Personal Media Use
Brandon Perez
Why Computers and New Media?
I am in this class because I want to learn more about the impact of media on my life and how I can use it to my advantage. I am also interested in the psychology of media and how it can be used to influence people. I believe using media can help make people's lives easier and more enjoyable.
Media I Frequently Use
Music
-
Apple Music
- Lo-fi, Pop, Rock, Alternative
-
YouTube Music
- Classical, Campfire music, background music
-
Live or Recorded Performances
- Concerts, Live sessions, Podcasts
Games
-
Console
-
Xbox
- Rocket League, Minecraft, Call of Duty, Forza
-
Nintendo
- Mario Series Games, Zelda, Pokemon
-
Xbox
-
PC
- Terreria, Minecraft
Still Images
-
Social Media
-
Personal Photography
- Sharing with friends/family, personal archive
Moving Images
-
Television
- Science fiction, Drama, Comedy
-
Short-form Video
- YouTube, TikTok, Instagram Reels
Content I Generate
-
Communication
- Email, Messaging apps, Discussion forums
- Gmail, Discord, Reddit
- Email, Messaging apps, Discussion forums
-
Creative or Academic Work
- Documents, Code repositories, Notes
- Google Docs, Github, Microsoft OneNote
Challenge: Finding Reliable, High-Quality Sources
One ongoing challenge with my media consumption and content generation is reliably finding trustworthy, high-quality information at the moment I need it. When I search for tutorials or DIY videos, for example, there can be dozens of results with similar titles but widely varying levels of accuracy and trustworthiness. Evaluating which sources are up-to-date, technically correct, and free from hidden sponsorship or bias can take more time than actually following the instructions themselves. This challenge becomes even more noticeable when I am learning a new tool, framework, or similar: older videos may no longer match the current interface, and comment sections are left with ambiguous information.
As a result, I often have to cross-check multiple sources, compare instructions against official documentation, and test small steps on my own before fully committing to a particular workflow. While this careful process helps reduce mistakes, it also introduces friction into both casual and academic media use. Designing tools or platforms that better surface reliable, context-aware recommendations for DIY content and technical guides would significantly improve my experience.