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
Ella, 17
Media Consumption: around 5 hours a day
Favorite Media/Technology: iPhone 13 for TikTok and Snapchat
How do you and your family interact with media/technology?
We have a family group chat where we send pictures and updates about our lives . It's nice because it keeps my sister - who is in college - in the loop. We also love to watch tv together, so often after dinner we will sit down and watch something like Survivor or Amazing Race together.
How do you and your peers interact with media/technology?
We send each other lots of TikToks, especially when we see something that reminds us of each other. We also send each other selfies and talk on Snapchat.
What do you use media for?
I use media a lot, mainly keeping in touch with friends and family as well as for school. I also use it as an entertainment source - like watching Netflix or doing the daily New York Times crossword.
What is your favorite/least favorite thing about media/technology?
I don’t like the maps aspect of Snapchat because it sucks being able to see when my friends are hanging out without me. I also don’t like that people use it to show off.
What is one thing you want the people who create the media you like to watch/play/interact with to know?
I would love them to know they have a bigger impact on the people that follow them and view their content than they realize. They can say something and hundreds of people will take it to heart, so they have to be really careful.
What media do you interact with the most?
TikTok is my most used app, I use it for about 11 hours a week.
Where do you get most of your information about what’s happening in the world (e.g., news, internet, parents, etc.)?
I get a lot of news online on TikTok, but my parents also keep me informed so normally I already know the information before I see it on TikTok. In my history class we also do current event updates so that is helpful too.
What media helps you stay busy/stay calm during challenging times?
Music streaming services really help me stay calm. I love being able to listen to whatever I want whenever I want. Harry Styles is definitely my go to when I want to calm down.
What lessons have you learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenging times?
It is really important to cherish the moments we have because we never know what the next day holds. Also, you have to be present with the people you care about, put the phone down sometimes.
Have you learned anything about how you use media and technology because of the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenging times?
Media is a great way to connect with people. When I wasn’t able to see my friends during the pandemic we would schedule zoom calls and play games together, it would almost feel like we were actually hanging out.
Interviewed by: Kate Yerkes, 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
Amy, 18
Media consumption: 5-6 hours a day
Favorite media/technology: Instagram
How do you and your family interact with media/technology?
We use media and technology often. My mom is on Facebook everyday and my dad watches the news through TV everyday.
How do you and your peers interact with media/technology?
My peers and I interact through technology. We send each other TikTok’s and Instagram posts regularly, and it is one of the most popular ways we interact with each other, especially with my friends who are at schools far away from me.
What do you use media for?
I use media for entertainment purposes which is mainly to pass time, I search for cooking recipes, workout-related content, I communicate with friends, and I use it for Netflix.
What is your most favorite/least favorite thing about technology?
My most favorite thing about media is where I find my entertainment. Certain posts that you come across make your day because it’s so funny. My least favorite thing about media is that it is so toxic for young people because you can get influenced so easily, but not everything applies to everyone, and people end up falling into a trap.
What is one thing you want the people who create the media you like to watch/play/interact with to know?
I would want the people who create the media to know that there are a lot of people out there who are scarily swayed into doing things they see on the internet. Although I understand that it is one of the main purposes for making them, I believe that creators should be extremely careful with what they choose to post.
What media do you interact with the most?
The media that I interact with the most are TikTok and Snapchat.
Where do you get most of your information about what’s happening in the world?
I obtain most of my information about what’s happening in the world through people I am close with or through social media.
What media helps you stay busy/ stay calm during challenging times?
I feel like scrolling on TikTok is nice for me to unwind during challenging times or before going to bed. It takes one’s mind off of things and it is an easy watch.
What lessons have you learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenging times?
One of the important lessons I learned from the COVID-19 pandemic is that human interaction is very important for people. A few of my friends who were already introverted became even more introverted, and lost a lot of social interaction skills because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Have you learned anything about how you use media and technology because of the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenging times?
My dependency on social media for entertainment increased because I was at home, and I did not have much else to do during my free time.
Interviewed by: Osheen Abnous, 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
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
Ani, 11
Media Consumption: My daily average on my phone is about 5 hours. My daily average on my iPad is about 3 hours.
Favorite Media/Technology: I like my iPad because I can play Roblox.
How do you and your family interact with media/technology?
We have Ring cameras all around the house and Apple tags. For the Apple tags, we use them in our cars, backpacks, and our bags, so in case they get lost we can track them on our phones. We also watch movies together on the TV.
How do you and your peers interact with media/technology?
We mostly use technology to message and call each other. We also play horror games on Roblox. Sometimes I use my iPad to draw as well.
What do you use media for?
I mostly use it play games and message my friends.
What is your favorite/least favorite thing about media/technology?
My favorite thing about media is all the people you can meet through games like Roblox. I think the bad thing is also all the people you can meet because sometimes people can be rude.
What is one thing you want the people who create the media you like to watch/play/interact with to know?
I think they should make apps more safe for kids. You can always report people but it usually takes a lot of reports to get someone banned. I think the moderators should read the reports and figure out what’s false and what isn’t and also to IP ban people. This would prevent them from making a new account at all.
What media do you interact with the most?
Probably Roblox where I can play games with my friends or message them. I also like Safari because it helps me with my homework sometimes.
Where do you get most of your information about what’s happening in the world (e.g., news, internet, parents, etc.)?
For me I would usually get it off the internet or I would get my information from my teachers or parents.
What media helps you stay busy/stay calm during challenging times?
Probably YouTube since I can watch videos and that’ll usually get my mind off things, but I don’t always go on media.
What lessons have you learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenging times?
