How am I a media prosumer?

I think personally I am a media prosumer as I absorb media in many different ways such as reading, listening and watching, however I not only consume media I contribute to the media myself by posting my own photos, videos and text. Therefore I am a media prosumer!

According to Blummer & Katz (1975), there are four different uses and gratifications for media. These are:

1. Entertainment/Diversion
2. Social Interaction
3. Personal Identity
4. Information/Surveillance

I was given a task to create a college of the media I use and this is shown below. Also below are explanations of the media I consume as well as contribute to and my personal uses and gratifications.

Entertainment/Diversion –

• For entertainment I used Netflix, YouTube, also TV shows I enjoy. When completing this task it really made me think about what was my favorite type of content that I enjoy watching the most. This made me realize most of the TV programmes/series I watch are either comedy based or reality shows. I enjoy these the most as when i’m watching something I want to feel engaged and/or laughing as I am then able to share these moment with friends or family. This provides a social interaction which is included in another sub-heading. I also enjoy watching cooking shows such as Australian Master Chef. I enjoy watching it for the show but also because I spend time with my family watching it which makes it better as we speak about it.
• On YouTube I mainly use it to listen to music but I also use it to watch people such as Carli Bybel. She mainly does makeup and hair tutorials which I enjoy watching as it inspires me to try and do different things. I don’t watch these much but when I do i enjoy watching it at home.

Social Interaction –

• I use many forms of social media for my social interactions. I often use Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook/Messenger, Whats app and Tik Tok as a way of communicating with friends and family. I also contribute to some of these forms of social media by posting my own photos and videos as a way of contributing to the media and sharing things i like.
• Posts online that myself and others see, as well as TV programmes and series’ will always provide a social interaction and gives us something to share in common. This allows us to communicate and have a conversation about it and share our own opinions and views on the subject/programme. In my personal life programmes such as Love Island and posts other peers have posted are conversation starters for me and my other peers. Me and my family also like to watch Master Chef, this also provides us with things to talk about and things to share in common.

Personal Identity –

• Media sites such as Instagram and Snapchat has helped me and made it easier to express my Personal Identity.  This is because I am able to post and share things with others that show who I am and post things of how I want people to see me. This allows me to express myself and share things  I like, things I enjoy and I am proud of .
• Media doesn’t only allow me to express my own personal identity, but allows me to look at resources on all different types of media that I can use to change my personal identity in ways I feel I want or need to. This could be healthy eating posts, fitness apps, clothing websites, and educational resources.

Information/Surveillance –

• I listen to the radio most mornings on the way to school which usually has some type of news story involved. I also read stories about things that have happened using Facebook and Instagram as people regularly post things about themselves or others. This will help me to be able to get involved with more conversations about things that are going on in today’s world.
• I also research things I want to know about or stories I have heard that interest me to find more about them. This helps to keep me updated with things that are going around the world and in society today. I do this instead or reading a newspaper or magazines as I find it much quicker and more engaging for myself.

In conclusion, this task has helped me think about the amount and different types of media I use and how I consume it. I also have realised that with the amount I contribute and consume different medias I am 100% a Prosumer of media.