Rethinking the Digital Detox: How Platforms Can Help Us Achieve Media Balance
I first learned about the concept of digital detox from a YouTube video in which a young tech executive documents his experience with “dopamine fasting”. I came across this concept again in a book I read earlier this year titled The Information Diet, which outlines steps people can take to orient their consumption of media in a healthier direction. While the associations with the terms “detox” or even “diet” are problematic, both properly shed light on this idea that to be healthy media consumers we need to regulate the kinds and amounts of content we consume each day.
The term “digital balance” is much improved because it presents this idea of portion-control and variety in media consumption without the connotation that it ought to be drastic, short-lived, and unsustainable. In a paper out of the Atlantic Marketing Journal, researchers discuss the challenge of navigating our modern media landscape as a “balancing act”, which requires us to understand the nature of different media and their implicit motivations. In the broadest sense, this balance involves three main categories: entertainment-based media, educational media, and screen-free media, each of which offers a distinct form of value to consumers. And even as the lines between entertainment and education continue to blur, with the so-called rise of infotainment, these categories can help us—and our kids especially—to become more mindful media consumers, aware of the importance of variety and apportionment of digital content.
As communications scholar Neil Postman suggests, as the availability of digital media increases, and as this media becomes increasingly entertainment-driven, it becomes increasingly important to moderate the kinds of content that kids can access. For excesses in screen-based entertainment, he argues, can hinder people’s ability to contextualize information and develop the skills to follow complex linear narratives. Similarly, as a paper out of the International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction suggests, spending too much time on television and video games, without supplemental education-based or typographic content, can result in slowed learning. Moreover, the fact that these impacts of entertainment-dominated media are critically understudied means that we should be particularly cautious of such drastic increases in our uptake of digital entertainment.
Still, balance also means that entertainment-based media can be okay when consumed in healthy proportion to education-based media and off-screen media like reading. In fact, and as reflected in the Surgeon General’s recent advisory on social media and mental health, entertainment-based social media can help contribute to important feelings of connection with others. Media balance is therefore not about labeling individual pieces of content as good or bad, but about figuring out how to moderate the amount of entertainment-based media we consume while ensuring enough time for educational content and screen-free activities.
Yet media companies aren’t always making it easy for us to do this. The supremacy of entertainment-based media over other media forms, especially paper-based typographic media, narrows the media landscape to a dangerous degree. It’s almost as if today’s media consumers are now shopping exclusively at supermarkets that sell only pasta. Sure, it’s great for one-stop shopping before noodle night, but not exactly ideal for those who want to hit all the food groups. Which is why to help people find media balance, especially porous populations like kids, media companies can play an important role by balancing the media supply in this same way. Just as you can find fruits and proteins and dairy at the supermarket, media companies can help ensure that we have the variety of content that makes media balance possible in the first place.
Entertainment can evidently be found in nearly all media, and there is even research to suggest that it can play an important role in helping kids to process information. But when content offers nothing else besides entertainment, it’s hard to obtain the full scope of cognitive value that media can help us develop. To be clear, I’m not talking about infotainment or other entertainment-as-education conglomerates. I’m talking about the kind of content that offers nothing in the way of learning, morality, or representation; the stuff that is designed solely to divert attention towards the screen. Having media balance can be attained only when content makers and content consumers recognize the importance of keeping this supply of pure entertainment in proportion with educational content and everything else in between. The entertainment industry in particular can do this in four primary ways:
Bolstering its collection of educational content
Clearly denoting when content is designed to be educational
Enabling users to search specifically for more educational content
Implementing features that promote greater portion control
When we reconceptualize the concept of digital detox as a more long-term pursuit of balance, we recognize that what’s most important is the collection of our media experiences and not individual pieces of content in isolation. Kids especially can benefit from this notion of balance that complements what they already know about nutrition. Given that our current media landscape tends to skew this balance in favor of entertainment, which carries non-trivial cognitive risks, media platforms should feel empowered to make it easier for people, especially kids, to achieve media balance. And they can do this by maintaining a greater supply of educational content and making it easier for us to portion out how much content we want to consume at any given time. Similarly, we should continue to show kids the importance of screen-free media like reading, which promotes different forms of cognitive development and properly complements other forms of digital media, which are ultimately here to stay.
With proper media balance, we can feel good knowing that we are getting many different kinds of value out of the digital content we consume. And technology platforms are the perfect partners to help us reach these new ideals about balance in the digital age. After all, it’s hard to make it in the world on just pasta.
The Symbiotic Relationship between Researchers, Storytellers, and Gen Z in Authentically Representing LGBTQ+ Youth
Media has the power to shape our communities, and that is especially important when we look at the representation of historically marginalized groups like the LGBTQ+ community. The ideas and beliefs contained in media content, both positive and negative, directly impact audience attitudes about the world around them. When featuring queer adolescent characters, it’s essential to listen to the perspectives of today’s teens and young adults and create stories that implement the real change and representation they want to see in their communities. In a cycle of listening, creating, and learning, storytellers, adolescents, and researchers can and should collaborate to create authentic depictions of LGBTQ+ adolescents that inspire and positively impact audiences.
Sheena Brevig, a filmmaker and the Workshop Director for the Center for Scholars & Storytellers (CSS), draws from her own experiences as a queer person to foster more accurate representation of LGBTQ+ communities in film and television. Whether it be through facilitating workshops for large entertainment companies or working on smaller film projects, often in collaboration with other queer creators, she “really believes in the power of storytelling to break down walls and foster conversations that might be hard to have.”
For Brevig, the most beautiful part of this is creating projects that others can watch and relate to, find bits of themselves in, and serve as parallel experiences for the queer community.
“It’s about increasing visibility for the queer community as well as breaking down stigma. Particularly in queer communities of color and in my case, Asian and Japanese queer communities.”
For instance, Brevig’s LGBTQ+ Identities workshops have created vulnerable moments of sharing and healing between strangers.
“People end up sharing really vulnerable things and it seems to be somewhat cathartic, or it seems to start a conversation for the company on their end. We have played the role of this unique kind of start-the-conversation-space.”
Brevig and her team have even worked to tackle areas often not addressed when considering diversifying media landscapes, like the gaming industry. In collaboration with Activision Blizzard King Gaming, Brevig ran one of the most interactive workshops to support the breaking of old patterns and toxic representations of gender. The Body Diversity Workshop, which ran in collaboration with Warner Media explored “body-type diversity, representation, and character creation. It was something every single person in the audience could relate to, it doesn’t matter what gender you are or how old you are.”
Many industries and companies stick to stale tactics of performative LGBTQ+ representation – like adding rainbow colors to their company’s logo for Pride Month – and think it achieves the impact queer youth are asking for. In actuality, these are tiny changes that check a box but do not appease the greater audience who want more acknowledgment and action. These audience demands are long overdue and Brevig encourages the calling out of companies that have not completely embraced this wave of much-needed change.
“The queer community is critical of what they’re seeing and they want to feel represented, they will call out things that are through a heteronormative lens. ”
It is not just about quantity but quality of representation, for example expanding past just the gay white male lens and including all queer communities. This pursuit for intentional content that creates a genuinely positive impact is one of the best outcomes of Brevig’s workshops. They unify and inspire others to learn from her team’s guidance and plant seeds of change wherever they go.
Clearly, the impact is evident, with people who participated in CSS’ workshops applying learned empathy to shows and movies they create. After attending the workshops, Tim Federle, the showrunner for High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, a show that ran on Disney Channel starting in 2019, was able to bring a fresh awareness and perspective to the writers' room when developing his diverse cast of queer characters. “It was a really full circle moment where I saw how the workshops we put on were applied. As a viewer, I saw how much I could reap the benefits of seeing this more inclusive and more accurately, authentically representative content,” said Brevig.
For Nare Aghadjanian, a rising sophomore at UCLA, who identifies as queer and fights for queer rights every day, seeing shows like High School Musical: The Musical: The Series and other recently diversified shows is something she has a personal stake in. For Aghadjanian, feeling safe and represented is equally about a physical and digital environment.
