Brian, 12

Media Consumption: Mainly consumes media through computer, smartphone, and tablet mostly every day, at least 6 hours a day.

Favorite Media/Technology: His favorite type of media is video games, but also Instagram and TikTok.

How do you and your family interact with media/technology?

We have a family group chat called, Kakaotalk (Korean texting app), where we text, call and send pictures or videos to each other. This is our family’s daily messaging app.

How do you and your peers interact with media/technology?

I use my laptop or phone to stay connected with my friends. I use social media (Instagram, TikTok) to share short videos like “reels” with others and keep each other updated. Also, I use FaceTime to call and talk with my friends.

What do you use media for?

I use media to socialize and see what is trending throughout the time. For example, I watch TikTok to see what new events or incidents are happening around me. Also, I watch funny memes, sports, and play video games. When I play video games, I use FaceTime to talk with my friends live while playing.

What is your favorite/least favorite thing about media/technology?

My favorite thing about the media is I feel connected with my family and friends whenever. Also, I can search for everything on the internet which is convenient. My least favorite thing or negative effect would be I use too much phone during the day. I can’t live without my phone even a day which is kind of sad to think about.

What is one thing you want the people who create the media you like to watch/play/interact with to know?

I hope the computer does not freeze whenever I play video games especially when I play with my Korean friends who live in Korea. I know it is obvious that the game could be lag but I don’t want my computer to be crashed. Also, I don’t want to spend my real money to buy items in the game. I think it’s unnecessary to spend “real” money in the “fake” game world.

What media do you interact with the most?

I interact with my phone the most. I watch YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram all through my smartphone.

Where do you get most of your information about what’s happening in the world (e.g., news, internet, parents, etc.)?

I watch TikTok or Instagram to see incidents or news that is happening recently. I think those two are the fastest social media to receive news today.

What media helps you stay busy/stay calm during challenging times?

YouTube has been helping me to stay calm during challenging times. I love watching YouTube because it makes me laugh and forget about challenging things going on around me.

What lessons have you learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenging times?

I learned that going to school was thankful because I get to see my friend and hear my teachers’ lectures in person. I don’t like using Zoom because sometimes it’s hard to hear the teacher and I can’t learn properly. Also, I learned that my phone is important to stay in touch with my friends.

Have you learned anything about how you use media and technology because of the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenging times?

I didn’t know I spend this much time on my phone but I realized that I spend even more time during the pandemic because there was nothing to do other than watch my phone. So, I started to use my phone less than before.

Interviewed by: Dana Lim, UCLA student

Sebastian, 16

Media Consumption: I listen to a lot of music throughout the day but I also will sometimes leave my phone going on in the background if I’m making food or doing homework. But, on social media or watching YouTube, I probably spend 3 hours, sometimes more. I don’t not spend as much time on my phone as I used to. My favorite form of media now is video games, which I spend 1-2 hours on on weekdays and maybe 5 hours on weekends.

Favorite Media/Technology: My favorite form of technology nowadays is video games that I play on my console. I used to spend more time on my phone watching movies and when I was younger I did not play games at all but since getting the console I really enjoy playing them.

How do you and your family interact with media/technology?

The way my mom interacts with the media is mostly through Facebook but I don’t know what other social media she has. I mostly contact her through her phone but she also has a computer.

How do you and your peers interact with media/technology?

Most of my friends have social media, like Instagram and Snapchat and a decent amount are actively on it.

What do you use media for?

I mostly use social media to reach out to specific friends or I’ll look at Instagram just to see

what someones been up to lately. You can just look at someone's Instagram and see how their

life’s been going.

What is your favorite/least favorite thing about media/technology?

Technology is a really easy way to lose everything, like money because you can get scammed really easily through emails or credit cards. On the internet all your information is just easier to get. My favorite thing is that it is easy entertainment, you can just sit down and watch a movie or game, or FaceTime people that are far away that you can’t see. It is good for entertainment and communication.

What is one thing you want the people who create the media you like to watch/play/interact with to know?

I don’t know one thing I’d want people who create media to know, I’ve never really thought about that. I can’t change it; it will always be changing.

What media do you interact with the most?

I think I probably use media like Spotify the most.

Where do you get most of your information about what’s happening in the world (e.g., news, internet, parents, etc.)?

I probably get most information about what’s happening in the world from school. In one of my classes I have a teacher that believes it’s important for us to know what’s going on, which it is.

What media helps you stay busy/stay calm during challenging times?

I don’t really use my phone as a way to comfort me, I just use it to contact people, listen to music and watch videos, movies and shows. I don’t think those really help me stay calm but video games don’t really make me stay calm; they help me stay busy and plugged in.

What lessons have you learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenging times?

I don't really know, that not a lot of people care about getting better. Like with COVID, it’s been years and i can’t believe, like my school, doesn’t even care about masks, like masks are nonexistent these days.

Have you learned anything about how you use media and technology because of the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenging times?

