Camila - 14
Media Consumption: Day: 5-6 hours, Week: 35-42 hours
Favorite Media/Technology: TikTok/iPhone
How do you and your family interact with media/technology?
My family and I use TikTok all the time together. They always want to make funny videos with me, and it honestly makes me laugh a lot. Sometimes we will make funny videos on what parents usually say to kids or how they have their own ways of parenting us. I also call and text my parents especially when I’m at school if I have to stay longer or anything like that. I enjoy sending my sister TikTok videos while she’s at college and text her more than I usually text my parents. We also make TikTok videos with my cousins and we show it to the rest of our family too.
How do you and your peers interact with media/technology?
My friends and I are always texting each other throughout the day when we don’t see each other at school. During lunch time, we’re always making TikTok videos and posting them. We all come together to be in the videos, and it brings us closer as friends. Without TikTok I wonder what we would do since we make one at least once a day just to keep up with other people and to have fun with everyone too.
What do you use media for?
To stay in contact with my parents, family, and friends and also be able to talk with my friends when we need help with our assignments or homework for school. I also use it to make content and post new videos. I enjoy viewing videos and that’s how I get inspiration to make new content and see what is currently trending too.
What is your favorite/least favorite thing about media/technology?
I think one bad thing about using media is that sometimes we get so caught up into it that all we do is focus on that and not even do other things. Sometimes I do get tired of all my friends looking at their phones when we are together, and I wish we could just talk more. My favorite thing about media though is that it helps me to learn new things and help me with certain subjects I don’t fully understand. It can also entertain me whenever I feel bored or feel like talking to someone.
Interviewed by: Joselyn Paz, UCLA 3rd Year Student
Jia - 12
Jia, 12
Media Consumption: Weekdays: 3-4 hours per day, Weekends: 2-3 hours per day
Favorite Media/Technology: YouTube and Instagram
How do you and your family interact with media/technology?
My mom and I both have phones and some social media. We watch TV together when we eat dinner, and sometimes we watch the shows I like, and I think she is also interested in them. What enjoy watching America’s Got Talent and High School Musical, and we also watch a lot of Marvel movies, like End Game and Iron Man. I will ask my mom about the shows if I don’t understand what’s happening. We don’t really use technology to interact, besides texting, or talking on Instagram. My mom will stop me if I spend too much time on digital media. I ask her most of the time for what games and social media I can get before I download them.
How do you and your peers interact with media/technology?
My peers and I interact with media through Facetiming and messaging. I don’t use FaceTime every day, but I like Messages. I use Messages every day after school. Some of my friends text during class, but I don’t. After school, my friends ask me about homework through text. I have a lot of apps within Messages, so that I can play games with my friends, send them something I like and interact with them a lot. Messages also has a lot of cool stickers that I could. Sometimes my friends and I watch movies and videos together, or one friend would send a video, then we will all watch and talk about it. I follow some of my friends on Instagram but I only follow and let people follow me if I know them. I like to post stories and pictures of what’s happening in my life.
What do you use media for?
I use media for interacting with friends, entertainment and school. I like to watch cartoon shows and animated shows on TV, and I sometimes use my phone to look up things for homework. I use YouTube for entertainment. I follow some bloggers, some DIY stuff, animators and drawers. David Dobrrik is my favorite one. He is really funny, and he is really nice to his friends. My friends and I watch animators, such as Jaidenaimations and Theood1sout. I also use devices a lot for school and during class to complete assignments and check my grades. What is your favorite/least favorite thing about media/technology? I like being able to keep in touch with people, message them and get help on my homework when I’m away. I also enjoy media and technology for entertainment such as listening to music, reading books, or watching videos. But, I don’t like how people are glued to their devices and don’t pay attention to what’s happening around them.
What is your favorite/least favorite thing about media/technology?
I like being able to keep in touch with people, message them and get help on my homework when I’m away. I also enjoy media and technology for entertainment such as listening to music, reading books, or watching videos. But, I don’t like how people are glued to their devices and don’t pay attention to what’s happening around them.
