Benjamin, 13
Media Consumption: About 3 hours per day during the week, and about 6 hours per day on the weekends
Favorite Media/Technology: I really like YouTube and Discord, which I use on my iPhone
How do you and your family interact with media/technology?
My dad has the NextDoor app so that he can connect with our neighbors, but other than that my parents don’t use social media. My grandma has Facebook, though, and she posts pictures of me which are sometimes cute but other times I wish she would let me see the pictures first. My parents set rules for what I can access online–I’m not allowed on Instagram or Twitter. I don’t know why, but I just listen to my parents’ rules.
How do you and your peers interact with media/technology?
Sometimes when my best friend watches the same videos as me on YouTube we’ll talk about it but I mostly interact with my friends on Discord and Snapchat. On Discord, my friends and I have a group chat where we always talk about something different–one day we’ll talk about homework, the next day we’ll talk about funny meme pictures. I used to keep Snapchat streaks with my friends but I don’t really anymore. People my age keep Snapchat streaks to show off their popularity with their high “Snap Scores” because they care a lot about that.
What do you use media for?
I mostly use Snapchat and Discord to be social and connect with my friends. I use YouTube for entertainment and to watch comedic videos. I don’t really play as many games on my phone as I used to.
What is your favorite/least favorite thing about media/technology?
I like using YouTube because it has a positive environment. I also like how social media is a good way to connect with people and be able to talk to friends. I don’t like how apps like TikTok are toxic and negative. There’s a lot of cyberbullying on social media and people say a lot of things online that they wouldn’t say in person. Sometimes the hate comments on other people’s videos can make me feel bad about myself.
What is one thing you want the people who create the media you like to watch/play/interact with to know?
I get a lot of ads on YouTube, usually for Grammarly or different game apps. YouTube should know that I don’t pay attention to their ads, and I always skip them right away.
What media are you using more now because of the COVID-19 pandemic?
During remote learning, I watched a lot of YouTube–a lot more than before quarantine. I didn’t watch it during classes because I had to pay attention to those but I watched it while I was doing homework.
Where do you get most of your information to learn more about changes during the COVID-19 pandemic (e.g., news, internet, parents, etc.)?
My parents watch the news and then they tell me about things like changes to online learning or vaccine requirements.
What media has been helping you stay busy/stay calm during the COVID-19 pandemic?
Every day during quarantine I watched something different on YouTube. I was just trying to find something to fill in the blanks in my day because I wasn’t able to do a lot. I thought that since there was nothing to do I could watch someone else do something on YouTube.
What lessons have you learned from the COVID-19 pandemic?
It’s really important to keep in touch with friends online when you can’t see them in person.
Have you learned anything about how you use media and technology because of the COVID-19 pandemic?
I use a lot more media when I’m bored. It’s kind of a last resort for me. I use media to feel better and be entertained with funny YouTube videos. I also think social media is a really good way to connect with friends.
Interviewed by: Sophie Lawrence, UCLA 3rd Year student
Sarvin, 14
Media Consumption: 8 hours per day
Favorite Media/Technology: TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram
How do you and your family interact with media/technology?
We have a family group chat where we text and my dad sends me funny videos on Instagram. My mom also sends me pictures of her new artwork through text messages or Instagram.
How do you and your peers interact with media/technology?
We talk about our day on FaceTime, send pictures through Snapchat and keep each other updated throughout the day.
What do you use media for?
Socializing with friends and posting pictures of myself.
What is your favorite/least favorite thing about media/technology?
My least favorite thing about social media is having to see people be brought down by others for no reason. My favorite thing about social media is that it allows me to talk to my friends and express myself.
What is one thing you want the people who create the media you like to watch/play/interact with to know?
I want to have a precise screen recording of what people do when they visit my Instagram account. Also, I want to be the only one who has access to this information.
What media are you using more now because of the COVID-19 pandemic?
Literally everything. I use my phone more in general. I am also posting more often on Instagram and Snapchat.
Where do you get most of your information to learn more about changes during the COVID-19 pandemic (e.g., news, internet, parents, etc.)?
Instagram is where I get most of my information from. Everything goes around really fast there.
What media has been helping you stay busy/stay calm during the COVID-19 pandemic?
Netflix has been my best friend during the pandemic.
What lessons have you learned from the COVID-19 pandemic?
I’ve learned that I have to be more careful trusting people online and the information I share with others.
Have you learned anything about how you use media and technology because of the COVID-19 pandemic?
