Media-Saturated and Morally Contested Teenage Lives: No Space or Time for Nonmedia Moments (and for Being Bored)?

Abstract

This article examines how Norwegian teenagers morally assess their media use and how media experiences operate as a means of escaping boredom. Based on qualitative interviews with 24 adolescents, the analysis delineates 3 distinct types of media experiences: ambient, which are morally uncontentious and enrich mundane situations; attentive, which are considered morally “good” because they demand focus, foster insight, and cultivate virtues; and atomized; depicted with moral ambivalence, offering quick escapes, but sometimes leading to feelings of emptiness. This study contributes to understanding the difficulty of resisting instant gratification from omnipresent media when bored and argues that, despite their moral complexities, media remain crucial for a flourishing life.