Interviewed by:
Amanda Ruan
UCLA 4th Year Student
Chris - 15
Chris, 15
Media Consumption: Daily: 4 hours during week, 8 hours during weekends Weekly: 36-40 hours per week
Favorite Media/Technology: Youtube/iPhone Red Dead Redemption 2/ Xbox
How do you and your family interact with media/technology?
Generally, I use technology everyday on my own but my family and I do not interact very much on social media. Often times, we watch TV together as a family. My family and I do not play video games together either, I usually play against my friends online.
How do you and your peers interact with media/technology?
Sometimes I play online with my friends over Xbox live and mobile device videogames. On social media, I message and talk with my friends all the time. We like to share memes and other funny popular posts. I don’t post much on social media, but I do enjoy messaging my friends.
What do you use media for?
I use media for entertainment and learning new information. For example, I like to watch history videos on YouTube to learn new stuff. Video games are a stress reliever because I can escape into an imaginary world and it’s a distraction from everyday life. I also enjoy playing video games and going on social media because it increases my overall happiness.
What is your favorite/least favorite thing about media/technology?
My favorite thing about media and technology is that it allows for greater communication and creativity. A lot of games go into interesting concepts and landscapes that I would not otherwise be able to experience. My least favorite thing about media/technology is when my parents post things about me and everyone can see it.
Interviewed by:
Chase Keyler
UCLA 4th year student
Cathy - 7
Cathy, 7
Media Consumption: 30 minutes per day on weekends with mom; No exposure at boarding school from Mondays to Fridays
Favorite Media/Technology: iPad educational games that contain geographic or oceanic knowledge; Stories videos that teaches traditional culture or language
How do you and your family interact with media/technology?
My mom tries her best to spend time with me since I’m the youngest. She only lets me use my iPad or computer during the weekends for 30 minutes each time. My parents rarely watch TV at home, but my older brothers spend a lot of time playing video games and browsing social media.
How do you and your peers interact with media/technology?
We are not allowed to use technologies at boarding school because our teachers think it’s distracting. They use projectors for lectures sometimes. When I see interesting videos and stories online during the weekend, I also share those with my friends at school.
What do you use media for?
I usually use an iPad to watch educational videos and to play learning games that my parents bought me. The topic includes interactive games with geological knowledge (where is the tallest mountain in the world), fun facts of the ocean (how seahorses are born), English games and stories, and some stories of traditional Chinese culture.
What is your favorite/least favorite thing about media/technology?
My favorite part is how I can watch the funny stories and share them with my mom and friends! I feel I know a lot of fun facts or things in general and my friends always get interested in what I share with them. What I don’t like is that I want to talk to my older brother who’s studying in the U.S. more (a 21 yr-old UCLA junior), but he’s always busy with his phone.
INTERVIEWED BY:
Tina Lu
UCLA 3rd YEAR STUDENT
Brandon - 6
Brandon, 6
Media Consumption: One hour a day
Favorite Media/Technology: YouTube
How do you and your family interact with media/technology?
My Mom and Dad like to watch TV, but my favorite technology is my tablet because I can watch YouTube videos. I mostly watch ExtremeToys TV (where they have Nerf gun battles) but my parents don’t usually watch with me. I’m allowed to have my tablet at the dinner table when my parents are busy. The best times are when I play Nintendo with my Mom and Dad, it’s so much fun!
How do you and your peers interact with media/technology?
Most of my friends have tablets and watch the same YouTube videos as me. When we hang out, we watch the Nerf gun videos and then have our own Nerf gun battles. Our battles are awesome and I usually win, but my friends and I always have a fun time when we play with our Nerf guns. Sometimes my friends will bring over their tablets so we can watch our own videos, too.
What do you use media for?
I like to watch ExtremeToys TV and see their funny Nerf gun battles. I sometimes watch Minecraft videos or other funny stuff, but my favorite is definitely the Nerf gun battles. Then, when I play with my friends, cousins, or Dad, I battle just like they do on the videos! That’s the best part because my cousins and Dad are always surprised at how good I am at using the Nerf guns.
What is your favorite/least favorite thing about media/technology?