At UCLA she says that at first she “wasn’t expecting to feel as safe being out as queer at [school] as [much as she] ended up being.” But Aghadjanian found a community.
“There was a Pride Admit Weekend that I attended online that made me feel really glad about going to LA for school, I knew that no matter what I would always have a community, and after being surrounded by a lot of homophobia that led to major mental health issues, it was a breath of fresh air to see the resource center and queer groups at UCLA. ”
Digital and intangible representation is just as important and impactful and Aghadjanian fiercely highlighted all the negativity and misrepresentation that is not being addressed. “I see so much racism, misogyny, transphobia, sexualization, and ableism.” She echoes the need to break free of the heteronormative patterns industries have fallen into, saying how mainstream movies and novels only focus on what makes them comfortable rather than what actually incites change. “When aiming for representations of marginalized groups it’s important actually to have it represent the general public - these movies shouldn’t be focused on the sexual aspect or just be one big coming out story.”
Nuanced storytelling is what Aghadjian is fighting for and she encourages every young, eager queer person to fight for it too. “I hope one day queer representation will turn towards actual representation and not just be a glorification of a white gay man, even if that representation is critical as well,” she said. The amplification of voices like hers is another step industries, researchers and creators alike should take, expanding their hearts to listen and implement what the youth actually feel.
“Queer people are not just a coming out story or solely experience violence, there should be an incorporation of all love.”
The benefit is nothing if not a win-win, allowing audiences to feel more seen, reflecting the world as it really is, and allowing studios to find more success and respect in the industry.
Research is the root of all this change and communication between researchers and creators is the conduit to representation that reflects the truth of queer stories and real-lived experiences. Adriana Manago, Ph.D., a cultural development psychologist, has been researching LGBTQ+ adolescents and the power of social media. She’s found that social media was not an obstacle but a tool for LGBTQ+ kids to explore themselves and use the language of the Internet to develop their queer identities in a place full of community and validation.
“There are three key navigational strategies on social media for engaging with cultural narratives for gender and sexuality on social media platforms: seeking and sharing information, creating queer community, and making choices about visibility and permanence.”
By engaging in all of these activities, LGBTQ+ teens can branch past the restrictive definitions of gender that Manago said are part of the hard-to-break rigidity of youth identity development. More than anything, a supportive environment whether digital or family-based is key to offering the honest and authentic space LGBTQ+ teens need to feel understood and represented in the media they are consuming.
“LGBTQ+ community is not a monolith. My students and I have examined variations in social media use and consequences depending on family contexts and intersections between gender, sexual, and ethnic identities. In these studies, we are finding that LGBTQ+ youth who have more supportive families and who provide resources for exploration and validation are less likely to rely on social media to understand and construct the self.”
Being proactive and utilizing the various intersecting identities of individuals to initiate change is one of the most important and beautiful tools of research. LGBTQ+ teens are using social media to find a safe space and to understand themselves, and so perhaps if creators understand this intimate need for a space to grow, this quest will be satiated much sooner. If Brevig’s comments and Aghadjian’s input are taken to heart, compounded with the robust research of psychologists like Manago, real change is on the horizon and this Pride Month brings us one step closer to it.
Teens Speak Out Research Snapshot: Social Media Regulation
New survey from the Center for Scholars & Storytellers at UCLA finds most teens agree with the Surgeon General’s recent social media advisory, but disagree with new laws
In an effort to bridge the divide between adults and younger generations on the issue of social media and adolescent mental health, we conducted our first Teens Speak Out Research Snapshot to capture the valuable insights of young people on three major policy developments: Utah's parental consent regulations for social media usage, Montana’s TikTok ban, and the Surgeon General's advisory on social media. When teens have the opportunity to share their perspectives they usually have important things to contribute. So we went directly to 284 teens, ages 13-18, from across the United States to ask them what they think about the laws that are being passed around the country.
“... I don’t think that it should be banned for everybody. I think that our parents should take the time to teach us things that get harmless and things not to do but I don’t think social media should be banned as a whole because it has a lot of positive things although it has negatives too but if we are taught at a young age the difference between good and bad and what not to do and what to do I think it would be OK.”
Below we break down the findings.
Montana Bill: TikTok Banned
64% difference between male and female teens about ban
Only 27.5% of all teens said that the ban is a good idea. We wondered who are these teens that agree with banning something they use so much? Turns out when broken down by gender identity, the majority of the teens agreeing with the ban were male. 38.9% male teens agreed with the ban while only 19.7% female teens agreed - a whopping 64% difference. Moreover, teens who identify as non-binary disagreed the most that the ban was a good idea.
“I believe social media has taught me and many other kids important things about life and has kept us entertained during parts of our life like the pandemic. I feel it is important to let kids express themselves on social media because you are able to meet friends and communicate.”
“I think that the internet can indeed be dangerous, but that the restrictions that are being put on young people will overall make their quality of life and mental health worse rather than better.”
With teen girls using TikTok more than teen boys, this difference becomes even more significant.
Utah: Parental Consent for Under 18-year-olds
37% of all teens agreed with this legislation. In this instance, we again saw significant gender differences. Once more, male teens agreed most with the law, followed by females and non-binary teens. With females reporting that they use social media more than males, the fact that males agree more with restrictions about a medium they use least is interesting. While age differences were not significant, not surprisingly, older teens tended to agree more with parental consent than younger teens.
“I feel like the problem is that social media companies do not take any effort to censor harmful content to minors. When done correctly social media does help many kids socialize and improves their mental health.”
Surgeon General’s Advisory on Social Media
More than double the number of teens agree than disagree that social media use is harming young people’s mental health.
Finally we asked adolescents for their reactions to the following statement from the Surgeon General’s advisory:
“The most common question parents ask me is, ‘is social media safe for my kids’. The answer is that we don’t have enough evidence to say it’s safe, and in fact, there is growing evidence that social media use is associated with harm to young people’s mental health. Children are exposed to harmful content on social media, ranging from violent and sexual content, to bullying and harassment. And for too many children, social media use is compromising their sleep and valuable in-person time with family and friends. We are in the middle of a national youth mental health crisis, and I am concerned that social media is an important driver of that crisis – one that we must urgently address.”
A passionate polarity amongst adolescents emerged with 52.4% of teens strongly or somewhat agreeing with the statement and 22.2% of teens strongly or somewhat disagreeing with the statement (the rest were neutral). Gender was not significantly different so we do not report on those differences.
“I think it is definitely true that negative things on social media are harmful to teens. I believe that the positive things outweigh this though and that restrictions or rules can be added to get rid of negative things but positive things can be there still.”
Despite adolescents’ persistent desire for digital connectivity, adults remain doubtful of their ability to navigate the online landscape responsibly. The fear and distrust shared by older generations has manifested in policymakers’ attempts to impose limitations and even outright bans on the very platforms that have become an integral part and for some a vital mental health tool in young people’s lives.
Contributions: Jamie Azar, Dr. Alisha Hines, Emma Terrell, and Dr. Yalda T. Uhls
To see the methodology for this report, click here.
To learn more about the Teens Speak Out Research Snapshot series, click here.
The Push for Authentic Asian American Representation in the Media
AAPI Heritage Month Feature
Jeremy Hsing, director of short films, “Iridescence” and “Fish” has been searching all his life for the perfect way to weld his creative pursuits with his self-exploration journey. In this quest to express himself and his culture, Hsing found a passion for filmmaking and uses his writing and directing skills to tell his stories and inspire others to do the same.
“Iridescence,” his short film on his experiences with family, love, and mental health within underrepresented communities, was his bold introduction to the film world. Hsing called the difficult but rewarding process of making it and sharing it his own personal form of exposure therapy.
“It’s a short that combined intergenerational healing with my Asian American culture and also has some magical realism with its animation sequence,” he said.
Hsing wrote, produced, and directed the film himself, learning as he went along and pouring his life into every scene and frame. His vulnerable depiction of his mental health struggles found an audience in his family and opened the door to important conversations that Hsing said felt lacking in his family and within his Asian American culture.