Yes I have learned that using technology in moderation is important and balancing that by doing things outside of technology is important. I used to use technology a lot before bed and late at night but I learned to limit the time on them because being tired isn't fun and I have to wake up cause I have to walk my dog.

Interviewed by: Daniela Noricumbo, UCLA student

Stefano, 18

Media Consumption: Every day for approximately 5 to 10 hours per day

Favorite Media/Technology: Instagram

How do you and your family interact with media/technology?

My parents don’t really use social media unless it’s for their business. However, I do enjoy sending videos through Instagram or TikTok back and forth with my siblings.

How do you and your peers interact with media/technology?

I interact in the same way that I do with my siblings, we all enjoy randomly sending each other videos. We see it as a way of keeping up with things that we choose to follow on social media. We also use Discord to voice call when we have free time and want to play video games together.

What do you use media for?

I mainly use media to keep up with the lives of the people that I’ve followed. I also follow soccer and Formula 1 to keep myself updated. I’ll occasionally see highlights of other sports, but I don’t care as much about them.

What is your favorite/least favorite thing about media/technology?

My favorite aspect about media is the possibility of discovering something new that I like and seeing if I can add it to my day-to-day life. I also really love just being able to see something, note to myself “hey, that’s cool,” and then be able to move on. My least favorite aspect would be the rabbit holes that you can go down (on all platforms but especially YouTube). With TikTok, if you’re just scrolling through your For You page, it has gotten to the point where the videos are displaying so much randomness that it really shows the change in people’s attention span. It’s steering away from what I like (a good storytelling video), and it’s changing to just very short, attention grabbing visuals designed to maximize views.

What is one thing you want the people who create the media you like to watch/play/interact with to know?

I remember reading that, from day 1, even Mark Zuckerberg didn’t allow his kids to use social media. Regardless of whether that’s still true to this day, we still choose to scroll through media on our devices despite knowing how detrimental it can be. I would want the creators to know that we shouldn’t be scrolling through their content but we still are.

What media do you interact with the most?

I interact with Instagram the most.

Where do you get most of your information about what’s happening in the world (e.g., news, internet, parents, etc.)?

I get most of my information from Instagram.

What media helps you stay busy/stay calm during challenging times?

Instagram helps me stay busy/stay calm during challenging times.

What lessons have you learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenging times?

I learned that nothing beats human connections. It was so easy to deprive myself of those connections and just be on my computer/phone during the pandemic, and after realizing that, I started to wonder why wasn’t I outside playing soccer? It was getting to the point where I was using the stay-at-home order as an excuse to never go outside; I wouldn’t even want to go to the store with my parents. It challenged me to ask myself why I couldn’t just go outside and go for a walk. Overall, the pandemic really helped me realize that I was overusing technology.

Have you learned anything about how you use media and technology because of the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenging times?

During the pandemic, I was using technology at an extreme level because of school. It was getting to the point where I couldn’t wait until I could finish my work and be able to get away from staring at a screen. Now, I really try to prioritize going outside and moving my body over being on my computer/phone.

Interviewed by: Kevin Nguyen, UCLA student

Ryan, 18

Media Consumption: Daily, for multiple hours a day

Favorite Media/Technology: Discord, Gaming Websites, Social Media, YouTube

How do you and your family interact with media/technology?

We are pretty involved from a social media standpoint. My father watches a lot of television, Facebook, and other platforms. My sister is very into her Instagram persona and Snapchat. I personally use the computer a lot and play games with my friends. I use Instagram and social media so we all heavily use it on a daily basis to interact with people. We use iMessage and follow each other on Life360 and on social media.

How do you and your peers interact with media/technology?

Typically, we use a lot of messaging apps to get a hold of each other and organize stuff. We use messaging apps like Discord, Snapchat, or iMessage to contact and get in touch with each other or to talk to each other on a video or phone call to play games.

What do you use media for?

I like to use it to kill time, if I don’t have something to do, I will go on social media. I play games with friends, watch videos, and scroll through feeds, all just ways to kill time.

What is your favorite/least favorite thing about media/technology?

I like the speed at which you can contact other people or send a message or let other people know that you have done something. Almost like the speed of interaction. I don’t like the need to have some sort of presence or popularity based on what you post and how well you are able to post on social media and frame yourself.

What is one thing you want the people who create the media you like to watch/play/interact with to know?

As people got more intertwined with social media, the type of content has gotten more and more short-form which puts emphasis on shortening attention spans, but I think the best kind of videos that interest me is stuff that has rewatchability where it is an interesting concept played out in a well thought out manner. It isn’t meant to just be a quick video to get a view, but I want longer content that can keep me engaged but still has a concept that was interesting. I wish the content was interesting and not just looking to get a view. TikTok has incentivized creators to get pointless mind-numbing views but I would like the return of longer videos that look to grow because they are well made.

What media do you interact with the most?