I started spending more time using media and technology during the pandemic and because of that now I know how to better manage my media use, meaning that I know what to post, what not to post, what to believe online, and what not to.
Interviewed by: Sepideh Torab, UCLA Student
Pedro, 12
Media Consumption: Hulu, everyday, YouTube 1x a week, Xbox every Weekend (8hours), YouTube on iPhone during car rides, 2 hours a week, Alexa listening to music every day, Laptop for school everyday, and Apple Watch for messaging, everyday.
Favorite Media/Technology: Xbox (Apex and Fortnite games), because you get to play with friends and it’s fun.
How do you and your family interact with media/technology?
We interact through texting. I text my family when something happens like, I text my mom when I’m coming home and we also watch movies and TV shows together.
How do you and your peers interact with media/technology?
We text each other about stuff that happens in school and funny things like memes. We chat and play [video games] together.
What do you use media for?
I use media for video games , soccer, questions I want to be answered, funny memes, roasts, crazy expensive things online that I like to look at, to see what video games are the best, I text my friends to see if they can play outside, to see what they are doing and if they want to play xbox, I see the weather
What is your favorite/least favorite thing about media/technology?
My favorite thing about media is the variety to it, the internet gives a lot of options and you can do a lot of things on it and at once too. My least favorite thing are the cyberbullies on the Internet, when I go to the YouTube video comments I see cyberbullies making mean comments.
What is one thing you want the people who create the media you like to watch/play/interact with to know?
Stop doing 3 minute sponsors in the beginning, announcing sponsors on YouTube and stop finding ways to place ads in the middle of videos, too many ads. Don’t do not necessary talking in video games, the people talk all about their lives. Do a reset for video games to reset it for season 1. Instead of updating the game they create a new version which cost like 100$.
What media are you using more now because of the COVID-19 pandemic?
It’s back to the same now, during quarantine it was different. I was watching a lot more YouTube during Zoom meetings, which I got in trouble for while doing online school during pandemic.
Where do you get most of your information to learn more about changes during the COVID-19 pandemic (e.g., news, internet, parents, etc.)?
My parents give me info about the COVID-19 pandemic.
What media has been helping you stay busy/stay calm during the COVID-19 pandemic?
Memes help me stay calm because they make me laugh, video games help me focus on something else.
What lessons have you learned from the COVID-19 pandemic?
Toilet paper is precious, and that people on the internet lie. My dad was watching the news and people were saying how the pandemic is government planned.
Have you learned anything about how you use media and technology because of the COVID-19 pandemic?
I use media a lot, because I resort to it when I’m bored, I like one genre of entertainment, which is comedy and action adventure, and on YouTube just comedy.
Interviewed by: Paloma Pfeiffer, UCLA Student
Greggy, 9
Media Consumption: 5 hours a day
Favorite Media/Technology: iPad to play Minecraft and Roblox
How do you and your family interact with media/technology?
I don’t really use technology with my family. The most we do together with technology is watch movies on our TV.
How do you and your peers interact with media/technology?
My friends and I go on Minecraft together and try to get onto the higher levels. We talk about the different things we had to do to get to those levels and how to get the most amount of points. We also send each other TikToks about things we think are funny.
What do you use media for?
I use it to play games with my friends and talk with them when we’re not at school.
What is your favorite/least favorite thing about media/technology?
My favorite is that I get to play Minecraft with my friends and my least favorite thing is that my mom always takes away the iPad if I haven’t finished my homework.
What is one thing you want the people who create the media you like to watch/play/to interact with to know?
They need to add different features to Minecraft because it’s starting to get a little boring. My friends and I are thinking about switching over to Fortnite.
What media are you using more now because of the COVID-19 pandemic?
I’m using my mom’s computer more. Before COVID, I didn’t use an actual computer that much, I only used iPads. I’m going on Google more to look up information for school, and not just playing games.
Where do you get most of your information to learn more about changes during the COVID-19 pandemic (e.g., news, internet, parents, etc.)?
I get most of my information from TikTok. On my For You Page (FYP), I get TikToks about mostly Minecraft or funny videos, but sometimes I’ll get news about COVID.
What media has been helping you stay busy/stay calm during the COVID-19 pandemic?
I’ve been on YouTube a lot watching my favorite gamers. Their channels are teaching me how to level up in Minecraft.
What lessons have you learned from the COVID-19 pandemic?
I haven’t learned much from the COVID pandemic, other than we can do almost everything at home. It’s nice that I get to see my friends at school, but I liked it when I could do my classwork through Zoom.
Have you learned anything about how you use media and technology because of the COVID-19 pandemic?
