Consume, Choose, Refuse

My media usage log for approxiately 24 hours detailed a relatively typical day for me. Whether I’m using it going to and from class or just when to pass the time, my media usage is definitely at an all time high. However it has been even higher due to being back at school where I am required to use my devices almost consistently.  The media I use most heavily is my computer and my device (iPhone) as well as listening to music coming in a close second. I am constantly on my computer during class that allow a computer as it is where I take my notes and as a student I rarely turn it off. My phone also takes up the majority of my media usage because it is on my person at all times whether in my hand or in my pocket it is always in close range.

I think the most difficult aspect of keeping track of my media usage according to my cell phone is not being able to calculate all the fleeting moments I spend on my phone to check if I have any notifications or to respond to a text message. Due to human error I was not able to calculate the exact time I actually spent just checking my phone from habit not necessity. When it comes to balancing both print and electronic media I am grossly lacking in that department. However recently I have been reading a book that was given to me as a gift and because of that there was some time dedicated to finishing an actual paperback book on Friday. Only recently have I been reading a physical book in addition to my time spent on my electronics. Despite this return to literature there is no true balance because I unfortunately spend minimal amounts of time reading in comparison to my time spent on my multiple electronic devices. I prefer the media that I use most often, such as my social media accounts (Instagram, Twitter, and Snapchat etc.) however I only favor those forms of media to a certain extent.

Each of these social platforms seems to dictate how I feel after using them for a prolonged amount of time; this is due to the fact that popular social media is based in comparing yourself to others and that comparison can leave your insecurities more visible especially on Instagram and Snapchat. As a result my favorite form of social media is twitter because above everything else it makes me laugh with memes and gifs, which leaves me feeling better most of the time. The purpose of these forms of social media is to share your thoughts and life with your friends and family and the world if you choose to do so. Often with twitter I might even receive daily news by accident just by checking in the morning without actively searching for current events but I will then see people responding to whatever has happened recently.

However in terms of my other media usage I believe that my use of Spotify and listening to music is one form of media that I value over all others because even when I’m not on social media I am constantly listening to music walking on campus and working out which is a large part of my schedule. I use my Spotify during my general forms of transportation, particularly when listening to music I am either walking/driving to and from somewhere. I also listen to music while I am working out and sometimes when doing homework, and often when hanging out with my friends. I mostly watch TV, Netflix, or Hulu when I am eating or even sometimes when I’m getting ready for class (doing my makeup and hair), and in general when I have time to kill. Certain activities are actually helped by my consumption of media for example working out, however sometimes I am distracted from multitasking with both activities. My media usage has proven to be both a positive and a negative influence.

After completing the media usage log I cannot say I was surprised by the amount of time I spend on all forms of media. However it does persuade me to spend less time on media and see how much of those eight or more hours I could get back in my day by doing more productive activities. The only surprises that I had been actually spending less time on my media usage than I originally I thought I did. The concept of a few days without media sounds daunting to a millennial who’s life basically revolves around some forms of media, however I believe taking a break from media would be refreshing. I generally think it would be a positive change in my life however on a day to day basis it would be somewhat of a negative impact not being able to connect with people that media has made it so easy to connect with. As well as being difficult to complete assignments for school and work. Despite this small inconvenience I would be able to connect with people face to face more often than I do by removing the intermediate step of media.