I mostly learned about media and social platforms during Covid-19. When we were quarantined I learned a lot about media safety too.
Have you learned anything about how you use media and technology because of the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenging times?
Yes, I’ve learned how to use media safely during quarantine and I’ve learned to be careful about what I say and do online. I also learned that sometimes, it's better to have class in person because it’s more interactive. This makes it easier to learn and it’s more fun.
Interviewed by: Lily Simitian, UCLA student
Emma, 10
Media Consumption: 3 hours a day
Favorite Media/Technology: Tik Tok
How do you and your family interact with media/technology?
My family and I watch movies together, share cool videos with each other, and listen to music together. We also have rules in our home for using technology which is no usage before brushing our teeth in the morning or after brushing them at night, no usage at the dining table, and no usage before all of our homework is done.
How do you and your peers interact with media/technology?
We make music videos together, watch TikToks together and learn the dances from them, send each other funny Snapchats with filters, and FaceTime to do our homework together.
What do you use media for?
I use media to interact with my friends when I am not with them, to listen to music and watch TikToks and TikTok dances, to send videos to my friends and family, to learn about new trends, and to work on homework with my friends.
What is your favorite/least favorite thing about media/technology?
My favorite thing about media/technology is that I can talk to my friends and my parents even when I am not with them. My least favorite thing about media/technology is that sometimes I feel like there are too many trends to follow and if I don’t follow them fast then I am not as cool as the people who do.
What is one thing you want the people who create the media you like to watch/play/to interact with to know?
I think that the people who create media like TikTok should make sure all of their information is correct when people post things because a lot of the time people post videos and pictures that are not true and it can confuse a lot of people.
What media do you interact with the most?
I probably use TikTok and Snapchat the most because I love watching videos and I also love sending funny Snapchats with filters to my friends.
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 about the world from my parents. I see a lot of information on TikTok but I always ask my parents to make sure that it is true because I know a lot of the time not everything is true.
What media helps you stay busy/stay calm during challenging times?
I like watching TV or movies to stay calm because it makes me laugh and forget that things are hard or challenging like COVID was when I couldn’t see any of my friends.
What lessons have you learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenging times?
A lesson that I learned from the COVID-19 pandemic is that it is important to stay in touch with people especially when you can’t see them because sometimes people can feel like you don’t care about them. I felt like when my friends didn’t talk to me that we were not friends anymore so I think it is important.
Have you learned anything about how you use media and technology because of the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenging times?
I learned that when there is nothing else to do a lot of people use too much media and technology because they are bored. My brother Liam played video games for so many hours and my parents didn’t like it but he always said there was nothing else for him to do and he was bored.
Interviewed by: Maya Luzon, UCLA student
Crisandra, 18
Media Consumption: I spend most of my time on my phone and laptop due to school and social media apps like Instagram, but this can really vary, I spend probably on average around 3-4 hours on my phone and probably 5+ hours watching lectures, doing work, etc. for school.
Favorite Media/Technology: I enjoy playing a number of games via my laptop, Nintendo Switch, and other consoles.
How do you and your family interact with media/technology?
My parents used to watch TV more often but now they watch more Youtube, they are media literate but sometimes miss the nuance of trends or memes that I expose them to. My dad particularly enjoys media that can be used in collective family time, for example he owns a karaoke machine. He likes to use it when we have guests over or on Friday nights or with the family. My mom likes to watch shows with me and owns a few streaming subscriptions and also has her own iPad for more portable streaming. I typically tend to use my laptop and phone. I'm a college student so my laptop is mostly used to do work or watch shows. I like watching anime as well as the standard Netflix, Hulu etc. and on my phone I will usually listen to music, go on Instagram, or read books on my phone.
How do you and your peers interact with media and technology?
My peers and I tend to use a lot of social media apps like Instagram and Tiktok. I probably spend less time on my phone than my friends, especially since I don’t have TikTok. My friends and I play games together, or I will play games on my console by myself (Nintendo Switch). Aside from games and social media a lot of people around me in college are using laptops to do work for school, which is pretty time consuming, and is what I would guess is the predominant interaction with technology that college students have.
What do you use media for?
I tend to use media to follow content on my hobbies, ie: video game live streamers like on Twitch, or following content from anime, or other video games. I also listen to a lot of music which helps keep my mind busy especially if I’m doing things like brushing my teeth or walking to class.
What is your favorite/least favorite thing about media/technology?
I like the game play aspect of media, I really wish I had more time for it, but I hate how addictive, specifically social media, but also other forms of media can be.
What is one thing you want the people who create media you like to watch/play/interact with to know?
I don’t really know. I like to watch live streamers and there are obviously the developers of video games that I really enjoy. I guess it would be nice to show them my appreciation for creating content that keeps me inspired and interested to continue playing those games.
What media do you interact with the most?
Definitely my phone and my laptop. I tend to scroll on Instagram but I’m trying to replace that with reading on my phone instead.
Where do you get most of your information about what’s happening in the world?
This is pretty bad because I tend to get news about what happens in the world from my friends or the social media apps that I’m on which I don’t think is good.
What media helps you stay busy/calm during challenging times?
Music definitely helps me.
What lessons have you learned from COVID-19 and other challenging times?
It’s important to have human interaction. COVID felt isolating especially because my parents love to have guests over which we obviously couldn’t do during the quarantine.
Have you learned anything about how you use media and technology because of the COVID-19 pandemic?
I don’t think so. My habits didn’t really change, other than an increased interest in live streaming which made me more receptive to watching recorded or online lectures for college. I used to prefer attending classes in person prior to COVID, but now I don’t really mind.
Interviewed by: Mimi Tsang, UCLA 4th Year