Not really. I just learned how to use different apps, such as Zoom. Nothing really changed with how I use my iPad.
Interviewed by: Kaitlyn Bigman, UCLA Student
M, 7
How do you and your family interact with media/technology?
My parents allow us to play video games and stuff like that on our own time…the rules about it are: You're not allowed to have it before dinner or before school and we have to finish all our homework and we aren’t allowed to watch anything scary or inappropriate. We’re also not allowed to take pictures of each other if we don’t like it. If we search up something scary or inappropriate we delete YouTube then reinstall it, then it’ll think it’s an entirely new person.
How do you and your peers interact with media/technology?
I believe my friends use more [technology] than me. My friend has [an Xbox] and he allows me to use it, and it’s really fun. We play street fighting games, and we go on missions to defeat people. When we play Super Smash Bros we choose our characters and fight with different moves. When we play Star Wars battlefront we choose the light or dark side and then get to use different people to destroy others.
What do you use media for?
I like to use technology cause it’s entertaining and because it’s really fun. I use the Promethean board in school for about three hours a day, and for two extra hours a day if I have a project for homework. On Wednesdays I have 30 minutes in my computer class, which is coding and stuff. I use technology for fun for about two hours per day, and I can’t count how many hours I use it for fun on the weekends. I also really like to read Harry Potter with regular books. I listen to music on my mom’s phone sometimes and FaceTime and text my brothers. I don’t use any social media. Sometimes I watch movies with my family. I have my own ChromeBook for school and I got my own iPad when I was 6 years old.
What is your favorite/least favorite thing about technology/media?
My favorite thing about technology is that I get to play video games with my friends and watch entertaining YouTube videos. It’s a good way to relax after school and homework. I like to watch people play video games [like Roblox and Minecraft] on YouTube more than I actually like to play them. I like to play on my friend’s Xbox because the Xbox is supposed to have better graphics than the PS5. I like to play street fighting games and we play Super Smash Bros…we also really like Star Wars Battlefront…there’s a Tony Hawk Skating game but that’s not on the Xbox.
What is one thing you want the people who create the media you like to watch/play/interact with to know?
I just like to watch and play video games, I don’t like the scary and inappropriate stuff. I like video games with better graphics!
What media are you using more now because of the COVID-19 pandemic?
I use texting, FaceTime, and video games more because of quarantine, because it’s hard to see my friends. I try to call my friends but it’s hard to do. I send my grandma pictures, like last year my brother got a new bike. When we make gingerbread houses I send her pictures of that.
Where do you get most of your information to learn more about changes during the COVID-19 pandemic (e.g., news, internet, parents, etc.)?
When we re-download YouTube and it thinks we’re a new person it shows us news about COVID, but I don’t usually look at it. I learn things about COVID from my parents and teachers.
What media has been helping you stay busy/stay calm during the COVID-19 pandemic?
I play video games and watch YouTube to stay busy during the pandemic.
What lessons have you learned from COVID-19?
I have learned that family and friends are important.
Have you learned anything about how you use media and technology because of the COVID-19 pandemic?
I have learned that I like to use technology to keep myself entertained when I’m bored, and also that it’s fun to talk to my friends that way.
Interviewed by: Hattie Bleeker, UCLA Student
Ani, 17
Media Consumption: Daily, about 5 hours
Favorite Media/Technology: Goodreads
How do you and your family interact with media/technology?
We usually watch TV together, like our favorite shows or movies, when my parents and sister are all home. We also have a family group chat where we text about stuff that happens during the day.
How do you and your peers interact with media/technology?
Well, I use Zoom every day for school, so we talk to each other that way a lot during class. We also use Discord to talk about our Youth & Government club and plan events.
What do you use media for?
I use it for entertainment and to find new books on Goodreads. I’ll use TikTok a lot to watch funny videos, and I’ll use Instagram and Discord to chat with my friends.
What is your favorite/least favorite thing about media and technology?
My favorite thing is that I can connect with my friends really often. I like how easy it is to talk to people. My least favorite thing is how I lose track of time, especially on TikTok. When I’m on TikTok, the time on my phone disappears, and it gets really easy to forget how long I’ve been on the app.
What is one thing you want the people who create the media you like to watch/play/interact with to know?
This one is really hard. Maybe I would tell them to stop making everything so addicting. All of these social media apps can be really addicting and take up most of my time in my day.
What media are you using more now because of the COVID-19 Pandemic?
Definitely Zoom, because all of my classes have been on Zoom for a long time now. I’ve been using Discord a lot too for my clubs, because that’s where we plan stuff.