I watch a lot of science people because I think their videos are interesting, I also watch hour-long Family Guy videos for background noise so even though I don’t watch TV in the normal sense I watch clips on YouTube. I also play games with my friends on Discord and hang out with them virtually.

Where do you get most of your information about what’s happening in the world (e.g., news, internet, parents, etc.)?

I get most of my information from social media, different news sites, YouTube or my parents. I like doing my own research to form my own opinions on news topics.

What media helps you stay busy/stay calm during challenging times?

I relax and use social media to kill time. I will also talk to my friends or play video games with them online. Sometimes we hang out outside of media too and go get lunch or ride our bikes around town for exercise and get out of the house.

What lessons have you learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenging times?

I have learned how much friends and interactions with others matter to me. I know now how important hanging out with people and socializing is and I don’t want to ever take that for granted.

Have you learned anything about how you use media and technology because of the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenging times?

During the pandemic, the biggest change was the use of media in education with Zoom calls as classes. It also helped to be able to video call people who couldn’t go out. Even though that has died down, there are still residual effects from the way institutions change like using Canvas instead of school loop with more generalized usage. There are remnants of media use that are still influenced by the pandemic. I spent more time using media during it since there were fewer things to do so I could kill more time. Now, I think I am on it a little more but most of the effects have worn off. It is about the same.

Interviewed by: Peyton Carranza, UCLA student

Samuel, 16

Media Consumption: Instagram and TikTok. I recently deleted TikTok because I was wasting time and because it wasn’t useful and I would procrastinate other duties (like school and after school activities). I keep Instagram on my phone and average between thirty mins and an hour a day in usage.

Favorite Media/Technology: My favorite media is video games because with online video games I can connect with other people like people everywhere, even people who don’t live where I do. But, I only play during school breaks, like winter break. My favorite video games are Monster Hunter or Halo.

How do you and your family interact with media/technology?

We don't. I use it to view others, I don’t post much. Just to see how people are doing and stuff. We interact with technology as a resource, not too much as to post to let other people see what we are doing. We do watch TV, movies, and order things off of Amazon on the computer. Sometimes I text my siblings to send them memes. Since my brother and sister are away in college I have to text or FaceTime them when I talk to them.

How do you and your peers interact with media/technology?

We don't really text much, we prefer to see each other in person. We only text to set up a date and time. Or if it's urgent like I forgot something at school, or a last minute ride.

What do you use media for?

Communicating with others and catching up with them to see how they are. Most of the time I use it when I am bored.

What is your favorite/least favorite thing about media/technology?

My favorite thing is that it allows me to communicate with others. My least favorite is that it is very addictive. Like on Instagram, it sends you notifications of who posted or dm’ed you.

What is one thing you want the people who create the media you like to watch/play/interact with to know?

I want them to know that they shouldn’t portray ideas on the youth that they are. Ideas like your body should be perfect, or a lot of political ideas that children shouldn’t be thinking of at the time. Children the ages of anywhere between from when they first get their phone to at least 16/17. They usually get their phone around 5yrs old or middle school. But by the time they complete high school they already have it. Political ideas are corrupting our youth into thinking that they should be agreeing with the media. People who share political ideas are advertisements that pop up or influencers like YouTubers. Influencers like instagram models, give people an image that they should look like that.

What media do you interact with the most?

I interact with Instagram the most.

Where do you get most of your information about what’s happening in the world (e.g., news, internet, parents, etc.)?

Instagram reels or accounts. Especially like Visalia Stringer (the home town page). My mom and dad put the news on in the morning and on the weekend I get to listen to it.

What media helps you stay busy/stay calm during challenging times?

Media doesn’t help me stay calm, it makes me anxious. There's a lot of negative stuff going on and even the positive stuff makes me anxious because I never know if it's real or if they are lying. Spotify does help me though, whenever I listen to it, it helps.

What lessons have you learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenging times?

I learned to give myself opportunities and to not be so hard on yourself and on others. Since at that time, I didn’t have a phone and social media, I learned about taking care of myself. Like exercising regularly, drinking enough water, mentally taking care of myself, making sure I am eating healthy enough. I came to realize that if I could do something about something, I shouldn’t worry, and if I can’t do something about it I also shouldn’t worry. Just accepting the fact that things are out of my control has brought me a lot of peace.

Have you learned anything about how you use media and technology because of the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenging times?

I mostly learned how to use media due to the examples that my siblings have given me. I saw how they would post and I would do that, or how they kept Snapchat and how they kept up with their friends. So I did it too.

Interviewed by: Daniela Noricumbo, UCLA student

Karo, 10

Media Consumption: I watch 2 hours of my favorite gamers on YouTube every day

Favorite Media/Technology: YouTube on my iPhone

How do you and your family interact with media/technology?

The way my family and I interact with media is they give me a 2 hour limit to watch my favorite gamers on YouTube everyday, but only after I have finished my homework. My dad sometimes watches them with me.

How do you and your peers interact with media/technology?