“I didn’t make it for the art, I made it for the message and I think the message really resonated with my family, both immediate and extended. It opened up our conversation and made us all more open about mental health.”
For Hsing, being able to tell his story and have his family listen, and challenge some of the stigmas of mental health, was the first step to change.
“I think it's a generational, cultural stigma that manifests in different ways for each family, but there is that overarching theme of ‘I went through all this stuff in my life and experienced all this hardship, so whether it's unconscious or not, I displaced it onto the next generation’” he said in explanation of the often implicit stress this generation of POC, particularly those whose parents are immigrants, can feel.
“My goal, because of the privilege that I have in being born after these generations of hardship, is to try to end that intergenerational cycle so that if I have kids one day, they don’t have to experience trauma.”
Hsing’s demonstration of art and film as a way to change the lives and minds of everyday people is one of many examples of the power of media. Stories and the way they are told have the intimate ability to challenge ideas, beliefs, and stereotypes and in their place plant richer, more accepting narratives.
He finds inspiration in the Asian films Hollywood has produced lately, specifically diverse stories that pave the way for those who want to subtly but powerfully incite change and understanding with their content. It is the path he took and he was grateful in acknowledging that change is a slow but steady process – in the film industry and within himself and his family.
“Every generation of my bloodline, I guess, becomes slightly more progressive and open to deviating from the social norm, so I am a byproduct of that, for which I’m grateful.”
However, the media, much like the humans that create it, is still full of many biases and unfair depictions of people and cultures. Particularly during Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, we recognize the lack of representation being offered and more than that, the harmful, stereotypical representation of Asian Americans that often is seen in TV and film.
While a lot of progress has been made with movies like “Crazy Rich Asians” or the Netflix series “Never Have I Ever,” there is still a well-placed burden on directors to create work that addresses not only inaccuracies in cultural depictions but also seamlessly weaves said culture into the everyday lives of characters in a subtle and destigmatizing way.
“Pieces shouldn’t rely on cultural cliches; all of these characters are their own and human and I feel like that's what makes stories so successful. Not that they are an Asian cast, but because it's just a really good story, those are the type of stories that I want to tell,” Hsing said when asked about the current Asian American representation in television and film.
For Hsing, the strongest stories are about real people and cultures, a truth that you believe in. Lived experiences breed the best storytellers and much like other young, diverse creators, he was grateful for the chance to share an authentic part of himself through his films.
Hollywood can take a page out of his book and, as Hsing highlighted, realize that the richest and best form of representation are films and shows that don’t play on or rely on the typical cultural stereotypes or ideas one unfairly associates with Asian Americans.
“I think that media and art hold a lot of merit to society and society in the United States is becoming more diverse by the day. I don’t even think it’s performative, I think it’s just accurately reflecting what society is.”
Especially now during AAPI Heritage Month, it is more important than ever to recognize the struggles this often marginalized community faces and the valuable stories they can offer the world. Creating the space to share these stories and intently listening and learning is the responsibility of every creator and consumer. Whether it be to combat the very real generational trauma Asian Americans experience or a way for us to learn and work on our own inherent biases, Hsing has shown that while the media can perpetuate negative stereotypes, it can also beautifully change them, one family and one young creator at a time.
Mireille Karadanaian
CSS Intern
Iridescence: Empathy Through Storytelling
AAPI Heritage Month Feature
When the rise of Asian hate crimes became so prevalent that it reached national headlines, I felt lost. As a child of Chinese immigrants who grew up in Southern California my whole life, it made me question my relationship with my own culture in a way that I never had before. What could I do to help my community? How could I do my part in trying to heal the polarizing divide in our country? My answer to these questions? Write the story of my life.
How Iridescence Came To Life
I believe that hate comes from a lack of empathy, and that media has the unique capability of giving the viewer a glimpse into someone else’s life, finding a universality in the personal. It might not change their mind completely, but at the very least, it can potentially challenge their preconceived notions on who someone is. So, I wrote a deeply personal short titled Iridescence that explores intergenerational trauma, mental health, and toxic masculinity. I utilized the Center for Scholars & Storytellers’ Boy’s Tip Sheet as a reference in shaping the dialogue and interactions of the characters. I also had the script workshopped in our CSS weekly lab session where multiple lab members gave me resources to research on authentically portraying cultural conflict and Asian mental health. Afterwards, an excerpt from my script was also used as an icebreaker in a CAPE x Center for Scholars & Storytellers think tank on how to authentically portray mental health in media. At the think tank, CAPE Executive Director Michelle Sugihara, congratulated me on my work and I was given invaluable feedback from scholars and storytellers alike on how to improve the script. Fast forward several months later and Iridescence is now making the rounds in the film festival circuit, where it’s placed as a Semifinalist in the Los Angeles Chinese Film Festival and a Finalist for the Independent Shorts Awards among several other accolades. It also has been spotlighted by the Daily Bruin and reviewed by a disability led non-profit organization that I hold near and dear to my heart, RespectAbility.
Breaking Stigma Through Conversation
While winning awards is a cool experience, I view it as secondary to my primary goal with the film which is to destigmatize mental health in the AAPI community. With that, I made sure to create a podcast to accompany the film where I interviewed the cast and crew regarding important taboo topics such as growing up as a minority, mental health allyship, understanding the love languages and cultural differences of our parents, and storytelling as a mechanism for change. I’ve had members of the cast and crew open up to me about how working on the project made them more willing to have those tough conversations with their family and friends, which has been indescribably fulfilling to me.
The Power of Authentic Storytelling
With a cast and crew largely consisting of women and the AAPI community, the film embodies the type of stories I want to tell. Being that the script is based on my own family, I did a table read with them. While my brother and mom were quick to congratulate me, my dad was silent. However, similar to the theme of the film itself, he sent me a long text afterwards, confiding in me that although he never was the type to say “I love you”–he really does. That moment of catharsis is the power of storytelling. As a DEIA advocate, I view authentic storytelling as a moral responsibility. It’s so important to do the research and consult with organizations with your stories because they have real world ramifications on the culture and society. Moving forward, I want to tell authentic stories that bridge the divide in our world and help us see each other not as archetypes, but as human beings. And organizations like the Center for Scholars & Storytellers as well as the Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment equip me with the resources and skills to do just that.
Jeremy Hsing
Writer/Director, Former CSS Intern
Boosting Asian American Women's Visibility Through Comics
AAPI Heritage Month Feature
As a little girl I watched Mulan six times a day, no seriously, six times. I sat with my lola on the couch all day fixated on this girl who left everything she knew to fight for the honor of her family and her country. I think subconsciously I was drawn to Mulan more than the other Disney princesses, not simply because she looked like me, but because she was a girl who didn’t need saving from any prince; she saved the day herself. As I grew up, I continued to keep my eyes glued to the silver screen because the magic of storytelling made me feel so alive. It asks the audience to step outside of themselves, to have genuine care and curiosity about another person’s life, to dig deep into another’s soul, and that is powerful.
Rushing to be where all the storytelling action was, I moved to Los Angeles with my mom at 17-years-old. I remember coming out of auditions and realizing that not a lot of people looked like me. Was it because the roles that were written weren’t really written for people that looked like me? Was it because Asian Americans aren’t typically thought of as leading ladies? All these questions were circulating in my mind until one day I decided to do something about it. I realized that if I’m not seeing the roles for young girls out there that look like me, then I was going to have to be part of the solution.
Instead of waiting around and taking a passive seat to all the major players in the entertainment industry, we decided to take action. My mom and I began discussing what this representation could look like. Being the sci-fi, fantasy, superhero-loving family that we are, we thought, “why couldn’t we imagine a world in which a young Filipina superhero exists?” That’s when we decided to take control. Let’s just create the stories we wanted to see and not ask for permission to be seen. As we continued to play around with the idea of a story rooted in Filipino culture, we began diving into the different mythos of the Philippines and realized how fantastic and magical these tales were. With superheroes being a huge part of the comic book genre and the world of Philippine mythology so vibrant, we thought the best way to tell this story would be through the visual medium of comic books.
