Media consumption strongly influences school culture as people share common interests through movies, shows, and video games. Students can obtain the newest media through various sources and formats. Yet, even though two students can watch the same media, there can be differences in the format they use to access it.
Ethan Clary, a junior at HAHS, prefers digital media, like digital games and movies from streaming services and e-shops. He finds they are easier to access from anywhere at any time. Ethan favors digital media but sees the value of physical media in fostering human interaction. For example, he prefers playing his physical card game collection because of the social aspect of handling cards. Also, Ethan cited how Magic the Gathering had more cards in the physical version, showing how different formats can offer more or less content.
Riley Mohn, another junior, favors physical media, like paperback books and game cartridges. Most of her CD and video game collection is physical, and she likes how there is less concern about them getting banned or unlisted from a digital storefront. Riley also likes the tactile feel of physical media but finds digital media allows her to watch newer things faster. She balances the different formats by reading physical books and using game cartridges while watching TV and movies on a streaming service like Netflix.
Trends at the high school point towards digital media as the preferred media format. A survey of 68 students at HAHS found that 72.1% prefer digital media compared to 27.9% for physical media. The results do not ask for specifics like type or frequency, but it is clear that digital is the preferred way of consuming content for students.
Modern life is trending toward digital media, but there are still specialty items that people like physically. However, the convenience of digital is attractive for people with busy lives, especially students. Overall, it does not necessarily matter how one consumes media, but identifying a person’s preferred format can help them choose what best suits their needs.
For more information about the student survey, visit https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Wo-nXfjPg62WRpq8WEJRm3wQX1Bg8YN3jEKkUBMoXFk/edit?usp=sharing.