My favorite thing about my tablet is watching YouTube or playing Angry Birds. My mom plays Angry Birds too, so she helps when a level is really hard. My favorite videos on YouTube are ExtremeToys TV and Minecraft Ethan. My least favorite thing about technology is waiting to download new apps or charging my tablet. It gets boring waiting when I really want to watch YouTube or play new games!
Interviewed by:
Nathan Kirk
UCLA 2nd Year Student
Lily - 14
Lily, 14
Media Consumption: 6hrs/day on weekdays, 10hrs/day on the weekend
Favorite Media/Technology: Instagram
How do you and your family interact with media/technology?
My parents and I use media to interact with each other every day. Most nights, we watch TV together after dinner. I also text them occasionally during the day, but usually only when one of us has a question for the other. My parents don’t interact with me on social media because they don’t really use it. My mom just monitors my social media posts and comments to make sure everything is appropriate. Sometimes my parents get mad at me for being on my phone too much, but I don’t think I’m on it too much. Plus, my dad is always on his iPad while we watch TV at night, so it’s unfair that they get mad at me for always using devices when they do it too. We try not to use our phones during dinner because it’s usually the first time of day we’re all together and we like to talk about our days with each other.
How do you and your peers interact with media/technology?
My peers and I interact with media in a variety of ways, including text, social media, and Facetime. I’m constantly snapchatting all of my closest friends throughout the day. We do this every day so we have streaks—my highest streak right now is 1018 days in a row. We also enjoy sending each other funny posts on TikTok or Twitter. At night, I’ll facetime my friends who are in the same classes as me and we’ll do our homework together or talk about school. A lot of the time I hang out with my friends so we have something to post on social media. We go to cool places nearby to go on photoshoots to get cool pictures to post on Instagram.
What do you use media for?
I use media for a wide variety of purposes that range from entertainment to education. Most of my time spent using media is talking with my friends. At every point in the day, we’re either texting, facetiming, or snapchatting. One of my favorite things to do is Facetime my best friend after one of us goes shopping. We’ll give each other “hauls” of what we bought, just like influencers do on YouTube. I also use media to help me with school. I’ll use it to look up information that can help me with my homework, or to talk with friends about class assignments. During my free time, I’ll watch YouTube or Netflix to stay entertained, but I don’t get a lot of time to do this unless it’s the weekend.
What is your favorite/east favorite thing about media/technology?
My favorite thing about my phone is that I can talk to my friends all the time. I can always see what they’re doing and share what I’m doing with them so we never miss out on parts of each other’s lives. However, always knowing what my friends are doing also leads to my least favorite thing about media: getting FOMO. When I see a bunch of my friends hanging out and I can’t go, I get upset and always wish I could be with my friends instead of where I actually am.
Interviewed By:
Jessica Helfond
UCLA 2nd Year Student
Sofia - 15
Sofia, 15
Media Consumption: ~6 hours a day
Favorite Media/Technology: Snapchat
How do you and your family interact with media/technology?
My parents don’t have social media accounts, and if they did I wouldn’t let them follow me. Now that my sister is in college, we talk more through social media by sending Snapchats or sending each other funny memes. My family and I use media together when we’re watching a movie or listening to music. My mom doesn’;t like how often I am on my phone, and she usually takes it away from me so we can all spend time together without technology.
How do you and your peers interact with media/technology?
I talk to my friends through our Snapchat group chats everyday. I also use Instagram to like and comment on my friends pictures, and most of my friends have at least two Instagram accounts. When we’re not talking over Snapchat, we usually group Facetime. I don’t really like texting or calling though. Whenever my phone gets taken away, I feel like I am missing so much, and it always takes me a long time to scroll through everything I missed when I get my phone back.
What do you use media for?
Since I can’t drive yet, I use media to stay connected with my friends when we can’t hang out. I also use media when I’m bored, and I spend a lot of time watching Netflix or listening to Spotify. Sometimes, I use media for school related things too, and I am in a lot of group chats where we talk about homework. I also like using Instagram and Pinterest to help me learn more about makeup and fashion. I learn a lot about makeup through watching my favorite Youtubers too.
What is your favorite/least favorite thing about media/technology?
