How much I spend on new media during the week?
- Yeiz The
- Oct 14, 2019
- 4 min read
Updated: Dec 6, 2019
The internet and online media networks are double-edged swords which can influence our lives in many ways. With all of the new ways of receiving/publishing information and communicating with others, online media networks can influence what we want to buy, how we want to dress and even what we think. Since I started using the internet and online media networks, I realized that there is always a thin line that separates the positive and negative impacts. In this reflection paper, I will examine and discuss my daily media usage in order to conclude the relationship between myself and my media usage.
In order to look at my relationship with my daily media usage, I decided to use Screen Time feature on my iPhone, which showcases my real-time reports about how much time I spend on applications, websites, and more. My daily media usage for four days is categorized into two groups. The first group is social networking which includes Facebook and Messenger. While I mostly use one hour and 30 minutes per day on Facebook to update news around the world, Messenger helps me to communicate and keep in touch with my friends and family in Vietnam. The second group is entertainment which includes YouTube and Spotify. YouTube is a wonderful application which I use the most and I often spend an average of one hour and 45 minutes per day on it. I use YouTube to watch entertaining videos such as vlogs, streams, and short films. I also watch useful videos on YouTube which actually teach me something. For example, I follow Khan Academy YouTube channel and their videos are usually about learning in a fun way and immensely helpful for a student like me. I use Spotify to listen to music and podcast while I am on the subway. While music helps me relax, listening to podcasts such as The Lavendaire Lifestyle and Optimal Living Daily is an easy way for me to acquire knowledge and come up with new ideas.
The internet and online media networks definitely have an important impact on my life – both in positive and negative ways. The first positive impact is the ability to get news and information instantly. No matter what city you are from, what you are doing, as long as you are connected to the internet and you keep your smartphone next to you, you will have a quick update on what’s going on around the world. You will immediately know if something bad or good happened and for example, even though I’m studying away from home, I still know what’s happening in Vietnam. Thanks to the internet and online media networks, the earth has become a global village. We can all know about any part of the world within minutes through online media and the internet. Secondly, the internet and media networks give us the opportunity to absorb the boundless knowledge from different aspects – from books and movies to finding a new hobby or learning a new skill. It is an easy way to keep up with your interests and find different opportunities for your personal development throughout the internet. For example, I follow a hashtag #100bookschallenge on Instagram, which gives me valuable feedback about different types of books and by following the hashtag, I’m inspired to read more books. Last but not least, online social networks allow me to stay in touch with my friends. Social media is your pocket address book of the 21st century. No matter if it is your childhood friend or just someone you met at an event an hour ago, you can stay in touch with them and expand your network. Even though it is undeniable that the internet and online media networks bring a huge positive impact on our lives, there are still some downsides. According to Nowland, the high use of the internet is linked to loneliness, social anxiety, and depression (Nowland, 2018). Sherry Turkle, an MIT psychologist, has argued that “people are beginning to favor communicating with others using new technologies over speaking face to face” (Nowland, 2018). She also argues that “online communication lacks intimacy” (Nowland, 2018). It is true to me because even though I still have friends and supportive parents, sometimes I feel it is difficult for me to connect with others. Therefore, although we constantly connect to the world through online networks, in some cases, it actually leaves us feeling alone.
Without the internet and online media networks, my life would definitely change a lot. If I don’t use online social networks such as Facebook and Messenger, it would be impossible for me to connect with my friends and family back in Vietnam. Without Facebook, I would read a printed newspaper every morning during breakfast instead of checking my phone when I wake up. In my free time, without the appearance of YouTube, I would have more time for playing sports or reading books. Knowledge can exist in many ways. Therefore, without the web, we can still absorb everything we want to know. However, with the web, we have more choice of absorbing knowledge. With the help of the internet and online media, knowledge is now transformed into videos, podcasts, or digital books.
In conclusion, the internet and online media networks have affected not only myself but also my relationship with others. Therefore, it is important to know how to use it responsively and keep your relationship with it in kindness.
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