Despite female readers accounting for half of the comic book audience in its early popularity in the 1940’s, history has shown that women continue to be left out of the narrative. As major comic book companies grew, such as Marvel and DC, the focus shifted to the superhero genre that was tailored toward male viewership. Female representation is seriously lacking both on and off the page. Research shows that despite the growth in female artists and writers in the comic book industry, women are still heavily underrepresented with female creators accounting for 16-17% of Marvel and DC’s talent pool. This underrepresentation can further explain why women are left off the page and not represented as the main character with just 12% of mainstream superhero comics showcasing female protagonists. Out of these few female protagonists, many are drawn with unrealistic bodies and exaggerated features that hyper-sexualize the female body and cater specifically to the male gaze. These stories are often filled with a surplus of sexist undertones and provocative poses that send unattainable messages of striving for an impossible body. So where does that leave young female readers? Who do they have to not only look up to, but see themselves truly reflected in? Where are the characters that make them say “I know her. I am her.”
Of course, these types of characters are not likely to be written in an authentic way (or at all) if the people from our communities aren’t welcomed in the writers rooms. Representation is not true representation if it is only seen in one sector of the industry. When we mean representation we mean visibility both on and off the screen and page. Asian American female writers and artists are necessary to tell these stories authentically. So when we were creating our team for our comic book company, it only made sense that the mission of our company, which is to highlight “Asian” and “women”-driven narratives, was reflected in the team itself. This led us to create the first all Asian women comic book company.
The first series of Kwento Comics, The Mask of Haliya, tells the story of a Filipina-American teen, Marisol Reyes, who goes to the Philippines after the death of her great-grandmother. There, she finds a mysterious wooden mask at the wake where she not only finds herself imbued with incredible powers, but at the epicenter of an ancient war between Philippine shamans and gods of the Underworld. When introducing our main character, we wanted to break the stereotypes of women in comic books that had unrealistic body types and create an accurate depiction of a young Filipina girl growing into adulthood. A girl who isn’t perfect, who messes up and is trying to figure it all out, an unlikely hero. Asian American women have been scarcely represented in US media. In a study conducted by UCLA’s 2022 Hollywood Diversity Report, Asians represented 5.6% of film leads with women representing less than half of those leads. When they are represented, historically they have been depicted as stereotypes from the “Dragon Lady”, “China Doll”, or “The Nerd”. It was imperative that we break this cycle at Kwento Comics and shine a light on untold narratives and dynamic, fully fleshed out characters. Through the discovery of her family’s ancestral past and Filipino culture, Mari will go down a journey of self-discovery and an understanding of who she is truly destined to become.
Another important element of our storytelling is the inclusion of Philippine mythology. Audiences have seen everything from Greek to Roman to Norse Mythology with the likes of Zeus, Jupiter, and Thor, however there are a plethora of other mythologies in the world that never get the spotlight. As a young Filipina girl growing up, I was never exposed to the vibrant world of Philippine mythology that existed. Similar to our main character who goes to the Philippines where she discovers her Filipino heritage, the comic book was a way for me to dive deep into my own culture and share it with the world. It is through working on this comic book that I have taken true pride in where I come from and hope that others will feel inspired to do the same by creating more content that lifts up Asian American visibility in media.
Actionable Insights:
Do research on your own culture and see what folks, legends, and myths your ancestors told to each other.
Show more women in comics with real and authentic bodies.
Create dynamic female characters that follow the Bechdel Test.
When assembling your creative team, include those part of marginalized communities - BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and women.
Waverley Lim
Former UCLA Student
Read more about Kwento Comics in The Daily Bruin.
Turning Red: The Experience of Asian American Teenage Girls
AAPI HERITAGE MONTH FEATURE
For the celebration of AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islander) heritage month, we chose to highlight Pixar’s first Asian-led film – Turning Red. The coming-of-age animated movie, featuring predominantly Asian American (AA) characters, is the first to be solo directed by a woman and, more specifically, a woman of color, Domee Shi. Turning Red centers on Meilin “Mei” Lee, a 13-year-old Chinese Canadian girl who navigates through puberty, friendship, and cultural expectations.
To our surprise, some reviewers have criticized the film as too personal and specific to be relatable to most audiences. However, we have found that Turning Red accurately depicts what other films haven’t been able to before: our unique experiences growing up as AA teenage girls.
Asian American Mother-Daughter Conflict
The mother-daughter relationship has been the topic of many stories about young girls throughout the years. Films such as Lady Bird, Freaky Friday, and Brave have portrayed this relationship, but the intergenerational conflict between AA moms and daughters is particularly distinctive. For AA immigrant families, this conflict often stems from the disconnect between collectivism and individualism, or the core community values of Eastern and Western cultures, respectively. Turning Red follows in the footsteps of AA mother-daughter stories (such as Joy Luck Club) and adds to a growing list of films that depict this dynamic (such as Everything, Everywhere, All at Once).
The relationship between Mei and her mom, Ming, fluctuates throughout the movie. Mei tries her best to be the perfect daughter according to her family’s expectations, but begins to experience changes in her body, hormone levels, and behavior. She transforms into a giant red panda when she feels strong emotions, such as joy, anger, sadness, and embarrassment. The panda serves as a metaphor for puberty, a turbulent time for both children and parents. Mei starts to fight with her mom and goes against her mom’s expectations and family traditions. The film does not glorify disobedience; rather, it portrays the complicated reality of the parent-child dynamic during adolescence. In particular, Turning Red highlights the immigrant mother-daughter bond and the trauma passed down from one generation to the next. Like what was done previously, Ming seeks to control and suppress Mei’s red panda. As Mei learns to deal with her red panda and tackle her family’s intergenerational trauma, she and her mom realize that it is okay to embrace the messy parts of yourself.
The Importance of 4*Town
Another source of parental conflict is Mei’s desire to attend the 4*Town concert with her friends. Although many dismiss 4*Town as a comedic portrayal of the hormonal, boy-crazy tendencies of teenage girls, boy bands and fandom culture play an important role in AA identity development. For AA teens growing up on the Internet, some of the first AA media representation was through YouTube creators. Some channels explored makeup and Asian beauty, like Michelle Phan and Jenn Im, while others made comedy skits about AA identity, like Ryan Higa and Wong Fu Productions. Fans of these creators on YouTube developed a community for many AA viewers to discuss their identity openly and see people who look like them on screen when Hollywood lacked representation. Additionally, many AA teens consume media from Asia itself, such as anime and K-Pop, to connect with their identity. The term Hallyu, or Korean wave, was coined in the 1990s as Korean pop culture rose in popularity throughout Asia and the U.S. This wave has continued through today, as seen through the craze around Korean music, like BTS, and the praise for Korean dramas, like Squid Game. We even see a nod to K-Pop in Turning Red through one of 4*Town’s members, Tae Young. In an interview about the movie, Domee Shi revealed that she was influenced by both American and Korean boy bands growing up, acknowledging that the media often ridicules young girls for being a part of such fandoms. Hence, Turning Red depicts the significant influence of fandom for AA girls’ experiences and is one of the first to do so seriously, without the typical mockery of teen girls.
4*Town was also important in portraying the connection within Mei’s friend group. According to research on teenage fans, participating in fandom culture facilitates teens to establish close communities and friendships around a shared interest for celebrities. We see this phenomenon when 4*Town ties the four friends, Mei, Abby, Priya, and Miriam, together. Contrary to the typical toxic depictions of teenage friendships in television shows and movies, Turning Red provides a positive portrayal of female friendships. Mei, Abby, Priya, and Miriam are able to be themselves around each other and appreciate each other’s quirkiness. This gives audiences a fresh perspective on teenage female friendships and shows the supportive community surrounding fandoms.