My favorite thing about media is being able to talk to my friends whenever I want to. I like staying connected with them when we’re not in school together. I also love learning more about stuff I’m interested in, like makeup and fashion. However, I know that media can have negative effects too. I don’t like that I compare myself to people on Instagram, and sometimes I realize how dependent I am on my phone. I don’t like how stressed out I get when I don’t have access to my phone and my social media.
INTERVIEWED BY:
SERENA SILK
UCLA 2ND YEAR STUDENT
Samara - 13
Samara, 13
Media Consumption: Weekdays - 1-2 hours per day, Weekends 2-3 hours per day.
Favorite Media: Instagram and YouTube
How do you and your family interact with media/technology?
There are certain rules in my household when it comes to being responsible while using media platforms, specifically my parents gave me new rules when I received my cell phone right before I entered middle school. Besides the new rules, they had a conversation with me about how I would now have access to a lot more content, but that doesn’t mean I should be viewing it all and also about what I am deciding to post and have conversations about. They also mediate the social media accounts that I have, like Instagram, by following them to ensure I am being appropriate about what I post.
How do you and your peers interact with media/technology?
We mainly communicate through Instagram, we comment on each other Instagram stories, DM each other post or tag each other on post/pictures and memes, or just DM each other to talk about other topics. Rarely do I text or call my friends through iMessage, I mainly use that to talk to my parents or other family. I feel like I can always connect with my friends through Instagram, so when it is not available to me I feel a bit disconnected. We also talk about you tubers videos that we watch, because we follow the same people.
What do you use media for?
I use the media to feel connected, talk to my friends, and look at their posts. I also follow social influencers in order to look at their posts. The people that I follow on Instagram are usually the same people that I follow and am subscribed to on YouTube. For example, I am part of the Royalty Squad, because I follow and am a fan of Queen Naija and watch all the videos she posts. The influencers that I like to follow are girls who share messages that are genuine and are not trying to act like something they are not, and they spread messages about self-love.
What is your favorite/least favorite thing about media/technology?
My favorite thing about social media is that I can connect with my friends through it, we enjoy talking and sharing posts through social media apps. I think that it can also be used to spread and send many positive messages out to people. My least favorite thing about media is that people can feel like they need to be perfect and be similar to others, but i think that this also just depends on the type of people you follow.
INTERVIEWED BY:
DANIELA RODRIGUEZ
UCLA 4TH YEAR STUDENT
Sue - 14
Sue, 14
Media Consumption: Day: 11 -13 hours, Week: 60-80 hours
Favorite Media/Technology: TikTok/iPhone
How do you and your family interact with media/technology?
My parents and I do not really interact with one another through technology other than communicating through occasional text messages or phone calls. Sometimes, we will watch movies or television shows together when everyone’s schedule is the same. However, my older sister and I enjoy communicating through Snapchat and Instagram Direct Messaging. Depending on the day, we may use one more than another. On Snapchat we send each other funny images or update each other about our school work throughout the day. On Instagram, we send each other pictures/videos we find funny, cute or places we would like to visit. We also send each other new restaurants and foods we would like to try.
How do you and your peers interact with media/technology?
My friends and I are constantly in contact with one another whether it be through social media, text message or FaceTime. I mainly prefer interacting with my peers through FaceTime because of the ease at which we can communicate. Often when communicating through other means we may not fully understand each other or miss out on important details. I also enjoy scrolling through Instagram but I prefer not to post anything that could be misconstrued or used against me.
What do you use media for?
Being in elementary and middle school, my primary use for technology was to pass the time and keep myself entertained as well as to stay connected with my friends. But as I have grown older, my media use has too. Now as a freshman in high school, I largely use my phone for educational content in addition to entertainment. I also enjoy keeping myself preoccupied with watching Netflix and listening to music.
What is your favorite/least favorite thing about media/technology?
I believe that media usage has both positive and negative effects on an individual. I believe that social media applications such as Instagram can have a negative effect on a person psychologically. I attribute negative connotations to Instagram due to its ability to make you feel negatively about yourself. Such as when I see my peers post the “perfect” picture or my friends having fun without me. It makes me feel left out and unimportant. On the other hand, I view applications such as YouTube as positive in terms of both education and entertainment. It gives me the ability to learn new things and get help with homework while also allowing me to unwind after a long day at school.