What’s Your Money Story?
One of my first students at Pockets Change told me, “If I don’t have a plan for my money, my money’s gonna have a plan for me.”
It’s a simple statement that also happens to be some of the best financial advice I’ve ever heard.
We start forming relationships with money between 3-7 years old; while we’re listening to Elmo sing about getting new shoes or sneaking to the doorway as our parents watch Succession. Fictional characters’ wants and needs fill more than screens; they shape our financial narratives.
Across storylines, characters exemplify money personalities in action. Every iteration of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles spends their (literally) hard fought loot on pizza, but each member embodies distinct habits & tendencies. That’s why our multigenerational Hip Hop & Finance programs start with finding your money personality. We use a simple, 2 question money personality quiz to determine one of four money personalities. The questions are rooted in financial psychology and behavioral economics.
Through money personalities, Students, teachers, and family members of all ages have been able to forgive themselves and move forward. The 4 personalities are full of relatable tendencies that make sense of the seemingly irrational ways we deal with money. Do you only buy things on sale? You may be a complicator! Do you end up blowing the big check you just got because it was from an Evil Corporation? You might be a money monk.
The money havers and knowers love telling young adults about the necessity and urgency of making a financial plan. Set long term goals, invest for your future, make a vision board, max out your 401k, build generational wealth.
Save, invest, and protect the right percentages of your wages, advocate for raises, stick to your plan, and everybody will be wealthy and we’ll have world peace. Do the right thing? Spike Lee made a film about how easy it is to do that.
It’s why many officials want financial education taught as a part of math class. Hard work + discipline = success… except when it doesn’t.
There’s no mathematical or magical formula for perfecting our finances. Budgets are personal and cash flow projections are literal guesses. If all that seems fake, and made up, good! So is money.
Take a breath. [Editor's note: ‘take a breath’ is the definition of inspiration]
Money is about more than numbers, it’s a tool to create change. As storytellers, content creators, and community builders we have a tremendous power to deconstruct money myths and cultivate empathy for the financial exploitation, discrimination, and oppression young adults are being called to navigate.
Our research partner, Knology, found Pockets Change’s approach highly effective in building financial resilience through hip hop pedagogy. Through shared practices and resources we have meaningful money conversations across mediums.
Storytelling creates a transformative space for real, open, and empowering conversations about money. As our students explore their own relationships with money, multimedia creates paths to overcome obstacles, encourage empathy, engage curiosity, and envision possibilities.
Our shared money stories shift narratives that have held back our communities for generations. We encourage content creators and program leaders to reflect on where financial themes could enrich their next project.
Bring Money Stories to Life with Actionable Insights:
Expand storytelling beyond the “middle–class centric” values and assumptions too often depicted. Explore the breadth and depth of how our relationships with money show up.
Share empowering stories of navigating uncertainty and enhancing financial wellbeing even when money is scarce or employment precarious.
Promote self-acceptance and efficacy with the message that “whatever it is you have; these are the ways that you’re able to save and this is what you’re able to do to grow.” As one individual told us, the program approach was valuable because it taught youth how “not to have money control you.”
A Note from the Gen Z Authors of the 2023 Teens & Screens Report
Less romance and more friendship - this is what the adolescents of our 2023 study have asked to see from media, entertainment & storytellers (among other things).
As researchers in the industry, this felt like a headline-worthy discovery. But as young people, this felt like an idea that could casually blend into our many conversations and reflections on community (or lack thereof) that have been centerstage for our generation this year.
Late night musings with friends, discourse on social media, and personal meditation on what it means to connect and bond with others have all been consequential “gifts” from the COVID-19 pandemic. The outbreak and the isolation that came with it occupied pivotal years of emotional and relational growth for much of Gen Z, with current high school freshmen being in 5th grade (!) when stay-at-home orders were first announced.
Even as we’ve returned to more in-person routines, articles and YouTube essays on persisting loneliness continue to float around: some with a more analytical perspective, exploring reasons we may have entered “the Friendship Recession,” others more personal and titled with a simple but heartbreaking “I have no friends.”
So what’s the sitch? Earlier this year, U.S Surgeon General Vivek Murthy declared an epidemic of loneliness and isolation, his advisory confirming that the pandemic simply brought an existing issue to the forefront of our collective consciousness. Social connection has already been declining for decades prior, with the rate of loneliness among young adults having increased every year between 1976 and 2019. Quite surprisingly, young adults today are twice as likely to report feeling lonely than those over 65.