My friends and I usually watch the same gamers, but their parents have different rules for them.

What do you use media for?

YouTube on my iPhone.

What is your favorite/least favorite thing about media/technology?

My favorite thing about technology is I can use it for video games, videos and help with homework. My least favorite thing is the ads on the videos.

What is one thing you want the people who create the media you like to watch/play/interact with to know?

One thing I want people who create the media I like to watch to know about me is they help me with playing games and make me laugh.

What media do you interact with the most?

The media I interact with the most is YouTube on my iPhone.

Where do you get most of your information about what’s happening in the world (e.g., news, internet, parents, etc.)?

I don’t really read anything about the news. I just hear my parents talk about it.

What media helps you stay busy/stay calm during challenging times?

The media that helps me stay busy during challenging times is my phone and Xbox.

What lessons have you learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenging times?

Lessons I have learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenging times is to stay calm and let it pass because tough times go away.

Have you learned anything about how you use media and technology because of the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenging times?

I have learned how to be a little more careful with what applications I open and my parents also turned on parental controls, so I do not read or see anything I am not supposed too.

Interviewed by: Daniel Tashchyan, UCLA student

Jen, 19

Media Consumption: 8+ hours per day

Favorite Media/Technology: Twitch Live Streaming Service

How do you and your family interact with media/technology?

I know that my family uses the media as a main source of news, and that’s basically how they are fed information. A lot of the time they’re buying into propaganda because they don’t know what sources are reputable. Beyond the basics, I don’t really know exactly how they interact with the media because I don’t live with them anymore, but sometimes my mom and I send each other some silly GIFs and memes. They just kinda send me news articles and texts updating me on their life, and that’s all I know.

How do you and your peers interact with media/technology?

My friends and I are on TikTok and send each other stuff every day! I find some things funny and others educational, and I like to share them with my friends so we can all see the same information. We also use Snapchat as our main form of communication, and sometimesInstagram as well. Yeah, I think I tend to use these forms of social media as my main method of communication rather than your typical SMS text message.

What do you use media for?

As well as connecting with family and friends, I’ve mainly used the media for profit. I’ve never worked a traditional in-person job, and so all the money I have earned up ‘til now was through the use of media. That included creating and selling it - monetizing my media use! I’ve done a lot of content creation, which is something that is definitely new to this day and age. That is my main source of income. I’ve also done writing for a journalism website - most of these things had to do with video games. I helped grow a network of YouTube channels which now have around 700,000 subscribers, which is great. So I’m able to monetize the YouTube videos I create and other brand deals like sponsorships. I also created an online community based off of my video game streaming and was able to monetize that as well through different modes such as ad revenue from the streams, brand deals and sponsorships, and selling merchandise.

What is your favorite/least favorite thing about media/technology?

I definitely think my favorite aspect of the media is the ability to stream. Streaming was my favorite job for sure and for like, obvious reasons. Of course it's gonna be better than other jobs because you have your direct community and you are your own manager. The whole thing felt like fun. None of it was work for me. I loved streaming because it was very different from a traditional job. I think for one, this happened at an age where I couldn’t just walk into a Starbucks and get employed, so I was able to start fairly young and that was great because I was able to start earning my own money at a very young age. Overall, I enjoyed the freedom that the media was able to give me. It gave me a lot of creative freedom and freedom with my time in a way that a traditional job never could’ve. I think streaming using the media was my vehicle to be able to gain independence at a young age, which was incredible. There were definitely negatives, of course. I think my least favorite aspect of the internet was that it made me grow up way too fast and lose parts of my childhood. I think unrestricted access to the internet as a child was, uh, not great. I can't say that I regret it because it definitely gave me the opportunity to make money at a young age and therefore move out of a toxic home and whatever. But yeah, I could definitely see how it affected me and made me grow up a lot faster than you might have 40 years ago. I think it gave me access to inappropriate information and you know, as a child you're very inquisitive and want to understand everything presented to you, even if you don’t know that it’s bad. I was also given access to and accessed by, um, dangerous people at a young age. It was definitely a safety issue and stripped a lot of my childhood. Even now, I’m still being confronted with dangerous situations online, yeah. There's creepy men everywhere.

What is one thing you want the people who create the media you like to watch/play/interact with to know?

If I had the ability to speak with the creators of Twitch, I would definitely want to let them know about the somewhat toxic environment they’ve created. I think streaming had a very positive boost to my self-confidence, but in a seemingly toxic way. I was in this cycle of getting validation from strangers, which is unnecessary when you have your own intrinsic self-worth. But I was starting to base this worth off of other people's views of me since I was in the public eye and receiving comments about my appearance and my personality every single day. When it came to views and stuff, I wasn't like competitive, but I think you do become hyper aware of the different metrics. Um, when you see it on your screen, you're definitely aware of it. Like, it'd be a lie if I said like, ah, I don't care how many people are here right now. Even though I tried not to let that flood my mind, the way the system was designed was to make us competitive, which is definitely a negative. I feel like very, very, very recently have I tried to start to unlearn this like hyper-sexualization of myself because from the very beginning, from probably the first day that I had access to any sort of media, I saw women like me, even at a young age being portrayed in this very, very sexualized way. And it felt like you had to portray yourself in that way to succeed in that environment. And, you know, speaking of metrics, you did see, uh, a shocking difference on days where I’d dress more promiscuously versus a day where I'm in more comfortable clothing. There is a glaring difference in how many people are going to be there to watch you. Um, it sucks. It made me base my worth off of how sexualized I was by other people. And I wish the creators would do something to address this, because otherwise Twitch is a wonderful platform.

