close friends.
What is your favorite/least favorite thing about media/technology?
My favorite thing about media is being able to have something to do. It keeps me from feeling bored and I am able to talk to my friends easily. My least favorite thing about media is any negative posts and comparing myself to other people.
What is one thing you want the people who create the media you like to watch/play/interact with to know?
I would like social media like Instagram and Snapchat to have better security. I have times when I get scared that my information will get leaked and I would like to have more privacy options. I also do not want to see hateful posts or comments so blocking them would be good.
What media do you interact with the most?
I interact with social media more. I post pictures on Instagram and Snapchat and keep up with my feed. I also stay in more contact with my friends by texting them through DM’s. I also watch on Netflix and find myself scrolling through the list of shows to watch.
Where do you get most of your information about what’s happening in the world (e.g., news, internet, parents, etc.)?
Sometimes, they just pop up on my for you page on Instagram or I search it up myself. My friends also share informational posts on their stories so I find them there.
What media helps you stay busy/stay calm during challenging times?
I would say Instagram because they have the reels feature and I find myself scrolling through it. That is also why I don’t have TikTok since they’re the same. It becomes addicting, which is very bad. Netflix has also helped me with all the shows I watch.
What lessons have you learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenging times?
I’ve learned that too much screen time is bad for you. I found myself using my phone too much, mindlessly scrolling around trying to find something to watch. Taking a break from my phone and going out would be better for me.
Have you learned anything about how you use media and technology because of the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenging times?
I would say I learned how I use media to entertain me when I am bored. I also spend a lot of time talking to my friends online which is nice so we can stay connected when we can’t see each other. But, I also find myself caring about how others see me and I focus a lot on my social media feed which is toxic behavior.
Interviewed by: Tasneem Elsayed, UCLA student
Evan, 18
Media Consumption: Very often/Every day
Favorite Media: Movies/TV, Music
How do you and your family interact with media/technology?
I interact with media/technology every day. I use my phone for social media, games, and technologies like videos and photos. I use my computer for schoolwork, internet searches, and access to media sites and shopping. I use these materials every day to entertain and support myself in my daily life.
How do you and your peers interact with media/technology?
My peers and I mostly use it for entertainment purposes. Apps like TikTok, Clash of Clans, and Snapchat are what my peers mostly use; apps that help them connect with their friends and family and pure entertainment apps that help my peers pass the time. We also use media and technology for school. Online class sites as well as Zoom and Microsoft Office are all sorts of mediums that we use.
What do you use media for?
I personally use media mostly for social, school, and entertainment purposes. This includes social media, like Instagram and Snap, Netflix and Amazon Prime, and Canvas and Microsoft word. These are all technologies that I use in my daily life.
What is your favorite/least favorite thing about media/technology?
My favorite thing about it is how much access it gives us. The ability to look up literally anything, the ability to see or learn about anything in the world, and the ability to connect with people far away in an instant is my favorite part of technology. My least favorite thing is how addictive it is. It’s so easy to get lost in its features and videos and binge-watch that it becomes an extremely easy addiction. The highlights and colors and algorithms are meant to keep users entertained and that sort of dedication to obtaining viewership is my least favorite part about technology.
What is one thing you want the people who create the media you like to watch/play/interact with to know?
Stay creative. There are so many inputs and opinions in today’s world of media that everything is starting to blend together into the same thing. Uniqueness is hard to find these days so when artists come along with new creative ideas it really keeps the media that I interact with fresh and entertaining.
What media do you interact with the most?
I probably interact with social media the most. I’m always on my phone and constantly checking the apps I have and I tend to get lost in them. Apps like Instagram, Tiktok, and Snapchat use up most of my screen time and media use.
Where do you get most of your information about what’s happening in the world (e.g., news, internet, parents, etc.)?
I get it the most from social media. Influential accounts are also posting newsworthy things so I tend to get a lot of it through social media. News accounts on my phone also help keep me updated.
What media helps you stay busy/stay calm during challenging times?
Mostly entertainment media, like games and movies/tv shows. They are a source of pure entertainment and transport me to a world that is calm or busy instead of our challenging times. They offer an escape and a source of fun and joy in the troubles of real life and even a sense of control. The fantasies and thrills of TV and video games are definitely the go-tos in challenging times.
What lessons have you learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenging times?
That sitting still in the same place doing the same over and over doesn’t work for me. New experiences are needed to help grow the mind and there was a huge lack of that throughout COVID and other challenging times. This repetitive cycle of negative behavior draws one down and keeps them from doing other things in life that are beneficial. Pursue the things that interest you and you will be able to break the cycle of isolation and difficulty that challenges like COVID put on people.
Have you learned anything about how you use media and technology because of the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenging times?
Not to get too invested in the glamor of social media. After all that time spent on my phone during the pandemic, I saw so many highlights of people's lives. And yet I knew the reality that most people were living in and considered that the filtered world I see on my phone isn’t as positive as the posts make it seem. I also learned that social media can be addictive and depressing and that too much time spent consuming likes, comments, and videos can be detrimental to human health and mindset.
Interviewed by: Melanie Khashadourian, UCLA student
Erin, 17
Media Consumption: Average of 8 hours per day (between iPhone and laptop)
Favorite Media/Technology: iPhone
How often do you and your family interact with media/technology?
My parents use their phones most often for work and family communication. My sister and I use our laptops, often for school, and our phones for social media and communication with family and friends.
How do you and your peers interact with media/technology?
The only technology we are allowed to use at school is the laptops we are provided with. We get in trouble for using our phones. When away from school, we all have phones we use to connect via iMessage and FaceTime or social media apps like Snapchat, BeReal, and Instagram.
What do you use media for?
I use media primarily for communication and entertainment purposes.
What is your favorite/least favorite thing about technology/media?
My favorite thing about media/technology is that it allows me to stay in touch with family and friends that are out of state and country. My dad travels a lot for work, I have family that lives on the East Coast, and many of my longtime friends go to different schools than me; technology makes it easy to get in touch/stay in touch with everyone.
What is one thing you want the people who create the media you like to watch/play/interact with to know?
People who create entertainment media should recognize the importance of inclusivity. It would be nice to see more Southeast Asian American representation.
What media do you interact with the most?
I use Instagram and TikTok the most. On Instagram I post stories almost daily. My guilty pleasure media is TikTok. I'll pick up my phone for what feels like five minutes when in reality, I find myself scrolling on my for you page for hours. My sister and I always have fun sending each other videos and making our own.
Where do you get most of your information about what's happening in the world (e.g., news, internet, parents, etc.)?
My information mostly comes from my parents, friends, and sometimes teachers. Every once in a while, I will find political information on my Instagram or TikTok feeds.
What media helps you stay busy/stay calm during challenging times?
TikTok and Spotify help me stay busy and calm during challenging times. For example, I watch a lot of comedy videos on TikTok when I get overwhelmed with school because they are entertaining and provide a good distraction when needed. I also really enjoy listening to music and find it helpful at times. I have different playlists for my different moods and activities.
What lessons have you learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenging times?
I have learned not to take being in the classroom for granted. Doing school on Zoom and being unable to see my friends during the pandemic was difficult.
Have you learned anything about how you use media and technology because of the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenging times?
I have learned to use social media in a more casual manner because of the pandemic. I used technology a lot during my downtime, and as I began having more fun with it, I became more comfortable with posting more authentically.
Interviewed by: Renee Rubanowitz, 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