Gen Z is already discussing solutions: #UrbanPlanning on TikTok currently has 434.2M Views, with a frequently discussed topic being “walkable cities” and how they are needed for social well-being. A trending sub-topic is the necessity of “third places,” a social environment such as a bookstore or diner, separate from one’s living or working spaces, “where you relax in public, where you encounter familiar faces and make new acquaintances.” Think Central Perk in Friends!
The problem is, there aren’t many third places left for young people. From the death of malls, to the criminality of “loitering,” and a transactional culture that demands spending money to hang out in such a place - where do young people go?
Arguably, as “digital natives,” media (particularly, social media) is where young people tend to land on as their third place.
How does this digital third space contribute to this generation’s collective identity? In our opinion, what’s crucial for storytellers to grasp about Gen Z isn’t the latest slang or weekly trends. Rather, what’s important is understanding the expanded worldview that comes with growing up on the internet and being able to interact with a myriad of different perspectives. What’s important is understanding how the opportunities they’ve had to explore their own identities and understand others’ identities have shifted and changed the kinds of stories they’re open to, the kind of characters they want to see front and center, and the storylines they believe to be authentic.
And while it’s essential to examine how this “digital native” identity sets Gen Z apart from previous generations, it’s also important to acknowledge that they are the same as previous generations: they are social beings that need face-to-face interaction, something that digital connectedness cannot replace.
We received the following response from a 12-year-old participant in Oklahoma:
“The Sand Lot is a baseball movie i like. i wish i could go outside and play like [they] did at the time. today its not safe”
Though simple, his words felt like a poignant representation of what many of our respondents seemed to be hinting at: that the core essence of kids (at heart) and teens will always be the same – from camaraderie to curiosity and a sense of adventure (or even just playing outside) – and it appears that somewhere along the way, this may have been forgotten in storytelling.
So young people are feeling a lack of close friendships, a separation from their community, and a sense that their digital citizen identity has superseded their sense of belonging in the real world - What can you do about it?
Well, it goes without saying that life and art are in perpetual conversation with one another. But, we cannot underestimate the role art has in this dynamic: Oscar Wilde shared in his 1891 essay, The Decay of Lying, that despite the existence of fog in London for centuries, its beauty and wonder is noticed because “poets and painters have taught the loveliness of such effects…They did not exist till Art had invented them.”
Storytelling (as an art) has the incredible power to influence the mood of the zeitgeist and the lens through which people see the world. Ask young people what it is they want to see, then listen: Shine a light on the ideas, characters, and relationships they desire in your stories, and the same light will appear in the real world.
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
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
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
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
How Narratives in Video Games Affect Children and Adolescents
As the video game industry grows, so does the need to understand its consumers and investigate its content on those consumers. Research suggests that over 90% of children and adolescents in America play video games and that the frequency of video gaming increases around age 18, peaking in an individual’s twenties.
Video games offer insight into individual characteristics and judgment alongside offering advantages in learning environments and social education as they expose players to modeling techniques through rehearsal and reinforcement of social behaviors found through the games’ narratives. These themes can vary greatly from game to game and their content has been shown to impact our cognition and behavior.
Adventuring has a powerful effect on individuals’ perspectives and psyche. Games teach us morals and allow us to explore aspects of ourselves that would otherwise be unexplored.
“A sword wields no strength unless the hand that holds it has courage.”
Allowing players the ability to project certain aspects of their psychological attributes to their avatars allows them to become the hero and experience themselves in a world where they can achieve feats beyond what is possible in their real lives. This allows a sort of power of resilience within a player without them being aware of the positive cognitive effects that are occurring as they triumph through lands and save the world from utter disaster.
Many video games are essentially moving narratives where the player gets to make decisions about what a character does next in the game. This essentially creates a virtual reality where players can learn from mistakes made in the game or learn more about themselves through the character they bring to life. Some games have fixed narratives, but increasingly, games are allowing for a more autonomous and whole version of the characters in their games. Games like “Skyrim” and “World of Warcraft” allow players to decide throughout the game whether to take a virtuous path of heroism, or a darker path of thievery, or assassination, along with other characteristics.
Basically, these games allow you to play someone you never could be in real life and this element of choice is what makes video games such an intriguing form of media. I believe Grizzard et al. 2014 said it best: “In narrative media, viewers simply watch moral decisions being made by others, but in video games, players often make the decision to be moral (or immoral).” It is also what makes researching them so complicated and intertwined. Researchers have found that individuals who engage in prosocial gameplay tend to have more prosocial thoughts and behaviors and that individuals who play more violent narratives tend to have an increase of aggressive and hostile behavior and thoughts. Ambiguous games present a unique problem and discussion for researchers.