What media do you interact with the most?

I definitely spend most of my time on Twitch or making Twitch-related content, such as on Instagram or TikTok trying to make posts, advertise, connect with my audience, and things like that. It takes a lot of work and time to run a channel, so this is mainly what I spend my time

doing with the media.

Where do you get most of your information about what’s happening in the world (e.g., news, internet, parents, etc.)?

I’d say I get my information from my friends and from social media. Current events, historical events, and just daily news all tend to come from these sources. I would say Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok are what I mainly see information on, and I don’t really use Twitter. I don’t think these are really reputable sources, but if it’s important, I make sure to fact check on Google with some primary sources. I tend to look out for videos of current events because that tends to be reliable. That’s usually my first stop for confirmed reputable information, but I mainly use social media on the day to day.

What media helps you stay busy/stay calm during challenging times?

Definitely TikTok. The whole app is just mindless scrolling and distraction from the hard times. The algorithm is so much better on TikTok than on other apps, so it feeds me more interesting and personalized media. I don’t have to think about challenging things when I’m distracted by TikTok, you know? I think it’s sometimes unhealthy to use it as a distraction because there’s certainly much better mechanisms out there to to cope with. I try to limit it, but at the end of the day, using TikTok is sometimes more healthy than the alternative mechanisms I might try.

What lessons have you learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenging times?

COVID really taught me a lot about life and how you really never know what’s going to happen. Everything can change in a minute, and it literally did! I think it showed us how important communication is, even online communication, because that’s truly what got a lot of people through the challenging times, including me. Life is sacred and we really shouldn’t take it for granted.

Have you learned anything about how you use media and technology because of the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenging times?

I think the COVID-19 pandemic caused us to focus on the internet and media because we were so restricted from the outside world. It made us hone in on the media as our way of communication and as a platform to make money, because there was no other way to do things! Personally, the isolation made me turn to online activities which I was then able to monetize, like my streaming career. It obviously benefited me quite a bit and I’m very grateful for it being an available option, but it did make me feel a lot more detached from interpersonal communication in real life, which is so important. Do I think it’s harmed me in many ways? Yes, but I really think the positives outweigh the detriment I’m still working through.

Interviewed by: Melanie Piper, UCLA student

Jacob, 6

Media Consumption: Everyday; roughly 2-4 hours a day

Favorite Media/Technology: “phone“ aka old iPod that connects to wifi; Favorite apps include Minecraft, Roblox, and YouTube

How do you and your family interact with media/technology?

One of Jacob’s favorite activities is to watch YouTube with his Dad, but they aren’t just passively watching. His dad is actively engaging with the videos he carefully chose to relate back to real life. Their favorite series on Youtube is called “What if?”. Jacob and his dad sit and watch these information videos that are basically “really cool facts” as Jacob would explain it.

How do you and your peers interact with media/technology?

No kids bring their phone to school. On some playdates they sit and play Roblox, Melon Playground, and other games together. Loves to watch YouTube with his friends, specifically ‘Mr. Beast.’ Teachers use some iPads and apps on the computer in class.

What do you use media for?

For games and videos on YouTube. “I like learning the fun facts and how to be better at games” - referencing youtube videos of streamers who show tips and tricks about different games.

What is your favorite/least favorite thing about media/technology?

He doesn’t love when his older brother won’t play with him.

What is one thing you want the people who create the media you like to watch/play/interact with to know?

“Can you make a game that has chainsaws, legos, and teams?”

What media do you interact with the most?

YouTube

Where do you get most of your information about what’s happening in the world (e.g., news, internet, parents, etc.)?

YouTube

What media helps you stay busy/stay calm during challenging times?

When he is bored he likes to watch YouTube videos or TV with his dad.

What lessons have you learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenging times?

Always wash your hands, cover your mouth when you cough, and wear a mask.

Have you learned anything about how you use media and technology because of the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenging times?

I’m not sure this is applicable to Jacob. He was too young to really understand the pandemic and to him it was just a time not to go to school.

Interviewed by: Lauren Umansky, UCLA student

Alexander, 9

Media consumption: 5 hours

Favorite media/technology: Tablet to watch YouTube & play FIFA

How do you and your family interact with media/technology?