Where do you get most of your information to learn more about changes during the COVID-19 Pandemic?
I get my news through infographics on Instagram and short videos on TikTok. People post a lot of those things and talk about current events, so it’s easy to keep up with everything that way.
What media has been helping you stay busy/calm during the COVID-19 Pandemic?
Goodreads has really helped me stay busy and calm. I love to read, and it’s really fun to go on Goodreads and check off books from my list and rate them, and also find new books to read that other people recommend.
What lessons have you learned from the COVID-19 Pandemic?
I guess I’ve learned to be patient. I can’t control everything, so I’ve learned to just do my best and see what happens.
Have you learned anything about how you use media and technology because of the COVID-19 Pandemic?
I’ve learned that I use technology way more than I used to. Almost everything is online now, so I’m constantly on my laptop or my phone joining a Zoom call or texting my friends. That’s how I connect with people now.
Interviewed by: Natalie Zadikian, UCLA Student
Jasmina, 14
Media Consumption: 3 hours a day on TikTok and Instagram
Favorite Media/Technology: phone
How do you and your family interact with media/technology?
My family and I interact with media/technology every day. Some of us use it for work and some of us use it for personal entertainment. My parents mostly use their phones for work meanwhile I always use my phone for personal entertainment simply because I need some relaxation after a long school day.
How do you and your peers interact with media/technology?
My peers interact with technology differently than I do. Some of my peers actually talk to their friends on messages and some use it just for school. I use it for entertainment and relaxation, like scrolling through TikTok and Instagram and posting my drawings. I like to draw. I also watch a lot of DIY and drawing tutorials.
What do you use media for?
I use media for entertainment since I want to feel relaxed and have fun. I also post my drawings on media just to get likes and views. Also, search up for the new drawings videos.
What is your favorite/least favorite thing about technology/media?
My favorite thing about social media is that I can talk with a lot of people who have the same interests as me. The thing that I dislike on social media is bullying. These days people bully each other and aren't afraid to hurt other people's feelings.
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 I love what they are doing and I hope they don’t stop! And make social media more fun and useful.
What media are you using more now because of the COVID-19 pandemic?
TikTok and Instagram, I started to use during COVID-19.
Where do you get most of your information to learn more about changes during the COVID-19 pandemic (e.g., news, internet, parents, etc.)?
TikTok, Instagram, and parents.
What media has been helping you stay busy/stay calm during the COVID-19 pandemic?
TikTok and Instagram help me to stay calm during COVID-19. They gave more relaxation.
What lessons have you learned from the COVID-19 pandemic?
The lesson I learned from the COVID-19 pandemic is how to live life online. I also learned a lot of DIYs from TikTok. New cooking recipes and other hacks that I can use for school.
Have you learned anything about how you use media and technology because of the COVID-19 pandemic?
Yes, I have. I learned that media takes your time easily. For this reason, I try to manage my time using social media for particular periods of time.
Interviewed by: Navbakhor Absamatova, UCLA Student
Yue, 5
Media Consumption: Every day
Favorite Media: Paw Patrol/Peppa Pig/Patty Shukla Kids TV
How do you and your family interact with media/technology?
When Yue was two years old, she liked dancing with Patty Shukla on YouTube. Since she was 3 years old, Yue started to watch cartoons such as Peppa Pig. Currently, her favorite TV show is Paw Patrol.
How do you and your peers interact with media/technology?
Because of COVID, Yue and her school had to use video meetings for online classes. For the past two years, Yue has been using Voov Meeting and DingTalk to take lessons from pre-school and practice dance with teachers.
What do you use media for?
Yue mostly uses media for learning and entertainment. For one, due to COVID, Yue took advantage of media to take classes with her classmates and teachers from pre-school. For another, she also uses media to watch cartoons. This also helps her to learn English.
What is your favorite/least favorite thing about media/technology?
Yue said her favorite thing about media is that she can watch the stories of dogs in Paw Patrol. Her least favorite thing about media is that her mom turns it off after 1 hour.
What is one thing you want the people who create the media you like to watch/play/interact with to know?
To make each episode of cartoons longer so that others will not notice how many episodes have passed.
What media are you using more now because of the COVID-19 pandemic?
Yue started to use Voov Meeting, Zoom, and Dingtalk more often as tools to have video meetings with her class. She uses WeChat and Zoom as a form of communication with friends and teachers, chatting online with play dates and taking dance classes when school was closed.
Where do you get most of your information to learn more about changes during the COVID-19 pandemic (e.g., news, internet, parents, etc.)?
