The media surrounds us frequently in day to day life, even the things you may not think twice about can contribute to your media diet.  A ‘media diet’ is the collection of what you consume and produce into the media; in this digital age, almost everyone with an internet connection is a prosumer, meaning that we don’t only take in the media, we also contribute. Today’s technology advances allow us to share media faster and wider than ever before. Personally I consume far more than I produce- this collage illustrates my general media intake and output.

We can analyse our media diets through the use of the Blumler & Katz Uses and Gratifications Theory. This theory states that every audience is actively seeking media texts to receive their presumed reactions. These intentions are divided into four categories;

• • • Information
    • Personal Identity
    • Integration & Social Interaction
    • Entertainment

A lot of the television programmes and films that I watch are mainly for entertainment- simply a pass time or a pleasurable distraction but some shows such as Outerbanks contribute to my personal identity too because it teaches basic morals and loyalty in friendships. An excellent example of a film that also plays a part in my personal identity is ‘The Lorax’ as it teaches the importance of protecting our planet. Additionally, the programme ‘My Mad Fat Diary’ not only entertains but also informs on mental health issues and how to get help.

Snapchat and Instagram are my main forms of social interaction, I use them daily to converse with friends via pictures, messages, voice notes or group chats. Tiktok is a massive entertainment source but can also provide lots of useful information in the form of tutorial videos, can provide social interaction via the message feature as well as likes and comments and finally it can contribute to my identity as it sets the some trends or values that I have adopted.

Analysing my media diet has taught me the large impact that the media has on us and how naive I was to it before. It will help me in future as I can aim the media that I produce in the direction of one of the Uses and Gratifications in order to capture my target audience and fulfil my intended purpose correctly.