40 Examples of Media Consumption

John Spacey, updated on September 17, 2023

Media consumption is the process of accessing or viewing media including digital media, traditional media and published works.

Media Consumption

The relatively passive process of watching, reading or browsing media.

Watching television	Going to the movies
Reading social media	Streaming a television series
Listening to podcasts	Watching a documentary
Reading a book	Flipping through a magazine
Listening to the radio	Reading newspapers
Reading comics	Reading blogs
Watching videos	Listening to music
Looking at photographs	Watching sports
Browsing webpages

Media Participation

The active process of communicating, creating and engaging with media.

Posting to social media	Online debate and discussions
Podcasting	Blogging
Vlogging	Live streaming
Direct messages	Sending emails
Socializing online	Chatting
Posting to forums	Ratings and reviews
Surveys	Playing video games
Exploring virtual reality	Immersive experiences
Being interviewed by media	Posting comments
Calling-in to a radio show	Collaborative work online
Posting creative work such as digital art	Performing or composing music
Attending virtual events

Views of media consumption change with time. This can be seen in attitudes towards old media such as books. Historically, reading fiction faced various types of scrutiny and criticism whereby it was viewed as escapism and disconnection from reality. Modern cultures tend to view reading as an intellectual pursuit that is more or less fully positive.

It is common for people to spend many hours each day consuming media such that it is a major element of lifestyle and the human experience.

There are massive generational differences in media consumption.

Next: Media Influence

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