Amy: “I watch The Only Way is Essex live because everyone talks about it”

MediaTel Group hosted its first ever Youth, Media & Technology event in association with Channel 4 yesterday. The first (teenage) panel unveiled some interesting insights about how young people engage with and consume media. There were lots of questions from the floor in what was a lively debate around technology, brands and advertising. Here is a snapshot of what was said…

Meet Amy

She is 19, from Newham in East London and finished her education last year. She starts her first job in a week’s time. She went to school in Plaistow and has an A Level in Sociology. She is reem, well reem.

“I wouldn’t give up my mobile phone or my spray tan.”

“I have an iPhone… everyone had a Blackberry in college but I don’t like BBM, you can’t ignore people.”

“I buy Elle, Vogue, Hello, OK!… I buy them all, even if they’re not good. I always like to have a magazine in my bag.”

“Everyone uses Twitter to follow celebrities… it’s not actually that good.”

“I like brands on Facebook – they are just there, you don’t have to look at them… it is a choice. And it’s good for the consumer – it lets you know things you wouldn’t normally know.”

“I searched for teeth whitening once and now I always get targeted with cosmetic surgery ads… they think I want a boob job, but I don’t.”

“I buy more online than in-store. If I see a ASOS dress on Facebook, I will click on it and go through to the site. I want clothes that other people don’t have so I take time to buy things online. Plus it is cheaper.”

“I read The Sun because my dad and boyfriend buy it.”

“You can’t beat a CD. Plus I am not very good at all that downloading stuff”

“I like Facebook because I am nosey. I want to see other people’s pictures. You can find things out without having to ask them or talk to them, it’s great.”

“It’s good to have the option to skip an ad. 30 second ads are fine but not longer ones. Although I’d rather watch ads than pay for content. Sometimes they advertise stuff you want so they’re not all bad.”

“I have to watch The Only Way is Essex live because everyone talks about it… I only watch things online if I am desperate. But I generally don’t watch much TV.”