As someone who is somewhat educated on a similar subject, the thing people miss is that the label shouldn’t be on the content itself. Because, in that poll, with the context given, yes, all of those things ARE “consuming content”, but “consuming” doesn’t just mean “looking at it,” that’s why you might feel that the question is accusatory.
When creating something for others to “consume” you have to be aware that there are different types of consumers.
There is the Public, which is literally anyone who witnesses the content (example; someone who goes to festival or eats at restaurant where a band just so happens to be playing at)
There is the Audience, which are those who actively choose to interact with the content and have an interest in it (example; someone who goes to the festival or restaurant BECAUSE said band is playing there)
That’s usually where a lot of creatives stop the distinction but there is also the third
The Participants, which of course are those who create the content (example; the band,) but also, those who promote it and support it. (Example; the festival or restaurant, the manager, the sound technicians, an audience member who comes over and asks if they can hire the band for other gigs, etc..)
Now to take these three things and simplify them into “content consumption” without any distinction is a disservice. Yes there are people who watch TikToks the same way someone might read a novel, with the same passion, with the same intrigue, but there are definitely many who don’t, those who simply witness the TikTok casually, without too much thought, and while they might even spend most of their day doing so, they might not care enough for it to call it a “hobby”, because it isn’t.
The problem with the poll is that it leaves no room for that distinction, you either consume it or you don’t, and if you do, then it’s a hobby, no choice. That isn’t fair to those who have true passion for the things they consume or for those who consume something without it being their hobby. The third option on the poll isn’t enough, because it still leaves the first two as the binary.
And unfortunately, that poll represents the way many people view media/content consumption, a simple this or that, without in-betweens, without grey area, and without further categorization.
And that, in my professional opinion, is very sad.
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