Morality and Character Content
Narrative content is important to gameplay and to the outside implications of thoughts and actions caused by video games. Not all games are complicated narratives per se and in researching the direct effects of video games on individuals it is hard to have them play a game with a fully immersive and detailed world. So, equally important to narrative content is the character being played in the game. Research has found that the context in which you play a specific character can have direct effects on empathy and general affect.
Morality presents a different viewpoint on aggression and violence within video games. Questions of morality can be intense, and our actions can divide us. Morality asks us if it is okay to kill one to save the many. It asks if violence is acceptable to save an innocent. It also makes video games with protagonists that engage in aggressive behaviors to save the world a question of morality that we should allow individuals to consume. Could it be that a moral high ground and virtuous narrative could mitigate the effects of hostile and antisocial intent?
In fact, research has shown that prosocial concepts can mitigate the effects of violence in video games. Studies have shown that video games could be an important outlet for reflection based upon moral decisions rehearsed in the game and that oftentimes the feeling of guilt can mediate between violent video gameplay and the overall salience of a player.
Essentially, this means that while moral violations occurred through violence, there was no increase in hostile behavior or aggressive thinking shown after the violent video game was played. This could be due to the idea that we justify the violence in the name of moral high ground or simply that the context provided more access to prosocial thought (saving the world) and thus negated access to antisocial and aggressive thoughts.
All of this information can be used by both parents and content creators alike to make smart choices for their kids and reflect on the games we all love and play.
Actionable Insights
Here are Actionable Insights for Parents and Video Game Narratives:
Read the synopsis of a game before gifting a game to a child/teen (check the ratings as well).
Have discussions with your child about the actions their characters take in each game and investigate the moral dilemmas that might appear. Question the motives of each character including NPCs.
Encourage playing games with diverse characters and prosocial narratives.
Here are Actionable Insights for Content Creators of Video Games:
Develop a variety of characters with diverse positions within games and question the motives of each of your characters.
Develop stories with narratives that help users question the world.
Ask yourself:
What is the purpose of this character?
What is my audience/age range for this character?
Do my characters represent the diverse population of my audience?
Michelle Leccese, MA Psychology
Samantha, 20
Media Consumption: about 5 hours per day
Favorite Media/Technology: Netflix, YouTube, Instagram
How do you and your family interact with media/technology?
I live apart from my parents so we call and text a lot to keep up. We also like to watch Netflix as a family and my brother and I share memes and other videos over social media.
How do you and your peers interact with media/technology?
We keep up through text, Facebook messenger, and DMs. We also have movie nights and watch many streaming platforms together. We definitely live on our phones and interact through them, sharing updates about our lives or content we are passionate about.
What do you use media for?
Most often I use it for entertainment purposes as well as to educate myself on current events, but I try not to use it too much for getting information. I also use Instagram and Snapchat to share content with others and see what they are up to.
What is your favorite/least favorite thing about media/technology?
My favorite thing is that it can connect you to a host of different people pretty easily. It allows me to keep up with relationships as well as see other people’s perspectives on various platforms that I wouldn’t otherwise be exposed to. On the other hand, various forms of media can be incredibly toxic and promote a certain body image standard. It can also act as an echo chamber and only accept one opinion and if you are not within that, you can be ostracized and become prey to the “cancel culture.”
What is one thing you want the people who create the media you like to watch/play/interact with to know?
While this may be a contested point of view, some media creators could employ more censorship on their platforms so we can minimize incidents like the January 6th riots. Media creators have a right and responsibility to excise extremist groups who promote violence and facilitate terrorist ideologies. While Twitter and Facebook have begun to do so, this took a lot of public pressure and needs to continue.
What media are you using more now because of the coronavirus (COVID-19)?
Messaging platforms because I can’t see my friends, and other social media sites to stay in contact.
Where do you get most of your information to learn more about the coronavirus (e.g., news, internet, parents, etc.)?
I don’t keep too up-to-date with COVID-related things because it has become exhausting for me. I occasionally get news through the Wall Street Journal or campus publications with updates on places opening up and rates.
What media has been helping you stay busy/stay calm during this difficult time?
Mostly streaming platforms to take me to another place and get my mind off the present. I love finding new shows on Netflix and definitely partake in binge-watching more than I would like to admit.
