Sunny - 18
Sunny, Age 18
Media Consumption: everyday
Favorite Media/Technology: Instagram
How do you and your family interact with media/technology?
Technology is definitely useful for when my family has to contact each other. For instance, when I need a ride home, I can let one of my family members know via texting or calling. My family doesn’t use media frequently to interact with one another, though we do occasionally use Snapchat or Instagram to share pictures and videos. I can also easily contact my extended family who live in Japan by using LINE, a messaging app.
How do you and your peers interact with media/technology?
I use technology the most for interacting with my peers, especially my friends. I use a wider variety of social media to stay in touch with them. I believe many use social media to boost self-esteem. For instance, receiving likes and comments on my posts helps to boost my confidence and overall creates comfort in myself.
What do you use media for?
I use social media to increase awareness of the transgender community and break stereotypes that degrade trans people. I like to reach out to those in the LGBTQ+ community, since it’s harder to find trans people offline. I have also been recording my personal growth on Instagram, not only to see how I am changing, but to also help others find their true self and spread the message that being trans is okay. I want to be like the trans people on social media that I admire, because they had helped me out of the confusion of self-identity and discover who I am, and I want to do the same for others.
What is your favorite/least favorite thing about media/technology?
My favorite thing about social media is that I have the ability to be open about my identity and communicate easily with others. A downside is that though people have the ability to be open, at the same time they also have the ability to spread hate and stereotypes. Accounts on Instagram for people of the LGBTQ+ community are often targeted by accounts that spread negativity and false claims, hurting reputations of people like me.