In logging my digital media usage, I discovered that I am a Facebook addict. I begin every morning with Facebook and a cup of coffee. I check Facebook on my iPhone several times per day- sometimes without even consciously realizing that I am doing it! I even use my mobile Facebook access as a means of avoiding uncomfortable social situations. Is this kind of obsessive Facebooking unusual or is this simply the new norm for my generation of millennials?

I remember receiving my first ever cell phone. A bright red, slim Krzr. What would most kids that age have done? Most likely texted every person they have met or tried to find cool games. Not me. I got the phone and simply threw it in a drawer in my kitchen, powered off, where it stayed for weeks. Texts from friends would come in but they would go unanswered. I didn’t feel the need to be tied down to this device. How I wish I could go back to that point. I am attached to my phone now. I relish in the times when I can simply throw it on my bed and walk away from it for hours. Knowing I am always accessible is annoying, frustrating, and wonderful all at the same time. I think I need to start setting aside times for myself when I am completely technology free. My inner 7th grader is still there and I need to take advantage of her.

I never really realized how deeply connected I was to  using my phone. I have almost everything on my phone and it has somehow managed to creep its way into being my lifeline. It helps me to stay in contact with everyone I know and with simplicity. I record my life on this one little handheld device called an iPhone with photos, videos and special moments that I’d like to capture. The way digital media is set up now, the stuff on my iPhone can be synced with my Mac which makes my life easier as well. There’s no connecting wires- just have internet and tadaa everything is shared across these platforms! I have all my emails and social media signed in already for easy access. It leads me to think that there’s a sense of dependability that I may have on my sidekick that’s always by my side…

Last week I went camping not far from Burlington, VT. I have AT&T cell service and I was pretty sure I checked the coverage map before I agreed to getting this plan. Oh, how it failed me. I was in the middle of the woods with no cell connection meaning that using my phone was not an option since it would be mostly useless. I just kept having the urge to pick it up in hopes that somewhere somehow I’d be able to connect to the world again and not just with the twelve other people with me and the wild critters and animals that lurked in the camp grounds. I had some hope that I’d find that one spot that allowed me one bar of service. This is when I knew that my phone was a crucial part of me. I had the feeling that I was missing out on a lot of things. Thoughts raced through my mind about what calls I was probably missing, emails plus texts I was not responding to, and the stress of knowing that my mother was calling and wondering why I didn’t answer her calls. I felt lost and disconnected from everything I was familiar with. I was annoyed at the fact that I had to begin to live without my phone when I really didn’t want to let it go. I have converted into a person who waited to get on the computer and respond to messages and have more social time to a person who depends on her phone for daily contact. It’s not a bad thing seeing how convenient my phone makes my life, but it does worry me about how social norms change when technology updates.

Looking back at my digital media logs told me a lot about myself and how I choose to spend my time. I am addicted to my cell phone and I spend way too much time on it. The problem is that cell phones are not just calling and texting anymore, the possibilities are endless. I spend hours on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram each day checking up on my friends and the world around me. I also dedicate a lot of time to Pandora Radio, listening to it for an average of three hours a day during the summer. I worked for my parent’s company this past summer which entailed a lot of days sitting behind a desk at a computer. While working, I would always listen to music in an attempt to pass the time more quickly. Although I do not spend nearly as much time watching television as I do on my phone, I still spend a decent amount of my time watching my favorite shows. Along with regular television, I really enjoy watching Netflix. The problem with Netflix is it’s addicting. Once you start a new television series, you have to finish it. My sister once finished an entire series of Grey’s Anatomy in two days. I do not spend a lot of time on my computer unless I am doing homework for school or writing important emails. Although a media log is a bit tedious, I think it is a great tool. It shows me how much I depend on digital media and will help me limit my usage in the future.

I’m not quite sure what I did before I had my iPhone. To think that just over a year ago I lived without my most coveted possession and walked around with a BLACKBERRY in my pocket… Reminiscing on those days it makes me wonder if I am really better off with my new Smartphone, or if having a simpler, less capable device would allow for a better balance in my life. Nevertheless, the usage is there – as is the addiction – and I don’t think I could ever return to my old ways.