We use media to watch videos and play music; we also use it to learn things. My dad uses it to learn his crafts with wood and tools, my mom uses it to pray, and my sisters use it to watch movies and stuff. I use it to play games. We also use it to watch the world cup 2022 Qatar and other soccer/sports games and that keeps us entertained because if the team you like wins a game you go back to see the replay and it’s exciting to see your team qualify or win.

How do you and your peers interact with media/technology?

My friends use it to play games like Minecraft, Fortnite and Roblox. And they use it to watch videos like gaming videos, to play music, and they also use it to do school work cause sometimes our teacher asks us to go to Schoology and Clevver portal.

What do you use media for?

I use media for watching videos, playing FIFA, and learning how to do certain things like drawing, how to play instruments. I also use it for school, we do Amplify, Brainpop, ST Math, and sometimes our teacher lets us play Minecraft education.

What is your favorite/least favorite thing about media/technology?

My favorite thing is that you can go experience different things. You can play games online with your friends, you can learn and ask questions to Google or Siri. My least favorite thing is cyberbullying because if you post a video on YouTube and you get a lot of hate it can affect your life and feelings which will make you depressed, angry, and can lead you to try and commit suicide and hate.

What is one thing you want the people who create the media you like to watch/play/interact with to know?

To be more safe because once you really get to know it people just start hating on it. They should take responsibility of updating it because if you leave it like that people won’ t like it anymore and leave bad reviews. They should make media more safe because there could be cyberbullying, death threats, sexual things like “ooo imma come to your house and do this to you.” They should restrict comments on certain things like YouTube, Instagram, and Twitter because they could send hate comments.

What media do you interact with the most?

Games like FIFA, Animal crossing, Duolingo to learn French, and YouTube videos like gaming, unboxing, influencers: Faze Rug, Mr.Beast, Caylus.

Where do you get most of your information about what’s happening in the world (eg. news, internet, parents, etc.)?

From the TV news, notifications from Apple News, friends. Like last time they told me about the war in Ukraine and I didn’t know that. Oh and ads like on YouTube that if you click on it it shows you about what is happening in the world.

What media helps you stay busy/stay calm during challenging times?

Breathing videos in school, satisfying videos: slime, soap cutting, cute animals, and watching Lego videos. I watch coloring videos of people painting pastels landscapes and celebrities.

What lessons have you learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenging times?

How to interact with technology like FaceTime with your friends so that you don't feel lonely and so that you can be social. How to not get sick by wearing a mask all the time, wash your hands for 23 seconds because of the virus because you don't want to get sick. People die, it affected lives, we don't talk about that.

Have you learned anything about how you use media and technology because of the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenging times?

Yeah we took Zoom classes, which were boring. How to build things, because you couldn't go out with the pandemic and quarantine, so you had to go outside for certain necessities. That you could go use technology to be entertained and not be bored. Using technology to experience things that we could no longer do like watching videos of people vlogging in the past, cooking shows that you had to test negative for to be on. It taught you that if you do not get wifi you go crazy as hell and if you don’t have wifi you die, you get bored. If you didn't have certain money for wifi then the kids parents would have to teach them about what they know when they went to school, if they even went.

Interviewed by: Angela Ramirez, UCLA student

Ani, 11

Media Consumption: My daily average on my phone is about 5 hours. My daily average on my iPad is about 3 hours.

Favorite Media/Technology: I like my iPad because I can play Roblox.

How do you and your family interact with media/technology?

We have Ring cameras all around the house and Apple tags. For the Apple tags, we use them in our cars, backpacks, and our bags, so in case they get lost we can track them on our phones. We also watch movies together on the TV.

How do you and your peers interact with media/technology?

We mostly use technology to message and call each other. We also play horror games on Roblox. Sometimes I use my iPad to draw as well.

What do you use media for?

I mostly use it play games and message my friends.

What is your favorite/least favorite thing about media/technology?

My favorite thing about media is all the people you can meet through games like Roblox. I think the bad thing is also all the people you can meet because sometimes people can be rude.

What is one thing you want the people who create the media you like to watch/play/interact with to know?

I think they should make apps more safe for kids. You can always report people but it usually takes a lot of reports to get someone banned. I think the moderators should read the reports and figure out what’s false and what isn’t and also to IP ban people. This would prevent them from making a new account at all.

What media do you interact with the most?

Probably Roblox where I can play games with my friends or message them. I also like Safari because it helps me with my homework sometimes.

Where do you get most of your information about what’s happening in the world (e.g., news, internet, parents, etc.)?

For me I would usually get it off the internet or I would get my information from my teachers or parents.

What media helps you stay busy/stay calm during challenging times?

Probably YouTube since I can watch videos and that’ll usually get my mind off things, but I don’t always go on media.

What lessons have you learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenging times?

I mostly learned about media and social platforms during Covid-19. When we were quarantined I learned a lot about media safety too.

Have you learned anything about how you use media and technology because of the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenging times?