Yue gets most of the information about COVID-19 from her parents.
What media has been helping you stay busy/stay calm during the COVID-19 pandemic?
As a 5-year-old girl, Yue does not understand much about the anxiety and frustration people have regarding COVID-19. She is busy with the activities that school and her parents have planned for her. She took online lessons when the school was closed, and she was occupied with YouTube Kids and Disney movies at home when there were lockdowns. She also does crafts with online tutorials, such as making puzzles or doing paper folds.
What lessons have you learned from the COVID-19 pandemic?
It is important to stay healthy and follow the rules (such as wearing masks and maintaining social distancing).
Have you learned anything about how you use media and technology because of the COVID-19 pandemic?
Yue thinks media brings convenience to people. She thinks it is amazing that she can communicate with others through video even though they are physically apart. Yue also feels that she had learned new knowledge because of media, such as sharing.
Interviewed by: Annie Qingyang Li, UCLA Student
Riley, 12
Media Consumption: 3 hours per day
Favorite Media/Technology: TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube
How do you and your family interact with media/technology?
Riley shares some of the larger pieces of technology at home but has been given the responsibility of her own personal smartphone. Her mother allows her to use most apps. There are a few apps Riley isn’t yet allowed her own account with, like Facebook.
How do you and your peers interact with media/technology?
Riley describes the media usage at home as very similar to her friends. Some have their own phones, some do not, and they all use laptops or iPads for school.
What do you use media for?
Riley understands how to use the technology and the apps but doesn’t yet produce much of her own content. She does not feel pressured to post frequently on her social media feeds; she just posts what she wants, when she wants.
What is your favorite/least favorite thing about media/technology?
“My favorite thing is that I get to interact with people, you get to see the daily lives of other people. My favorite thing is also other people motivating others to, you know, live life in a good way. The thing I don’t like about technology and media is that people use it for the wrong things such as cyberbullying.” A few years ago she had been playing a game with her brother on an app that was popular with kids. Kids Riley considered friends “got on the app and began calling me names.” When asked if this turned her off from playing the game, she answered that, “It didn’t turn me off from the game, but it motivated me a lot. They called me some names I didn’t like so I started working out with my dad to get into better shape. It really changed me, and it made me realize, this isn’t going to stop unless I do something about it. So, I went outside, started working out, got myself in shape, made a lot more friends, friends that I knew were better for me.”
What is one thing you want the people who create the media you like to watch/play/interact with to know?
“All I can say is that it is very addictive.”
What media are you using more now because of the COVID-19 pandemic?
Riley has begun using her laptop more frequently because of COVID, not only for homework, but also to keep up to date on the virus.
Where do you get most of your information to learn more about changes during the COVID-19 pandemic (e.g., news, internet, parents, etc.)?
While her parents mostly educate her about what is happening, she likes to know what is happening for herself. When her mother suggested they make the decision to get vaccinated as a family, she and her brothers already knew they wanted to do it.
What media has been helping you stay busy/stay calm during the COVID-19 pandemic?
TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube.
What lessons have you learned from the COVID-19 pandemic?
Riley tries to stay cognizant of how long she is using a screen versus her time on other off-screen activities. “There are things on the phone that you can see, but there is so much more around us that is not on the phone.” She hopes that the virus doesn’t stop her school play from happening again. Last year she got Alice in Alice in Wonderland, but it didn’t happen because of the virus. Now she got the part of Charlie Bucket, and she is really excited to be one of the leads.
Have you learned anything about how you use media and technology because of the COVID-19 pandemic?
Online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic “did not” disturb Riley’s learning. She had no challenges adapting to the technology, although she prefers in person learning because online classes “can lag.” Riley is a very energetic kid who is always eager to learn so it is not surprising that she says that all the online learning during covid taught her to value her offscreen activities that much more.
Interviewed by: Tiffany Schwanz, UCLA Student
Lauren, 17
Media Consumption: Don’t know how often
Favorite Media/Technology: Instagram or TikTok
How do you and your family interact with media/technology?
Most of my family has phones so we use social media apps a lot to entertain ourselves.
How do you and your peers interact with media/technology?
Similar to my family, we all have a cell phone so we watch videos on our phone and entertain ourselves. We also do most if not all of our school work on a computer.
What do you use media for?
I use media for entertainment and for communication purposes.
What is your favorite/least favorite thing about technology/media?