What lessons have you learned from COVID-19?
I have learned patience and who my close friends are. I have focused on self-discipline and needing to be my own motivator each day. I also try to accept help when I need it and extend grace to others. I have tried to better understand how other people are feeling and accommodate them as well.
Have you learned anything about how you use media and technology because of COVID-19?
I have noticed in the absence of extracurricular activities and places to go, I tend to turn to social media instead. I need to monitor my use as I could sit for hours in my room scrolling through media and wasting the day away. But with all the social movements that have been incited during the pandemic, I have learned it can also be a powerful tool for social change if used correctly.
Interviewed by: Sahar Shirbacheh, UCLA 3rd Year Student
Anna, 14
How do you and your family interact with media and technology?
Lately, the biggest use of technology is using Zoom on the laptop, and my sister and I mostly use Netflix and other social media platforms such as Instagram and TikTok. My parents mostly use technology to watch TV and Korean dramas. We use technology much more than our parents.
How do your parents feel about you using media?
When we were little, they limited our use of technology in terms of time, but now they are open to me using any kind of social media. When I tell my parents that my friends aren’t allowed to use certain platforms, they find it weird because they believe we should be able to use them if we want to. They trust that I’m not doing anything bad, but sometimes they worry that it’ll be a distraction from school.
How do you and your friends interact with media/technology?
My friends and I use TikTok the most. We send each other TikToks, and the screen time is really bad because of it. When I start watching it, it’s hard to stop watching.
Do you have different views towards media use than your parents?
Even though my parents use social media, they don’t view it as something that is necessary. I find it an easy way to interact with my friends. TikTok allows me to see what influencers and other celebrities are doing, and most people I know around me feel that way too.
What is your favorite and least favorite thing about media and technology?
When I’m bored, it’s something that I can do, and I can spend a lot of time on it for entertainment. It’s really fun to see a variety of things. A bad thing I guess is that people get bullied through social media, and it’s kind of hard to prevent it.
Is there anything else you don’t like about social media?
Not really.
Do you think you use the media too much?
Definitely too much, but when I try to limit it, I end up failing. It’s kind of hard to control it.
Have you ever felt the need or want to get away from technology?
Yeah, I thought about it, but I never did it. I think it would be nice, but I never actually tried it.
How did you feel about this interview?
It was interesting to talk about my media use because I never really think about the things you asked me. It made me think a lot about how the media is really affecting me.
Interviewed by: Yejin Ban, UCLA Student
Joshua, 18
Media Consumption: 10 hours per day (school and leisure)
How are you using media during the COVID-19 pandemic?
Well, it has definitely increased because when I was on campus at UCLA, I would spend most free time hanging out with friends on campus, but now I have to interact with friends through social media — Instagram, Facebook, and Snapchat — and my YouTube time has gone up a lot. Just overall an increase in social media use.
How many hours a day do you use digital technology?
I would say a good chunk of my time. Most of my day — at least 10 hours a day on-screen, which includes school and everything else. For school-related activities, at least 6 hours school because I have coding which is online, and I can’t do any of it on paper. For personal use, probably 4 hours.
What are some social media channels that you use? What are their purposes? What are some pros and cons about each?
I am on Instagram a lot. I usually see what people post and what they are up to. But most of the time I’m on TikTok because it’s so addictive. The scrolling option is really addicting. I don’t know if it’s a pro or con but it consumes a lot of my time. More than I would like it to. So I would say probably 3 out of my 4hours — if I spend 4 hours a day — would be on TikTok because you get that addictive scrolling. It’s not the same with Instagram because TikTok allows you to see 6-second videos and you scroll and get hooked on something else again and again. I first got into TikTok at the start of quarantine because I wanted to feel more connected to people. And it's just another outlet to do that.
Do you try to limit your media use? How?
Since I’ve been at home, I know I’ve had too much screen time so I am trying to limit my time for both personal and school use because I do not want to ruin my eyes. Most of the time, I try to cut down my personal use because I can’t help my school-related stuff. I try to cut off my TikTok time as much as I can. On the TikTok app, a guide pops up every so often and says “You’ve been on here for a while. You probably need to get some rest,” which is helpful. I do have notifications on YouTube for if you watch for too long (1 hour) or if it’s your bedtime. For TikTok, I don’t have anything set up, which tells me how much time I’ve been on it. So 3 hours can go by and I wouldn’t notice. So I should probably set up an alarm now that I think about it.
When did you get your first phone? What type of phone was it?