Conclusion and Next Steps
Turning Red normalizes puberty (emotions, menstruation, boy-craziness, etc.) and celebrates strong female friendships, while addressing topics like intergenerational trauma and identity formation. Indeed, the film provides AA teen girls with an accurate portrayal of their experiences, but there is still room for improvement in authentic and inclusive AA representation. Future stories can include more diversity in Asian ethnic groups: current representation is overwhelmingly East Asian and lacks South Asian and Southeast Asian experiences. It is also important to consider intersectionality in AA representation, including LGBTQ+ representation, biracial and multicultural identities, and different ages.
Sisi Peng
CSS Fellow
Alexa Mugol
Former CSS Intern
Brian, 12
Media Consumption: Mainly consumes media through computer, smartphone, and tablet mostly every day, at least 6 hours a day.
Favorite Media/Technology: His favorite type of media is video games, but also Instagram and TikTok.
How do you and your family interact with media/technology?
We have a family group chat called, Kakaotalk (Korean texting app), where we text, call and send pictures or videos to each other. This is our family’s daily messaging app.
How do you and your peers interact with media/technology?
I use my laptop or phone to stay connected with my friends. I use social media (Instagram, TikTok) to share short videos like “reels” with others and keep each other updated. Also, I use FaceTime to call and talk with my friends.
What do you use media for?
I use media to socialize and see what is trending throughout the time. For example, I watch TikTok to see what new events or incidents are happening around me. Also, I watch funny memes, sports, and play video games. When I play video games, I use FaceTime to talk with my friends live while playing.
What is your favorite/least favorite thing about media/technology?
My favorite thing about the media is I feel connected with my family and friends whenever. Also, I can search for everything on the internet which is convenient. My least favorite thing or negative effect would be I use too much phone during the day. I can’t live without my phone even a day which is kind of sad to think about.
What is one thing you want the people who create the media you like to watch/play/interact with to know?
I hope the computer does not freeze whenever I play video games especially when I play with my Korean friends who live in Korea. I know it is obvious that the game could be lag but I don’t want my computer to be crashed. Also, I don’t want to spend my real money to buy items in the game. I think it’s unnecessary to spend “real” money in the “fake” game world.
What media do you interact with the most?
I interact with my phone the most. I watch YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram all through my smartphone.
Where do you get most of your information about what’s happening in the world (e.g., news, internet, parents, etc.)?
I watch TikTok or Instagram to see incidents or news that is happening recently. I think those two are the fastest social media to receive news today.
What media helps you stay busy/stay calm during challenging times?
YouTube has been helping me to stay calm during challenging times. I love watching YouTube because it makes me laugh and forget about challenging things going on around me.
What lessons have you learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenging times?
I learned that going to school was thankful because I get to see my friend and hear my teachers’ lectures in person. I don’t like using Zoom because sometimes it’s hard to hear the teacher and I can’t learn properly. Also, I learned that my phone is important to stay in touch with my friends.
Have you learned anything about how you use media and technology because of the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenging times?
I didn’t know I spend this much time on my phone but I realized that I spend even more time during the pandemic because there was nothing to do other than watch my phone. So, I started to use my phone less than before.
Interviewed by: Dana Lim, UCLA student
Zoe, 14
Media Consumption: Frequent; daily for both school and personal usage
Favorite Media/Technology: TikTok (2-3 hours per day), YouTube (20-40 minutes per day), and Messages (10-30 minutes per day)
How do you and your family interact with media/technology?
When I was younger, my parents would let me use a family iPad for an hour a day, however, I had to ask for their permission in order to use it and they would monitor my activity. I would use the iPad to play games such as Angry Birds or watch videos on YouTube. My parents used to have flip phones but now we all own iPhones. Even though I have my own phone and get to choose my interactions with media/technology, my parents still have rules. For example, I am supposed to leave my phone in the living room at night and have to put my phone away while doing homework. We also have a family rule: no phones at the dining table.
How do you and your peers interact with media/technology?
A lot of my friends and I use iMessage to communicate. Through iMessage, we have a lot of group chats and also play games such as 8-ball through [an integrated app called] Game Pigeon. I also use Spotify a lot so I have collaborative playlists with my friends which allow us to share the music that we are currently listening to with one another.
What do you use media for?
I use it to communicate with my friends and to keep up with social media. Additionally, I use it for school. Canvas or Google Classroom. I was curious if COVID-19 played an important role in how schools decided to use media. In asking her about that, Zoe shared how since elementary school, media has been a large part of her learning. In elementary school, her class would go to Computer Lab once a week in which they would learn skills such as typing, using Word, and how to create citations. This helped me understand her grasp on media literacy and its prevalence in schools. My teachers assign homework through Canvas, and I also turn it in online through Canvas. I even have a Chromebook from my school students, which I use in class such as to read articles in my English and History classes. I like using a computer as it makes completing assignments faster—I type faster than I write. I can also easily look things up when I am having trouble understanding a topic.
What is your favorite/least favorite thing about media/technology?
Social media can be positive for spreading awareness about social issues because I can keep up with current events through peoples’ Instagram stories. It can also be helpful for getting things done quickly. However, social media also creates a false reality since people only post the good things about their life, which is harmful because others will believe their lives have to be perfect to fit in. I feel like a lot of people compare themselves to social media standards in order to determine how they should act.
What is one thing you want the people who create the media you like to watch/play/interact with to know?
One thing I would like people I watch to know is that a lot of people look up to them. Many of these creators have huge platforms with many followers. Therefore, they should be aware of what they post. For example, a lot of my friends used to watch Brent Rivera when we were younger and now they realize how messed up and weird some of his videos are.
What media do you interact with the most?
I interact with media through my phone the most. The app that I use the most is TikTok. Last week, I spent 19 hours and 22 minutes on TikTok. Other apps on my phone that I spend a lot of time on are YouTube, Spotify, and Messages. For school, I also use Canvas and Google Classroom.
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 information from posts on Instagram and TikTok. I also get a lot of information through my friends (especially about things happening at school or related to my peers), as well as through parents and teachers. My history teacher provides us with a lot of information about current events by showing us news articles and videos.
What media helps you stay busy/stay calm during challenging times?
Going on TikTok helps me stay busy and calm because it is full of things that interest me. I also love to listen to music so I utilize Spotify to listen to music to calm my nerves during challenging times. Some of my favorite artists are Ariana Grande and Taylor Swift.
What lessons have you learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenging times?
From the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenging times, I have learned more about how to adapt to different circumstances and situations. I have also found new hobbies during these times to take my mind off of the stress of the challenging times.
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 used media to learn new things that could keep me busy. I learned how to play the guitar and ukulele. Additionally, I learned how to make different types of friendship bracelets. I learned how to do all of this through media by watching videos on YouTube.
Interviewed by: Ally Chan, UCLA student
Zaayra, 18
Media Consumption: Several hours every day
Favorite Media/Technology: Instagram
How do you and your family interact with media/technology?
We all interact with each other through various forms of Social Media. From family groups on WhatsApp to sending memes to each other on Instagram. Social Media is an important part of all our lives.
How do you and your peers interact with media/technology?
Similar to my family, my peers and I all interact through social media. We all got inspiration through social media and try to model ourselves through it. Posting regularly and seeing what others post is also something that excites us.
What do you use media for?
I use media for basically everything in my life. It is my inspiration for most things I do. The way I dress, the food I eat, and even the people I try to be like, are all inspired by social media.
What is your favorite/least favorite thing about media/technology?
My least favorite thing about social media is the aspect of stalking. I feel that some people can misuse social media and can invade the privacy of others.
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 I like to know that their content has a significant impact on my beliefs and values, and that they have the power to shape the way I see the world. Therefore, I hope they take their responsibility seriously and create content that is diverse, inclusive, and promotes positive messages.
What media do you interact with the most?
I interact with social media the most. More specifically, I use Instagram more often than other apps. I model my life through what I see on Instagram.
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 the information about what’s happening in the world through Instagram. Other than that I also get news through the Internet and my parents.
What media helps you stay busy/stay calm during challenging times?
TikTok and Instagram help me stay calm and busy during challenging times. They provide me with entertainment through memes and reels and keep me distracted.