I think my least favorite thing about it is how superficial it has become. A lot of people stress themselves out over how many people like their photo or how many followers they have. I also don’t really like how it’s so open because certain people can message me inappropriate things. The only thing I can do when I receive those messages is to block and report them. Even then, the most that can be done is the banning of that account. People can create multiple accounts and keep sending inappropriate messages.
What is one thing you want the people who create the media you like to watch/play/interact with to know?
I’d like them to know that it's very uncomfortable for people to receive inappropriate messages. I wish that they would take more preventative measures so that it doesn’t happen.
What media are you using more now because of the COVID-19 pandemic?
I use TikTok a lot more since COVID.
Where do you get most of your information to learn more about changes during the COVID-19 pandemic (e.g., news, internet, parents, etc.)?
I get my information from a mix of TikTok, Instagram, the news channel, and my parents. Some of my friends are very into social politics and such and will post about them on their social media so I can see when something happens. I also watch the news channel sometimes with my parents and we sometimes talk about the news we see.
What media has been helping you stay busy/stay calm during the COVID-19 pandemic?
TikTok and Instagram have definitely helped me stay busy during the pandemic. I feel like they were really good at being my distraction and entertainment since there wasn’t really anything to do. I don’t think any media has helped me stay calm because I don’t really use it for that purpose.
Have you learned anything about how you use media and technology because of the COVID-19 pandemic?
I’ve learned that it’s become a habit for me to like posts or save them automatically just in case I lose them or if I’m busy. I’ve learned that I use technology more when I’m bored rather than do something else that doesn’t involve technology.
Interviewed by: Margaret Wang, UCLA Student
Mary, 11
Media Consumption: On weekdays, about 2 hours per day. On weekends, about 6 hours online per day.
Favorite Media/Technology: My favorite media is TikTok, and my favorite piece of technology is my iPad
How do you and your family interact with media/technology?
We watch YouTube, television shows, and movies together. My mom uses social media, and my dad watches videos or whatever is on TV. We usually use a moderate amount of media, but we sometimes use a lot on weekends. However, we do not use any media during family bonding time or dinner.
How do you and your peers interact with media/technology?
My friends and I like to use media to interact with each other. We talk to each other on TikTok, Discord, FaceTime, and any other social app. I also like to play Roblox, which is an online game, with my friends. My peers seem to use social media a lot. As far as I know, everyone my age at school uses a phone and has at least one social media account.
What do you use media for?
I use media for educational purposes and entertainment. I look at YouTube to watch Math and History videos, especially when I don’t understand the concepts taught at school. I also watch arts and crafts videos, and I love watching documentaries with my dad.
What is your favorite/least favorite thing about media/technology?
My favorite thing is that I can watch videos about things that I can’t even imagine. I get to see breathtaking scenes and travel all over the world just with the click of a button on my iPad. For example, through vlogs, I can travel to New York City and see Times Square. My least favorite thing is that you can get a lot of criticism online. People can anonymously condemn people and share negative comments that they would never say in real life. Media can be an ugly place when people are disrespectful and rude to each other.
What is one thing you want the people who create the media you like to watch/play/interact with to know?
I wish you would look out for our safety more. Kids like me shouldn’t be afraid of our photos or other things getting leaked. You should have more safety rules and frequently check if someone is doing something wrong online. For TikTok, you should pay more attention to what people write in the comments. For YouTube, you should stop putting in so many advertisements.
What media are you using more now because of the COVID-19 pandemic?
I am using TikTok way more now because of the pandemic. More people have taken interest in TikTok during the pandemic and have posted tons of videos. So, there is a greater variety of content on that platform than before. Also, TikTok personalizes my feed, and I get to post videos and find audios I like.
Where do you get most of your information to learn more about changes during the COVID-19 pandemic (e.g., news, internet, parents, etc.)?
I get my information from my mom and dad because the internet can be wrong sometimes. Also, my mom and dad talk about it during dinner. They usually mention anything big that happens, such as when the restaurants started closing or when the vaccine came out.
What media has been helping you stay busy/stay calm during the COVID19 pandemic?
YouTube, Roblox, and TikTok have been helping me stay calm. YouTube lets me watch any video I want when I’m bored. Roblox lets me escape into my own world, where I can build my own house or design my own characters. TikTok keeps me busy by letting me watch videos so that time goes by faster, which was especially helpful during the quarantine period.
What lessons have you learned from the COVID-19 pandemic?
I learned that I need to be more careful in the future because there are a lot of viruses and bad people in the real world. The world can be a dangerous place, especially with the increase in crime rates. I also learned to not believe everything I see on the internet. Some people can spread false rumors about things online, and many people will believe it.