This was back in the day, so I was probably 8-years-old; 2010. It was a BlackBerry. It was one of those that had a wheel on it with the plastic keyboard. So there wasn't much functionality to it. I just played a game where you bounced the ball and hit stuff. I didn’t really contact anyone with it besides my parents because my peers did not have phones at that age. For smartphones, I got my first one in 2013/14. I did more than press plastic keyboards.
How did your parents regulate your technology usage growing up?
Once I came to college, funny enough, they encouraged me to install an app. I forgot what it was called but it basically tracks your location. So wherever I would go, they would monitor where I was at. So I guess they were paranoid of how much freedom I had in college. But before that, in high school, they would monitor messages without me knowing. So I thought that was kind of weird. I don’t think they cared about the content. They didn’t give me murder games but as long as it was within a reasonable range, they won’t care about what I was playing. In terms of screen time, they were responsible parents and limited my screen time when I was on my PS3 or tablet or phone.
Have you been influenced by ads you saw on social media?
I noticed that after I looked something up, they had popped up for that thing I looked up. So whenever I see ads, it's for something that I’ve already seen or looked up so I don’t really pay much attention to them. I actually installed an ad skipper for YouTube. So every time a skip ads button pops up, this ad skipper automatically clicks it so I don’t have to deal with clicking it, so I don’t even watch the ads.
How do you feel about big companies taking your data and feeding it to advertisers?
I think it’s kind of creepy and more annoying than anything. I’ve seen these things and looked it up and it’s just really annoying.
What is your favorite/least favorite thing about media/technology?
I like how many different perspectives I get to see. Not so much from Instagram and Snapchat because the media you consume is based on who you follow. But TikTok is personalized to you in a way that it gives you content that you like but not necessarily [have] seen before. So I like that I get to see a lot of different people that I wouldn’t have otherwise seen because I don’t follow them.
Do you have any thoughts on Facebook?
Before college, I thought that Facebook was only for old people. But now that I’m in college, I realize the importance of it. Because for the Dragon Boat Team, we really utilize all the features such as Facebook messaging, announcements, and discussions. So I like how all of that is intertwined with one another and we could create events on Facebook and send reminders to people. I don’t really use the Facebook platform for anything other than that. But I have been using Facebook messenger a lot more recently. I use it as my main source of communication with people.
What is one thing you want the people who create the media you like to watch/play/interact with to know?
I appreciate those messages that pop up for TikTok. I haven’t put something in my settings where it's like I only want an hour of screen time. So I appreciate those messages from TikTok saying you probably spend too much time on this app and it’s probably time for you to go to bed.
Do you think screentime is bad before going to bed?
I think it might be for some but for me, it's kind of a routine now. It’s my routine so it gets me in the mood to sleep. I try not to let social media dictate sleep, but it often does if I’m hooked on the content. Especially TikTok when it seems like there’s an endless void of content to go through, as opposed to YouTube. When a video ends, after you watched for 40 minutes, you kind of know it’s time for you to go to bed. But for TikTok, there’s no sense of direction or time. So it’s kind of difficult to dictate when I sleep when I am on TikTok, but for other apps, I feel like it’s fine.
When the notification pops up, what do you do?
For YouTube, I know that I’ve been on there for one hour, so I should probably get off, but for TikTok, it doesn’t tell you a certain time. It feels like it's only been 5 minutes. So I feel like I could do it for a little bit more. [With YouTube] usually, I disregard the message, but I do keep it on my mind so I get off a couple of minutes later.
Interviewed by: Quynh Vo, UCLA Student
Anna, 13
How do you and your family interact with technology?
We usually watch something together in our parents’ room or sometimes we text on the phone.
On your own time for fun, how do you use digital media?
I watch YouTube, call my friends, and read comics. I call my friends every day from morning until night.
Are there any rules around media use in the house?
On the weekends, mommy makes us start playing only at 9 or 10 in the morning. That is when we are allowed to start. And then we have to stop at 9 or 10 at night to do something else. She tells us to get off our computers and phones, and if we don’t then she will yell at us.
How do you use social media?
I use Discord. I barely use Instagram and Twitter. I use Discord the most to call and text friends. If one of our friends wants to stream their homework for help or stream YouTube or Netflix. I also did Secret Santa. One of my best friends had a bunch of mutuals on Twitter and I was invited and we all gathered together. I was part of the organizing. Everyone filled out a form and everyone had to fill it out to match people depending on what they wanted and what they could make. It was pretty hectic but I got through. It was pretty cool.