What lessons have you learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenging times?
From the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenging times, I have learned the importance of adaptability and resilience. It is crucial to be able to adjust to new circumstances and persevere through difficult situations in order to thrive in an ever-changing world.
Have you learned anything about how you use media and technology because of the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenging times?
Yes, the COVID-19 pandemic has taught me to be more mindful of my media consumption and to take breaks from technology when needed for my mental health. It has also shown me the importance of using technology for social connection and staying informed, while being cautious of misinformation and excessive screen time.
Interviewed by: Aditya Singh, UCLA student
Wolf, 13
Media Consumption: ~8 hours a day
Favorite Media/ Technology: Snapchat
How do you and your family interact with media and technology?
We don’t use it as a family ever. Whenever we are just together we don’t use our phones. We pay more attention to each other. Except when we are watching TV because we are watching together.
How do you and your peers interact with media and technology?
We mainly use it for jokes. We talk all the time about everything, and we also use it for helping each other do our homework.
What do you use media for?
People are constantly snapping you, I am constantly snapping everyone, and you can see everyone's locations. I can tell when my friends are lying to me or when my sister is lying to me because I can see where she actually is.
What is your favorite/least favorite thing about media/technology?
It gets really annoying when everyone wants to talk to me. My phone is always receiving Snapchats from everyone, and I never get a break. Sometimes I just really do not want to talk to anyone.
What is one thing you want the people who create the media you like to watch/play/interact with to know?
Not really anything. What would I want to tell them? I don't know.
What media do you interact with the most?
I think Snapchat, but also YouTube. I am constantly using Snapchat all day but when I get home I like to use YouTube for gaming videos.
Where do you get most of your information about what’s happening in the world?
My parents and my teachers. We always talk about what is happening whenever we watch the news together, and in class they tell us bigger important things.
What media helps you stay busy/calm during challenges?
Sometimes when I am stressed I go on YouTube instead of doing my homework, but then it makes me more stressed. I like to not be on my phone when I am busy, that helps me stay calm.
What lessons have you learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenging times?
I got my iPhone right before the pandemic so it was pretty awesome and I was able to have stuff to do while staying at home. Family is important though. We spent a lot of time together at home all the time. It was good we all had phones to avoid each other when needed.”
Interviewed by: Marjorie Gray, UCLA student
Sebastian, 16
Media Consumption: I listen to a lot of music throughout the day but I also will sometimes leave my phone going on in the background if I’m making food or doing homework. But, on social media or watching YouTube, I probably spend 3 hours, sometimes more. I don’t not spend as much time on my phone as I used to. My favorite form of media now is video games, which I spend 1-2 hours on on weekdays and maybe 5 hours on weekends.
Favorite Media/Technology: My favorite form of technology nowadays is video games that I play on my console. I used to spend more time on my phone watching movies and when I was younger I did not play games at all but since getting the console I really enjoy playing them.
How do you and your family interact with media/technology?
The way my mom interacts with the media is mostly through Facebook but I don’t know what other social media she has. I mostly contact her through her phone but she also has a computer.
How do you and your peers interact with media/technology?
Most of my friends have social media, like Instagram and Snapchat and a decent amount are actively on it.
What do you use media for?
I mostly use social media to reach out to specific friends or I’ll look at Instagram just to see
what someones been up to lately. You can just look at someone's Instagram and see how their
life’s been going.
What is your favorite/least favorite thing about media/technology?
Technology is a really easy way to lose everything, like money because you can get scammed really easily through emails or credit cards. On the internet all your information is just easier to get. My favorite thing is that it is easy entertainment, you can just sit down and watch a movie or game, or FaceTime people that are far away that you can’t see. It is good for entertainment and communication.
What is one thing you want the people who create the media you like to watch/play/interact with to know?
I don’t know one thing I’d want people who create media to know, I’ve never really thought about that. I can’t change it; it will always be changing.
What media do you interact with the most?
I think I probably use media like Spotify the most.
Where do you get most of your information about what’s happening in the world (e.g., news, internet, parents, etc.)?
I probably get most information about what’s happening in the world from school. In one of my classes I have a teacher that believes it’s important for us to know what’s going on, which it is.
What media helps you stay busy/stay calm during challenging times?
I don’t really use my phone as a way to comfort me, I just use it to contact people, listen to music and watch videos, movies and shows. I don’t think those really help me stay calm but video games don’t really make me stay calm; they help me stay busy and plugged in.
What lessons have you learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenging times?
I don't really know, that not a lot of people care about getting better. Like with COVID, it’s been years and i can’t believe, like my school, doesn’t even care about masks, like masks are nonexistent these days.
Have you learned anything about how you use media and technology because of the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenging times?
Yes I have learned that using technology in moderation is important and balancing that by doing things outside of technology is important. I used to use technology a lot before bed and late at night but I learned to limit the time on them because being tired isn't fun and I have to wake up cause I have to walk my dog.
Interviewed by: Daniela Noricumbo, UCLA student
Selina, 16
Media Consumption: 8-12 hours/day
Favorite Media/Technology: DouYin (Chinese version of TikTok)
How do you and your family interact with media/technology?
I live with both of my parents and my grandmother. My grandmother only watches TV and doesn’t own a phone. However, my parents and I spend a lot of time on media. We usually watch TV or a show on our computer while we are eating and we also spend a lot of time online before bed. My parents are very generous on me using media, they don’t really restrict the content and the time usage.
How do you and your peers interact with media/technology?
We like to share funny videos to each other, and the jokes of these videos are often brought up in our daily conversations as well. We also contact a lot after school on our phones as well. When we see somewhere fun and interesting, we’ll also share it to each other and go there during the weekends.
What do you use media for?
I use media mainly for communication and entertainment. I chat a lot with my classmates after school and I also keep in contact with my middle school friends through chatting softwares. I also like to play games and watch random videos for leisure.
What is your favorite/least favorite thing about media/technology?
My favorite thing about media is that I can find other people satisfying my needs in things that I can’t do. For example, I absolutely love dogs and always dreamed of getting a dog. However, my mother is deadly allergic so I can’t get a dog. Thus, watching other people owning a dog and playing with their dogs through videos online really satisfy me. I also watch some “mukbang” videos where people eat junk food to satisfy me as well.
What is one thing you want the people who create the media you like to watch/play/interact with to know?
I want people that are dog owners and create cute videos of dog to know that I really enjoy your content. However, please also take good care of your dog off camera as well. I’ve seen news on a few pet owners abusing their pet to create a good scene simply for camera.]
What media do you interact with the most?
I interact with DouYin (Chinese version of TikTok) the most for entertainment, and I use WeChat the most for communication.
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 this information from my parents and the Internet. DouYin sometimes feed me videos of breaking or interesting news. In addition, my parents and I sometimes discuss what’s going on in the world as well.
What media helps you stay busy/stay calm during challenging times?
I play a game called XiaoXiaoLe (Chinese version of Candy Crush), it really helps me to stay calm during challenging times as the game is very simple and I don’t have to think much about it. It is kind of like an escape mechanism.
What lessons have you learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenging times?
I learned that online education doesn’t work at all especially for younger kids like those in elementary school and middle school. It’s so hard to have motivation to finish your work and watch through all the lectures without a classroom environment. I am super happy that I get to return to school and meet friends.
Have you learned anything about how you use media and technology because of the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenging times?
My media consumption has definitely boosted significantly during COVID-19. I used to only spend 2 hours per day on my phones after school, but during COVID-19, I spend up to 12 hours each day for both learning and leisure. I learned that media consumption is indeed entertaining but also horrible after a certain point. To a certain point, I was just aimlessly scrolling through my phone because I had nothing else to do.
Interviewed by: Yuting Wang, UCLA student
Violet, 16
Media Consumption: 7 days a week, 8 hours a day
Favorite Media/Technology: TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, iMessage
How were you introduced to technology and social media?