Have you learned anything about how you use media and technology because of the COVID-19 pandemic?
Now I realize I need to be more cautious of the negative effects of social media. I learned that social media is not as cool as I thought it was. Before the pandemic, I didn’t really use social media that much; I only used Instagram a little bit. However, during the pandemic, when I used social media more, I started to see the dark side of it. I began seeing how easy it is to compare yourself to someone else.
Interviewed by: Sydney Kong, UCLA Student
Ruvim, 9
Media Consumption: Daily
Favorite Media/Technology: Popular Science YouTube Channel by Mark Rober
How do you and your family interact with media/technology?
I have my own phone, but I still share it with my little brothers. I also have an iPad, but mom and dad sometimes use it too. We have a TV that everybody shares when we watch movies together. I like to choose what we watch but I also don’t mind watching what my younger brothers want to watch. My favorite activity though is to hike, like going on adventures, and I would rather spend a day in nature with my family than be on my phone. I believe I spend most of the time outside and only a little using technology.
How do you and your peers interact with media/technology?
We are not allowed to bring phones to school, so we usually play active games, like basketball or soccer during recess. Sometimes, I just walk. I don’t have any social media, so I talk to my friends when I see them everyday at school. I know that some of my classmates use Snapchat when not at school.
What do you use media for?
I use computer and Xbox to play games with my brothers and sometimes with dad. I also use my iPad or my phone to take photos. I really like taking pictures because it helps me remember what I was doing. I take pictures of anything: my home, nature, my brothers, my mom, and dad.
What is your favorite/least favorite thing about media/technology?
I sometimes get bored with it and I’d rather spend time outside, playing with my friends or brothers. I also don’t like it that you have to charge technology a lot.
What is one thing you want the people who create the media you like to watch/play/interact with to know?
I like it when you can learn from videos. I think people who create videos like that are cool. There is this YouTuber that I like to watch because he is an engineer, and he does really fun science experiments. His name is Mark Rober. I even tried some of the things that he showed in his videos.
How are you using media during COVID-19 pandemic?
I used to have to be on Zoom for my classes and I didn’t like it. The only thing that I liked about it was that I could get up anytime I wanted and walk around the room if I was tired of sitting.
Interviewed by: Lia Gugava, UCLA Student
DS, 15
Media Consumption: very frequent
Favorite Media/Technology: TikTok
How do you and your family interact with media/technology?
We all talk on WhatsApp and Zoom together, and I used to play video games with my brother. My mom’s constantly on her phone, most of the time it’s like she doesn’t even hear me, so I just go on my phone too.
How do you and your peers interact with media/technology?
We text each other and use it to make plans (virtually & in real life), or we game together. But sometimes when we’re all hanging out, everyone will be on their own phone individually so it’s like everyone stays by themselves on their phone, so I do it too.
What do you use media for?
I use it to chill and to not think about other stuff, like to distract myself. I use it for fun like gaming and to talk to friends too.
What is your favorite/least favorite thing about media/technology?
My favorite thing is TikTok because it’s so relatable and funny, it’s just like entertaining, you know? But my least favorite thing is like the outcome of using it, like I end up spending so much time on it.
What is one thing you want the people who create the media you like to watch/play/interact with to know?
They suck. They make your “For You” page (TikTok feed) things that you personally like so that you can't stop using it. They make it so addictive, on purpose.
What media are you using more now because of the COVID-19 pandemic?
Definitely TikTok. I spend most of my time on it. And I guess Zoom/Microsoft Teams because of online classes. Other websites related to school stuff and homework.
Where do you get most of your information to learn more about changes during the COVID-19 pandemic (e.g., news, internet, parents, etc.)?
I mostly get that information from TikTok because people talk about pretty much everything on there, and I guess my family sometimes.
What media has been helping you stay busy/stay calm during the COVID-19 pandemic?
TikTok. I would stay on the app for hours and wouldn't really think about anything else.
What lessons have you learned from the COVID-19 pandemic?
I guess I haven’t really learned anything from the pandemic; I’ve mostly just been trying to get through it.
Have you learned anything about how you use media and technology because of the COVID-19 pandemic?
Well it's not really anything new, but the pandemic showed me just how much time I can spend on social media if I really have to, like if I have nothing else to do. And if I’m trying to distract myself, I guess it showed me I can spend hours on it without getting bored.
Interviewed by: Nora Sfeir, UCLA Student
Ethan, 15
Media Consumption: Average 7 hours per day
Favorite Media/Technology: TikTok, Instagram
How do you and your family interact with media/technology?