Yes, I’ve learned how to use media safely during quarantine and I’ve learned to be careful about what I say and do online. I also learned that sometimes, it's better to have class in person because it’s more interactive. This makes it easier to learn and it’s more fun.

Interviewed by: Lily Simitian, UCLA student

Crisandra, 18

Media Consumption: I spend most of my time on my phone and laptop due to school and social media apps like Instagram, but this can really vary, I spend probably on average around 3-4 hours on my phone and probably 5+ hours watching lectures, doing work, etc. for school.

Favorite Media/Technology: I enjoy playing a number of games via my laptop, Nintendo Switch, and other consoles.

How do you and your family interact with media/technology?

My parents used to watch TV more often but now they watch more Youtube, they are media literate but sometimes miss the nuance of trends or memes that I expose them to. My dad particularly enjoys media that can be used in collective family time, for example he owns a karaoke machine. He likes to use it when we have guests over or on Friday nights or with the family. My mom likes to watch shows with me and owns a few streaming subscriptions and also has her own iPad for more portable streaming. I typically tend to use my laptop and phone. I'm a college student so my laptop is mostly used to do work or watch shows. I like watching anime as well as the standard Netflix, Hulu etc. and on my phone I will usually listen to music, go on Instagram, or read books on my phone.

How do you and your peers interact with media and technology?

My peers and I tend to use a lot of social media apps like Instagram and Tiktok. I probably spend less time on my phone than my friends, especially since I don’t have TikTok. My friends and I play games together, or I will play games on my console by myself (Nintendo Switch). Aside from games and social media a lot of people around me in college are using laptops to do work for school, which is pretty time consuming, and is what I would guess is the predominant interaction with technology that college students have.

What do you use media for?

I tend to use media to follow content on my hobbies, ie: video game live streamers like on Twitch, or following content from anime, or other video games. I also listen to a lot of music which helps keep my mind busy especially if I’m doing things like brushing my teeth or walking to class.

What is your favorite/least favorite thing about media/technology?

I like the game play aspect of media, I really wish I had more time for it, but I hate how addictive, specifically social media, but also other forms of media can be.

What is one thing you want the people who create media you like to watch/play/interact with to know?

I don’t really know. I like to watch live streamers and there are obviously the developers of video games that I really enjoy. I guess it would be nice to show them my appreciation for creating content that keeps me inspired and interested to continue playing those games.

What media do you interact with the most?

Definitely my phone and my laptop. I tend to scroll on Instagram but I’m trying to replace that with reading on my phone instead.

Where do you get most of your information about what’s happening in the world?

This is pretty bad because I tend to get news about what happens in the world from my friends or the social media apps that I’m on which I don’t think is good.

What media helps you stay busy/calm during challenging times?

Music definitely helps me.

What lessons have you learned from COVID-19 and other challenging times?

It’s important to have human interaction. COVID felt isolating especially because my parents love to have guests over which we obviously couldn’t do during the quarantine.

Have you learned anything about how you use media and technology because of the COVID-19 pandemic?

I don’t think so. My habits didn’t really change, other than an increased interest in live streaming which made me more receptive to watching recorded or online lectures for college. I used to prefer attending classes in person prior to COVID, but now I don’t really mind.

Interviewed by: Mimi Tsang, UCLA 4th Year

Gregory, 16

Media Consumption: I spend like 5 to 6 hours a day on media which counts listening to music, watching TikToks, and playing games.

Favorite Media/Technology: Social media wise I like TikTok, but I think music and social media are equally important to me for different reasons.

How do you and your family interact with media/technology?

My family has a group chat and we watch TV together, but we’re mostly pretty separate other than that.

How do you and your peers interact with media/technology?

I play video games with my friends and I’m in group chats with my friends. When we play video games we play Mario Kart and Super Smash Bros. My main character is Captain Falcon.

What do you use media for?

Entertainment. I also use media for education. I‘ve had classes where I’ve had to co-op (cooperate) with other people and we’ll use discord to collaborate.

What is your favorite/least favorite thing about media/technology?

My least favorite thing about social media is specifically with Twitter and other platforms. It's how hard it is to get a point across. It can be super divisive. For example on Twitter there’s a character limit so you have to shorten statements and the emotions you want to convey in your messages are often lost. My favorite thing is it's a super easy way to get entertainment whenever you want it.

What is one thing you want the people who create the media you like to watch/play/interact with to know?

I wish subscription services on social media were not a thing because that’s super weird. On Twitter you can have a blue checkmark subscription where you can buy a verification badge and Snapchat has a premium subscription as well.

What media do you interact with the most?

I use music the most or messaging apps like Discord. On Discord I have 2 accounts, one for school and one for gaming and chatting with friends.

Where do you get most of your information about what’s happening in the world (e.g., news, internet, parents, etc.)?

It’s a combination of the news, TV, Twitter, and TikTok. I watch the news on TV. I don’t really follow news accounts on Twitter or TikTok from my account, but it’s more about the trending tab and what my algorithm brings up.