I received my first iPad and Ipod Nano at the age of 4. I grew up surrounded by technology with a father involved in the Tech and Telecommunications industry. Through his access to tech, I recieved my first smart phone in fifth grade. After moving across the country and abroad, I was able to keep in touch with friends and family because of technology, whether it be sending each other Instagram memes or chatting on FaceTime.
How did the pandemic affect your social media consumption?
Once the pandemic hit, I downloaded TikTok and have been an avid user since. I started spending 8+ hours a day on the application. Now that school is back in person, I have cut back on my use, but still spend hours on the app over the weekends.
What was and now is your favorite type of media to consume?
I first explored YouTube and later delved into watching more reality television as well as TikTok. I discovered YouTubers like Bethany Mota, known for her day in the life videos, beauty tips, outfit inspiration, and meal ideas. I fondly remember sneaking in hours of YouTube, and binge-watching Bethany’s videos with my older sister in elementary school. My initial impressions of the videos were fond. I always looked up to people like Bethany who always had the trendiest room decor per holiday season and had the latest Bath and Body Works seasonal products in her bathroom. Now, I like to watch other TikTok influencers like Sandra and Alix Earle, U Miami seniors known for their get ready with me makeup videos.
How do your peers interact with social media?
I think unrealistic beauty standards on social media have led to excessive photo retouching and the fear of missing out for my peers. It has normalized applications like FaceTune and oftentimes my peers use this application to minimize acne, look tanner, and appear thinner. In real life, it manifests itself into girls feeling pressured to cake their face with makeup and look like an airbrushed doll; they even seem afraid to go to the beach without makeup sometimes, especially if they know boys will be around. Although I am good at ignoring these expectations, I sometimes feel less confident, and succumb to the pressure of editing my own appearance on social media to look “better.” This leads to unrealistic expectations that my age group has to attain, creating a ridiculous beauty standard that nobody is able to reach.
How does social media influence your own age group and those who are younger than you?
Children younger than myself are being influenced by these college-aged girls like Alix Earle, contributing to the sellout of some of her beauty essentials. Some 12 year olds are buying out drunk elephant bronzing drops to be on trend when they don’t even use it. When I was 12, I think I dipped into your drugstore makeup but never high end product. In general, younger generations want to look up to role models and trends which may not be targeted at them. I think they are doing it to be accepted and “on trend.”
How does social media affect communication?
Social media has altered reality in making people feel socially awkward. Some people are unable to have normal conversations in real life and sometimes hide behind their phone because they don’t have the ease of speaking over text and FaceTime. When I spend quality time with my friends, I usually avoid being on her phone because I value real relationships more than my online connections.
Interviewed by: Grace Hillabrant, UCLA Student
Stefano, 18
Media Consumption: Every day for approximately 5 to 10 hours per day
Favorite Media/Technology: Instagram
How do you and your family interact with media/technology?
My parents don’t really use social media unless it’s for their business. However, I do enjoy sending videos through Instagram or TikTok back and forth with my siblings.
How do you and your peers interact with media/technology?
I interact in the same way that I do with my siblings, we all enjoy randomly sending each other videos. We see it as a way of keeping up with things that we choose to follow on social media. We also use Discord to voice call when we have free time and want to play video games together.
What do you use media for?
I mainly use media to keep up with the lives of the people that I’ve followed. I also follow soccer and Formula 1 to keep myself updated. I’ll occasionally see highlights of other sports, but I don’t care as much about them.
What is your favorite/least favorite thing about media/technology?
My favorite aspect about media is the possibility of discovering something new that I like and seeing if I can add it to my day-to-day life. I also really love just being able to see something, note to myself “hey, that’s cool,” and then be able to move on. My least favorite aspect would be the rabbit holes that you can go down (on all platforms but especially YouTube). With TikTok, if you’re just scrolling through your For You page, it has gotten to the point where the videos are displaying so much randomness that it really shows the change in people’s attention span. It’s steering away from what I like (a good storytelling video), and it’s changing to just very short, attention grabbing visuals designed to maximize views.
What is one thing you want the people who create the media you like to watch/play/interact with to know?
I remember reading that, from day 1, even Mark Zuckerberg didn’t allow his kids to use social media. Regardless of whether that’s still true to this day, we still choose to scroll through media on our devices despite knowing how detrimental it can be. I would want the creators to know that we shouldn’t be scrolling through their content but we still are.
What media do you interact with the most?
I interact with Instagram the most.
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 Instagram.
What media helps you stay busy/stay calm during challenging times?
Instagram helps me stay busy/stay calm during challenging times.
What lessons have you learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenging times?
I learned that nothing beats human connections. It was so easy to deprive myself of those connections and just be on my computer/phone during the pandemic, and after realizing that, I started to wonder why wasn’t I outside playing soccer? It was getting to the point where I was using the stay-at-home order as an excuse to never go outside; I wouldn’t even want to go to the store with my parents. It challenged me to ask myself why I couldn’t just go outside and go for a walk. Overall, the pandemic really helped me realize that I was overusing technology.
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 was using technology at an extreme level because of school. It was getting to the point where I couldn’t wait until I could finish my work and be able to get away from staring at a screen. Now, I really try to prioritize going outside and moving my body over being on my computer/phone.
Interviewed by: Kevin Nguyen, UCLA student
Ryan, 18
Media Consumption: Daily, for multiple hours a day
Favorite Media/Technology: Discord, Gaming Websites, Social Media, YouTube
How do you and your family interact with media/technology?
We are pretty involved from a social media standpoint. My father watches a lot of television, Facebook, and other platforms. My sister is very into her Instagram persona and Snapchat. I personally use the computer a lot and play games with my friends. I use Instagram and social media so we all heavily use it on a daily basis to interact with people. We use iMessage and follow each other on Life360 and on social media.
How do you and your peers interact with media/technology?
Typically, we use a lot of messaging apps to get a hold of each other and organize stuff. We use messaging apps like Discord, Snapchat, or iMessage to contact and get in touch with each other or to talk to each other on a video or phone call to play games.
What do you use media for?
I like to use it to kill time, if I don’t have something to do, I will go on social media. I play games with friends, watch videos, and scroll through feeds, all just ways to kill time.
What is your favorite/least favorite thing about media/technology?
I like the speed at which you can contact other people or send a message or let other people know that you have done something. Almost like the speed of interaction. I don’t like the need to have some sort of presence or popularity based on what you post and how well you are able to post on social media and frame yourself.
What is one thing you want the people who create the media you like to watch/play/interact with to know?
As people got more intertwined with social media, the type of content has gotten more and more short-form which puts emphasis on shortening attention spans, but I think the best kind of videos that interest me is stuff that has rewatchability where it is an interesting concept played out in a well thought out manner. It isn’t meant to just be a quick video to get a view, but I want longer content that can keep me engaged but still has a concept that was interesting. I wish the content was interesting and not just looking to get a view. TikTok has incentivized creators to get pointless mind-numbing views but I would like the return of longer videos that look to grow because they are well made.
What media do you interact with the most?
I watch a lot of science people because I think their videos are interesting, I also watch hour-long Family Guy videos for background noise so even though I don’t watch TV in the normal sense I watch clips on YouTube. I also play games with my friends on Discord and hang out with them virtually.
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 social media, different news sites, YouTube or my parents. I like doing my own research to form my own opinions on news topics.
What media helps you stay busy/stay calm during challenging times?
I relax and use social media to kill time. I will also talk to my friends or play video games with them online. Sometimes we hang out outside of media too and go get lunch or ride our bikes around town for exercise and get out of the house.
What lessons have you learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenging times?
I have learned how much friends and interactions with others matter to me. I know now how important hanging out with people and socializing is and I don’t want to ever take that for granted.
Have you learned anything about how you use media and technology because of the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenging times?
During the pandemic, the biggest change was the use of media in education with Zoom calls as classes. It also helped to be able to video call people who couldn’t go out. Even though that has died down, there are still residual effects from the way institutions change like using Canvas instead of school loop with more generalized usage. There are remnants of media use that are still influenced by the pandemic. I spent more time using media during it since there were fewer things to do so I could kill more time. Now, I think I am on it a little more but most of the effects have worn off. It is about the same.