My mom and I just text whenever we need something and usually just talk at home. With my older brother, we don’t really text and when we do, it's very dry. We usually just talk at home as well.
How do you and your peers interact with media/technology?
Me and my friends text pretty often, like every day. We also find funny TikToks and share them with each other.
What do you use media for?
For entertainment, to kill time, and have interactions with friends.
What is your favorite/least favorite thing about media/technology?
My favorite thing about the media is just the fact that it entertains me and that I can use it to pass time. But, I don't really like the fact that I use all my free time scrolling because I lose track of time. My least favorite is that it makes me procrastinate and gets me up really late at night. I want to have a good sleep schedule.
What is one thing you want the people who create the media you like to watch/play/interact with to know?
Since the platform is exposed to all ages, I think they should watch what they post because sometimes I catch my younger brother watching some questionable things for his age so I think they should watch what they post.
What media are you using more now because of the coronavirus (COVID-19)?
I think I'm using TikTok a lot more because since we were in quarantine, it led me to use my phone more because we were just indoors. And it made me realize how much TikTok can entertain me so I ended up using it more often.
Where do you get most of your information to learn more about the coronavirus (e.g., news, internet, parents, etc.)?
I don't think I really watch the news because I don’t think people my age really watch the news. I know a lot of people say you shouldn't trust social media for news stuff, but if the video shows proof of a news article or something like that, I usually am quick to believe it, but I don't double check or anything like that. Our school sometimes tells us stuff about COVID-19 and I don’t really hear anything from my parents.
What media has been helping you stay busy/stay calm during the COVID-19 pandemic?
TikTok has kept me distracted during the COVID-19 pandemic.
What lessons have you learned from the COVID-19 pandemic?
I learned that I should have taken advantage of the amount of free time that I had and should have put it into other things like hobbies, instead of video games and social media.
Have you learned anything about how you use media and technology because of the COVID-19 pandemic?
I learned that since everyday was a repeat of social media, eating, and sleeping, you start to realize how much you actually use it and how much it wastes your time.
Interviewed by: Yoo Jung Chang, UCLA Student
Hannah, 16
Media Consumption: iPhone screen time about 10 hours per day
Favorite Media/Technology: iPhone
How do you and your family interact with media/technology?
My dad rarely uses his phone because he consciously tries to minimize his phone usage. My mom is the exact opposite because she uses her phone for work, and she is online all day. I use my phone pretty often to use social media and watch YouTube.
How do you and your peers interact with media/technology?
During lunchtime, even though my friends and I are sitting together, we are all on our phones. This is probably because we are not that familiar with each other. My best friends are either in Northern California or in Japan, and we interact through social media applications like WeChat and Instagram. We use iMessage to text, too.
What do you use media for?
I use media for basic communication with friends. I also browse through Little Red Book (a Chinese app similar to TikTok) and Weibo (Chinese Twitter) to kill time. I like K-pop and C-pop groups, so I need to be caught up with trends.
What is your favorite/least favorite thing about media/technology?
Every coin has two sides. I guess my favorite and least favorite part about media is the same. My favorite part about media is that I get to stay focused and forget everything else. However, if I don’t pay attention, I waste a lot of time. It is time-consuming but entertaining.
What is one thing you want the people who create the media you like to watch/play/to interact with to know?
I think the founders of the applications don’t even use them. They should limit screen time for children and teenagers because they don’t have enough self-control.
What media are you using more now because of the COVID-19 pandemic?
2019 was so long ago, I don’t quite remember. I probably used TikTok more back then. Since TikTok is stigmatized in my friend group, I don’t use it anymore. Now I use Little Red Book more often as a substitute for TikTok.
Where do you get most of your information to learn more about changes during the COVID-19 pandemic (e.g., news, internet, parents, etc.)?
I get information from my parents and friends. I seldom read the news. Even though Weibo posted some information about COVID-19, I don’t really pay attention to it.
What media has been helping you stay busy/stay calm during the COVID-19 pandemic?
I used WeChat and Little Red Book. One for communication, and one for entertainment.
What lessons have you learned from the COVID-19 pandemic?
First, people should not go against nature. Second, human interaction is very valuable. I really miss those days when we could see people’s expressions on their faces and enjoy physical touches because it really makes a difference.
Have you learned anything about how you use media and technology because of the COVID-19 pandemic?
Without Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and Canvas, schools cannot survive COVID-19. I am really grateful to those teaching technologies and social media platforms.
Interviewed by: Alice Deng, UCLA Student