It starts first thing in the morning; from the moment I open my eyes and stretch my arms. They seem to always stretch towards my desk to where my phone sits charging in peace. I disturb that peace by swiping to the right and start going through my texts, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, Facebook and more. It’s a daily routine that doesn’t end there. After I get out of bed, eat my breakfast, and settle down into my day, I’m back at it. I’m constantly engaged in what my friends (and social media friends) are doing, thinking and sharing. It seems as though I never miss a moment.

As weird as it may seem, I don’t contribute very much to this sharing. I hardly post anything on social media. Rarely do I share my music, pictures or thoughts, but I take advantage of what’s being put out there. I think there should be a word for people like me. Stay tuned…

Hello,

After observing my digital media use over the course of three days, I realized that I would not be able to live without my phone.  I have an iPhone 5.  With my phone I can do everything that I would do on a computer and more.  I am always checking and responding to emails for personal and school use.  I spend a lot of time texting with family and friends.  I spend quite a bit of time on Facebook or Instagram, the common social media sites.  I even use my iPhone as my primary camera.  I can’t imagine a time in this world without cell phones.  I don’t understand how people survived.  If I get lost, or if I am meeting up with someone, my go to resource is my phone.  I have a terrible sense of direction and it continues to be terrible, because I have a smart phone to rely on for navigation, and therefore my sense of direction never will get better.  Having a cellphone, even if its not a smart phone can be a lifesaver.  In a literal sense, if you are in an emergency the cellphone can be used to call a friend or the police. In a less serious way, a huge portion of my life is on my phone: my  contacts, my calendar, my texts, and pretty much just everything relating to the social aspect of life.  Smart Phones in particular make everything much easier and convenient, as they hold a lot of every day uses, including games and music, all on one device.  Once again, I don’t know what I would do without my iPhone.  That will be all for my first blog post, look out for the next one relating to digital media literacy next week.

Thanks for reading!

I was in Mt. Hood, OR skiing last month, when I heard a snowboarder I passed on the way to the bottom of the lift remark: “Man… I just feel like my whole life is one giant Instagram opportunity”. I couldn’t help but sympathize with this individual.

“HOOD/HOOD” by @murphy_roberts (my Instagram account)

My favorite form of social media is Instagram. It is super simple and easily digestible, especially after a long summer day of working, working out, and other adventures. I live in a small mountain town in rural Colorado. My town is known as “Ski Town USA®” due to the fact that we have produced more winter Olympians than any other town in the United States and has bestowed the nickname of “Bike Town USA” due to our access to the world class road and mountain biking throughout the area. My backyard is my playground. Therefore, there are Instagram opportunities aplenty.

“Life is like riding a bicycle. In order to stay balanced, you have to keep going.” by @murphy_roberts

The three day digital media use log that I recorded for this class will verify that I do tend to spend a good deal of time on Instagram. I follow friends and celebrities like most Instagram users, but also professional photographers as I enjoy learning from their techniques, despite my camera access being limited to a eight megapixel camera phone. I don’t go on a mountain bike ride or a hike with the intention of getting a “Instagram worthy” post, yet ofttimes I find myself in a setting that is too beautiful not to share.  Now that I am at college and have real responsibilities, I am finding that I care less about all social media networks. We will see if this trend continues over the next four years.

– Murph

Hi All,

Since I have came to America, I have discovered that most people are still using the SMS function even though most people have smartphones. During my gap year, I have worked for an app called WeChat, which is based in Guangzhou. This app supports Windows, Android, iOS and the Blackberry. This app is better than iMessage because iMessage only allows two iOS devices to text each other. WeChat is similar to WhatsApp in a way but much more awesome! In the new WhatsApp update, one can see that it is quietly installing WeChat functions into it. In China, WeChat has already reached 450 million users. Overseas, around 90 million. This already surpassed Facebook Messenger (around 200 million). WeChat has functions like video call, live walkie talkie etc and makes life a lot easier! It is also for FREE. So go download it now and play with it!

P.S My favorite function in it is the voice message function. Sometimes when I don’t feel like typing a long phrase I just press a button a leave a voice message on my friends phone. Download to check it out! (It pains me to see how people still use SMS)

Norris