The struggle between physical and virtual media on the UD Campus
Consuming content and media is a natural part of our lives. Whether it’s “Mansfield Park,” a podcast or your social media “For You” pages, media brings us together and creates community. College students in particular are avid consumers: a 2024 study of 2000 Americans showed that Gen Z Americans consume an average of 6.6 hours of media a day, and that’s only taking virtual media into consideration. With so many options, what do UD students prefer?
Convenience is a driving factor for students always on the go. Katherine Macdonald, junior psychology major, said, “I prefer virtual [media] because it is more portable and it has a bigger variety of options to pick from.” Virtual media is also usually more cost efficient, since you can get free accounts for most resources. Plus, a one-time device purchase with unlimited content is cheaper than buying every single piece of media you want to consume.
Although its convenience is appealing and useful, virtual media also has its consequences.
According to Stanford Lifestyle Medicine, “[a 2019] study shows that in adults aged 18 – 25, excessive screen time causes thinning of the cerebral cortex, the brain’s outermost layer responsible for processing memory and cognitive functions, such as decision-making and problem-solving.” Even when used productively, and not just for “doomscrolling” on social media, screens still take their toll.
Using virtual media more frequently is not always an indicator of preference, but rather of necessity. Joseph Sacco, senior English major, said, “I’d say my preference leans physical overall. For general use, virtual media is more convenient, and is what I’m using most of the time, except books- I think those are always best physical no matter what. I think, however, that for the purposes of historical preservation of a given medium, physical is the way to go in the long run.”
The introduction of ebooks and Kindles revolutionized accessibility for literature, but not all ways of reading are equal. A 2009 study of brain activity revealed that viewing print materials was more likely to activate the medial prefrontal cortex and cingulate cortex, both involved in emotion processing. The parietal cortex, which processes visual and spatial cues, also showed more activation with physical media than with virtual media.
Rachel Hohertz, a sophomore psychology major, agreed. Hohertz said, “Personally, I think I prefer physical media. Even though I have ADHD and I can’t read well, I understand a lot better when it’s physical. I will say online media is way more convenient, but just because it’s convenient doesn’t mean it’s good […] virtual media has ads you can’t escape from. You know where you won’t get ads? A book.”
Looking at the music side of media consumption unlocks a whole new world of pros and cons, where once again convenience is key. Lauren Antonacci, a senior art major, said, “I prefer streaming platforms specifically because I’m very picky with what I listen to, and I like the luxury of easily replaying certain parts of songs as well as having an entire world of music available in my hands where I go. I feel like it’s nice to actually own your music as compared to having a digital library, but due to my listening habits, I prefer streaming.”
Just because music streaming may be the more frequented option doesn’t mean tangible methods of listening fall by the wayside. A May 2024 survey by Consumers Report showed that about 1 in 5 American adults use vinyls to listen to music and almost half use CDs on a regular basis. Sacco said, “I listen to many bands, but for my absolute favorites, I like to track down CDs. Not only because I like the artist, but also to preserve the songs outside of a corporate service’s walls so that later generations can listen.”
At the end of the day, choosing between the convenience of virtual media and the benefits of traditional media proves to be a false dichotomy. Although physical media is the healthier option long term, the ease of use that comes with virtual media cannot be overlooked. In moderation, both work together to educate, entertain and bring communities closer together.