How has your media usage changed during the Covid-19 pandemic?
Before I was only on Discord for an hour a day but now I’m on it every day at every hour.
How do you feel about celebrity influencers online?
I only watch them when they pop up on my recommendations. Some of them are kind of problematic. They get into scandals. They’re just people who I watch, not really role models. They say “don’t wear this, it will make you look fat.” It’s sad and mean. All those girls, especially models. You just have to be like them — shave, no body hair, have a thin face, and have all this stuff appearance-wise. It’s sad.
What lessons have you learned from Covid-19?
Be more aware of your surroundings and follow the rules.
Interviewed by: Adela Tran, UCLA Student
Michael, 20
Media Consumption: Around 4-5 Hours a Day
Favorite Media/Technology: Video Games and Twitch
Why do you play video games?
I use video games and streaming to be entertained and feel linked to other people online. Video games link me to my friends and a community of other gamers [people who he does not personally know] where we can chat through the PlayStation app to schedule a time to play multiplayer games.
What type of content do you play?
Call of Duty Warzone and Rainbow Six Siege. Both of these video game titles are shooter games rated M for mature. Video games have taught me how to socialize. Ever since I was a kid on the PlayStation 3 console, I met and still meet new people every day online.
What do you like about Twitch?
Twitch has helped me learn more about myself. I learned that I am similar to other Twitch viewers as “game lovers” even though I am twenty years old.
Are there media interferences in your life and what are they?
My smartphone is the biggest distraction of all mankind. Instagram and YouTube are the two main platforms that should be held responsible and punished because I fall in loopholes and lose track of time. I take breaks only to find myself with a bag of Lays chips on my bed, scrolling through ads in my Instagram feed.
Is your family also affected by the media interferences and how so?
Smartphones in general interfere with my family. Smartphones are a replacement for social interactions during family dinner. Every family member is on their phone; therefore, it is all quiet during dinner.
How has COVID affected your media usage?
I have not been able to see my friends as frequently as before. However, I can still game with them every day. My friends are very important to me and to see my friends less, hurt me. However, video games saved my relationships with my friends and we are able to talk about everything from school to gaming content while playing video games.
Interviewed by: Daniel Fouladian, UCLA 3rd Year Student
Mia, 18
Media Consumption: 2 hours a day (4-5 if not at work)
Favorite Media/Technology: TikTok
How do you and your family interact with media/technology?
We use WhatsApp, since my dad lives far away in Lebanon this is the only way I can speak with him freely. Other than that, none of my siblings live together so we FaceTime and keep in contact mostly through there especially because of COVID.
How do you and your peers interact with media/technology?
We mostly text over iMessage, not as much as we used to talk in high school but that is probably because everyone works now or is busy in college. Oh, we also all use Insta (Instagram), we comment on each other's pictures and support each other on there.
What do you use media for?
I mostly use media to keep in touch with my family, like my dad and siblings. Or occasionally I will drop an Instagram picture to let everybody know I’m still doing well and I still exist, mostly because everyone else is still using that. Snapchat is dead now so I don’t use that and Twitter is something I will occasionally use. Oh, and I watch Netflix a lot - does that count?
What is your favorite/least favorite component of media/technology?
My favorite thing is talking to my family that I otherwise wouldn’t be able to talk to. Also seeing what my friends from high school are up to this past year, and being able to entertain myself on TikTok for hours. My least favorite thing is that it feels like a competition. We are always competing to post the best pictures and see whose life looks the most glamorous. It sounds weird but you kind of want to have the most likes and the most comments, to know people still care or are interested. You also compare yourself on media because since everyone posts their best pictures you only see that side of them and you constantly feel like you’re not good enough. Or maybe that is just me.
What is one thing you want the people who create the media you like to watch/play/interact with to know?
I want the people who create media to know about vulnerable people on their sites. And yeah they aren't responsible for people’s mental health or anything but maybe put some disclaimers? Like younger kids use their sites and it would be helpful to include that not everything is real - or that could be the parents’ job. Maybe they should make the age requirement stricter because you just have to say what year you were born and anyone can do that.
What media are you using more now because of COVID-19?
Because of COVID-19, I stopped going to school so I mostly stay off my computer and only use it for Netflix. On my phone, I use TikTok a lot. Like for hours, but other than that social media is a little toxic so it’s best to just not scroll through Instagram or anything for hours. But TikTok is funny, I am so grateful for it.
Interviewed by: Rassile Jamaleddine, UCLA 4th Year Student