What media helps you stay busy/stay calm during challenging times?

Usually music and TikTok.

What lessons have you learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenging times?

I’ve learned to never take moments for granted when I’m outside and with friends. During the pandemic I never got to do any of that but now I can.

10. Have you learned anything about how you use media and technology because of the COVID-19 pandemic with other challenging times?

Before the pandemic I was never super into media, I only got TikTok and other platforms during the pandemic.

Interviewed by: Elizabeth Verzi, 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

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

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

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

Gaming and the COVID-19 Pandemic

As an avid gamer, I’m very familiar with the all-too-common phrases from parents about my gaming habits. From Mom telling me to “put my Nintendo away and go outside” to Dad worrying that “I should be spending more time with friends.” Their concerns were similar to most parents with teenage children, worrying about the effects of video games on my social health and academics.

But with the novel coronavirus setting the entire world into a time of uncertainty, where social isolation is prevalent, we turn to media and entertainment. Video games provide comfort and support as we battle a social capital standstill. While parents of teens worry about video games negatively impacting their children, they can find comfort in research that shows how collaborative video games positively influence individuals. Online gaming could prove to be a great source of social support, as well as a means to create prosocial environments (social behavior that benefits society or other individuals other than the individual themselves) both on-screen and off-screen.

Games such as ‘World of Warcraft’ (WoW), ‘Among Us,’ and even ‘Call of Duty’ encourage group play through collaborative tasks, adventures and characters that naturally compliment different players’ abilities. These Massively Multiplayer Online-Role Playing Games (MMORPGs) allow thousands of individual players to come together to play in an immersive and detailed environment filled with adventures and quests. In games like these, prosocial behavior is encouraged and rewarded. Players have a sense of obligation towards other members of their ‘guild’ (groups of players that play games together) as they go through quests and raids, offering a social structure in which prosocial behavior is essential to success. These types of collaborative and social games can be particularly useful for users with physical disabilities that hinder their movement outside the home, or in the current socially isolated state of the world.

These MMORPGs are highly social environments that allow for strong friendships to form and many of them utilize chat features and messaging boards to connect players. The “Social Side of Gaming” expands on the benefits of collaborative gaming on video game players, stating that sharing online space within games enhances the formation of social capital and fosters friendships offline. Some researchers attribute this type of gameplay to the idea of being “alone together,” which in times of social isolation and social distancing can be a positive psychological and cognitively clinical advantage. In simpler terms, gaming can reduce the stress of isolation and help facilitate social interaction and friendships in teens.

Being alone together within games allows players the autonomy to choose their gameplay while also providing a rich social environment. Many players utilizing MMORPGs indicate that a very social environment is their primary factor for choosing to play these types of games. The academic research also suggests that the “gameplay within these virtual worlds is enhanced because players not only use them as the game originally was intended to be played but also as arenas in which to explore new relationships, new places, and themselves.” Online gaming also contributes to a higher social capital amongst groups in games with more interactive play, thus creating social ties that extend outside of the game itself. This shows us that online gaming creates bridges for social networks that then create outlets for social support and social capital. 

Many of these online interactive games allow players to be “more of themselves” than they otherwise would be as their offscreen self, adding to the enjoyment of the games and creating a social benefit for those who may not be able to do so in real life. In these uncertain times, it seems to be reasonable to relax on video game restrictions and allow teens the ability to connect in whatever way they are able to. The social atmospheres and ability to collaborate with other individuals just might be the key to this new online world we are collectively experiencing. It might not be a good old-fashioned hangout with friends, side-by-side, but for avid gamers it feels just the same. 

Parents reading this might still be a little skeptical, and content creators might wonder “so what next in gaming creation?” So, here are some tips for parents to help relax their minds and even bond with their gamers a little more, and some advice for content creators on what to include in your next game.  

Actionable Insights

Here are Actionable Insights for Parents on Video Games and their Teens: 

• Not all games are created equally. Check the age rating on any games you might get your kid.

• If you are able to, play the game. Understanding the dynamics of the gaming world will help you understand the social world your kids are in.

• Take an interest in what your child is playing. Ask about the characters, the narratives and objectives, and if there is a multiplayer option, play the game with them. The more invested you are in their play, the more information you get about your child’s social needs.

• Use content restrictions on games for younger children. Many MMORPGs have filters where you can designate the age range of other players that your child can interact with. (i.e. only players between the ages of 13-16 can interact on the game)

Here are Actionable Insights for Content Creators of Video Games:

• Write diverse characters that rely on interaction and prosocial behavior to succeed in the game.

• Create reward systems that increase the likelihood of helping behavior and punish antisocial behavior.

• When writing NPC (Non-player Characters), take a special interest in developing side quests that encourage everyday helping behaviors (i.e. an older woman asking a character to retrieve her chickens or deliver her mail for her).

• Create info guides for parents on your game to help facilitate communication between players and caregivers.

Michelle Leccese, MA Psychology