By: Carter Cox
To introduce my subject, his name is Hunter Snyder. He is a junior at Washington State University, double majoring in broadcast journalism and advertising. Hunter is from Sammamish, Washington. When he is not working on his academics or filming with Cable 8, Hunter frequently streams on Twitch.
When looking at the objects that my subject carries with him (mostly) everyday, there is an abundance of mobile media. The mobile devices depicted are an iPhone, AirPods, an Apple Watch, Nintendo Switch, a stream deck, and a Game & Watch. Some of the other non-digital items photographed were car keys, lip balm, deodorant, a wallet, a mask, gum, and lotion.
Mobile media is extremely important to Hunter. Mobile media is not only a necessity for him, but a passion. Hunter is completely fascinated with modern technology – especially video games. As an owner of an Xbox Series X, a Playstation 5, and a Nintendo Switch, gaming is a serious hobby for him. The Nintendo Switch is the only truly mobile gaming system out of the aforementioned options. Not to mention, Hunter has a particular passion for this Switch. He claims it was the first gaming system he purchased on his own. When he started streaming on Twitch, it was also his console of choice. Hunter’s stream deck, made by the company Elgato, was also featured in the photo. Hunter does not always carry his stream deck around, but he wanted it in the picture since it is important to his identity. Hunter credits the stream deck for drastically improving the quality of his streams and making his hobby feel more professional. A stream deck is primarily used for operating different Twitch streaming functions, such as soundboards, video sources, and recording gameplay.
Although Hunter does not consider himself a fan of Apple, he possesses a few of their flagship products. He carries his iPhone and AirPods nearly everywhere, and certainly does not go anywhere without his Apple Watch. Hunter has the iPhone 11, and it is the third iPhone he has had. One major reason why Hunter enjoys his iPhone is because his sister is living in London, who also has an iPhone. The Apple connection allows both of them to stay connected almost instantaneously through Apple’s FaceTime function. Hunter also enjoys the iPhone’s camera, group messaging systems, and its overall aesthetic. Although Hunter previously mentioned he was not particularly a fan of Apple, he says it is difficult to switch away from the company after owning one of their products.
This philosophy leads to his next two mobile devices – his AirPods and Apple Watch.
Hunter strongly appreciates the connectivity between Apple devices. His AirPods, which pair well with his iPhone and Apple Watch, are the perfect example of said connectivity. He says AirPods are compact, easy to store, and just easy to operate. He also depends on them heavily during the average school day. Hunter, like most students at WSU, uses his AirPods almost every time he walks around from class to class. Hunter’s Apple Watch, his final connection to the Apple family products, is on his wrist at all times. He received it as a high school graduation present after hoping to get one for a while. Hunter described the Apple Watch as a nice balance between great functionality and appealing design. Hunter’s favorite aspect of his watch is its ability to accurately record the number of steps he takes in a single day. Once recorded, he enjoys comparing his step total to others in a friendly yet competitive way.
The final, and arguably most unique, piece of Hunter’s digital arsenal is his Game & Watch device. Although Hunter rarely carries the device on his person, but he says it perfectly exemplifies his relationship with technology. Hunter said the device primarily serves as a display item for guests, but he does use it from time to time. Hunter said the device symbolizes his love for Nintendo and all of their properties.
Getting to understand Hunter’s use of mobile media felt very similar to my own, which feels similar to most classmates I know here at WSU. At the end of the interview, Hunter said he feels as he developed a huge reliance on mobile technology. He says that he feels a slight addiction towards his phone but also said that most people probably do. He said that even though mobile devices offer beneficial services, he feels that developers have purposely engineered digital devices of addiction. In the end, Hunter feels torn over his mobile devices. On one hand, he loves to use them for entertainment, education, and connectivity. On the other hand, he knows that he relies on them more than he should.
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