To see how often you consume and contribute to digital mass communication, respond to each item below using the following scale: 1 = never; 2 = rarely; 3 = sometimes; 4 = often; and 5 = very often.
How often do you:
____ 1. Read the comments people have posted on someone’s blog.
____ 2. Provide comments on someone else’s blog.
____ 3. Write or update your own blog.
____ 4. Read messages on microblogs (such as tweets on Twitter or posts on Tumblr).
____ 5. Write or post messages on microblogs (such as tweets on Twitter or posts on Tumblr).
____ 6. Read or look up information on a Wikipedia or other “Wiki” page.
____ 7. Write or change some information on Wikipedia or other “Wiki” page.
____ 8. Provide answers to social question and answer sites (like Yahoo! Answers).
____ 9. Look up answers on social question and answer sites (like Yahoo! Answers).
____ 10. Read ratings, written reviews, or testimonials on a website.
____ 11. Contribute your own ratings, reviews, or testimonials on a website.
____ 12. Watch videos on video-sharing sites (such as YouTube).
____ 13. Upload your own videos to video-sharing sites (such as YouTube).
____ 14. Follow links to articles or videos people have shared on social media.
____ 15. Post or share your own links to articles or videos on social media.
____ Add your scores for items 1, 4, 6, 9, 10, 12, and 14. Higher scores on these items mean that you are a more active digital media consumer. You take advantage of the content available to you to learn from and enjoy media messages.
____ Add your scores for items 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 11, 13, and 15. Higher scores on these items mean that you are a more active digital media contributor. You participate in media, adding your thoughts to online discussions or providing your own entertainment content for others.
If you score highly on both sets of items, you are maximizing your engagement with media. Information from K. P. Hocevar, A. J. Flanagin, & M. J. Metzger (2014).