Interviewed by: Peyton Carranza, UCLA student
Sarah, 17
Media consumption: 8 hours a day
Favorite Media/Technology: Instagram and TikTok
How do you and your family interact with media/technology?
We watch TV together. TikTok I use on my own, but like TV shows or reality shows, we’ll watch together. We’re also friends with each other on social media.
How do you and your peers interact with media/technology?
My friends and I use Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter for memes. We send each other TikToks.
What do you use media for?
I use media to talk to my friends and for entertainment. I follow celebrities, my friends, mental health, and food accounts because they are fun to watch, and I learn too.
What is your favorite/least favorite thing about media/technology?
My favorite thing about media is that it is very entertaining, and I can find out a lot of celebrity drama through it. My least favorite thing is media can get really toxic, and it makes me compare myself to others. Especially when I look at all the other girls online, and it makes me compare my body to theirs. I don’t really like to post anymore because people can judge and think I’m not cool or fun. They can be really mean to other people online.
What is one thing you want the people who create the media you like to watch/play/interact with to know?
Know that your audience can be very young, so it is important to be careful with what you say and do because that can influence me and other people a lot.
What media do you interact with the most?
I spend the most time on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube.
Where do you get most of your information about what’s happening in the world (e.g., news, internet, parents, etc.)?
Sometimes my parents tell me about important things, but I find out a lot from social media because people always post about important news.
What media helps you stay busy/stay calm during challenging times?
I like to watch TikToks because there is so much content, and it’s really easy to keep scrolling. I also like that I can find people with similar interests or people I can relate to.
What lessons have you learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenging times?
I learned how to be more considerate of other people and also how important socializing is because school was really hard when it was online. Social media helped me stay in touch with my friends.
Have you learned anything about how you use media and technology because of the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenging times?
I learned that I spend a lot of time on my phone and watching videos, but I think I spent more time on it because there wasn’t a lot to do.
Interviewed by: Michelle Shin, UCLA student
Samuel, 16
Media Consumption: Instagram and TikTok. I recently deleted TikTok because I was wasting time and because it wasn’t useful and I would procrastinate other duties (like school and after school activities). I keep Instagram on my phone and average between thirty mins and an hour a day in usage.
Favorite Media/Technology: My favorite media is video games because with online video games I can connect with other people like people everywhere, even people who don’t live where I do. But, I only play during school breaks, like winter break. My favorite video games are Monster Hunter or Halo.
How do you and your family interact with media/technology?
We don't. I use it to view others, I don’t post much. Just to see how people are doing and stuff. We interact with technology as a resource, not too much as to post to let other people see what we are doing. We do watch TV, movies, and order things off of Amazon on the computer. Sometimes I text my siblings to send them memes. Since my brother and sister are away in college I have to text or FaceTime them when I talk to them.
How do you and your peers interact with media/technology?
We don't really text much, we prefer to see each other in person. We only text to set up a date and time. Or if it's urgent like I forgot something at school, or a last minute ride.
What do you use media for?
Communicating with others and catching up with them to see how they are. Most of the time I use it when I am bored.
What is your favorite/least favorite thing about media/technology?
My favorite thing is that it allows me to communicate with others. My least favorite is that it is very addictive. Like on Instagram, it sends you notifications of who posted or dm’ed you.
What is one thing you want the people who create the media you like to watch/play/interact with to know?
I want them to know that they shouldn’t portray ideas on the youth that they are. Ideas like your body should be perfect, or a lot of political ideas that children shouldn’t be thinking of at the time. Children the ages of anywhere between from when they first get their phone to at least 16/17. They usually get their phone around 5yrs old or middle school. But by the time they complete high school they already have it. Political ideas are corrupting our youth into thinking that they should be agreeing with the media. People who share political ideas are advertisements that pop up or influencers like YouTubers. Influencers like instagram models, give people an image that they should look like that.
What media do you interact with the most?
I interact with Instagram the most.
Where do you get most of your information about what’s happening in the world (e.g., news, internet, parents, etc.)?
Instagram reels or accounts. Especially like Visalia Stringer (the home town page). My mom and dad put the news on in the morning and on the weekend I get to listen to it.
What media helps you stay busy/stay calm during challenging times?
Media doesn’t help me stay calm, it makes me anxious. There's a lot of negative stuff going on and even the positive stuff makes me anxious because I never know if it's real or if they are lying. Spotify does help me though, whenever I listen to it, it helps.
What lessons have you learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenging times?
I learned to give myself opportunities and to not be so hard on yourself and on others. Since at that time, I didn’t have a phone and social media, I learned about taking care of myself. Like exercising regularly, drinking enough water, mentally taking care of myself, making sure I am eating healthy enough. I came to realize that if I could do something about something, I shouldn’t worry, and if I can’t do something about it I also shouldn’t worry. Just accepting the fact that things are out of my control has brought me a lot of peace.
Have you learned anything about how you use media and technology because of the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenging times?
I mostly learned how to use media due to the examples that my siblings have given me. I saw how they would post and I would do that, or how they kept Snapchat and how they kept up with their friends. So I did it too.
Interviewed by: Daniela Noricumbo, UCLA student
Polin, 18
Media Consumption: 2 hours/day
Favorite Media/Technology: phone/Instagram
How do you and your family interact with media/technology?
My family and I interact with social media by watching TV shows and movies together. Even when we are having a family night playing board games, we have the TV on in the background. Also, my mom and I always send each other Instagram posts or TikToks that we think the other would enjoy.
How do you and your peers interact with media/technology?
My peers and I interact with social media by posting on social media platforms and liking or commenting on each other's pictures. We also send each other videos or posts that we think the other would like.
What do you use media for?
I use the media to keep in touch with people that I haven’t talked to for a while. People will post vacations that they went on or the schools that they got into. It’s like a life update for people that you haven’t talked to for a while. I also use media because I enjoy taking pictures and sharing them.
What is your favorite/least favorite thing about media/technology?
My least favorite thing about social media is that it can be addicting and waste a lot of your day. I have noticed that especially on TikTok, I'll be scrolling for a very long time because you are always wondering what the next video is going to be. My favorite part includes being able to catch up with my friends and also having a temporary escape when after I have had a difficult day.
What is one thing you want the people who create the media you like to watch/play/interact with to know?
I want them to know that there are positives and negatives when it comes to media. Based on Instagram, it is nice to see what my friends are up to and hear from them on my posts. However, there are also cons which mostly have to do with people posting what others might want to see. A lot of people, whether they are friends or celebrities, hide behind their screens and make it seem like their lives are perfect. This false idea leads to negative effects for people who are feeling insecure or are dealing with life problems.
What media do you interact with the most?
The media that I interact with the most is social media on my phone. If I do not limit myself, I could be scrolling for hours.
Where do you get most of your information about what’s happening in the world (e.g., news, internet, parents, etc.)?
The platforms that I get my news from are from Instagram news accounts, Twitter, or the Citizen app that gives news on your neighborhood. My parents, however, get their news from the news channels on the TV.
What media helps you stay busy/stay calm during challenging times?
The media that helps me stay calm or stay busy during challenging times is social media such as TikTok or VSCO. TikTok helps me get distracted and forget about challenging times or stress that I might have from work or school. On VSCO, I edit pictures and put together collages that help me remember good memories to distract myself from challenging times.
What lessons have you learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenging times?
A lesson that I have learned from the pandemic is how distracting and addicting social media can be. I learned this when I checked my screen time and it was progressively going up. There are so many hours in the day that I could be using to be productive and instead I was on my phone scrolling on social media. It seems that during challenging times it is common to look for an outlet which usually ends up being social media.
Have you learned anything about how you use media and technology because of the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenging times?
I learned that during the pandemic, along with challenging times where I am stressed, I look to social media to distract me. It is an outlet in which I can momentarily forget about the challenges around.
Interviewed by: Sarine Auvazian, UCLA student
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