Media as a source of information and entertainment

Media Diary and Paper

While tracking my media use, I was amazed to find out that I use more time on media than even on sleep. The use of media takes close to half of my day on each of the first days of tracking. I consider myself fairly techno-savvy. I am regularly on my phone or laptop either using an app or scouring the internet for information and entertainment. Overall, the use of internet on my phone and laptop took the most time when compared to the other media. Some of the things accessed on the internet include YouTube videos, checking mail, and taking summer classes. On the phone, I made use of several applications.

While home, I use YouTube on my laptop, especially to watch videos. Whether it is YouTube videos for lunch recipes or videos on my laptop for just entertainment, the laptop replaces the use of television since I do not have one in the house. The laptop is thus the sole source of entertainment and ambient noise when I am working on something in the house. I sometimes leave my laptop in the house, but never my phone. My phone is therefore at my proximity most of the time. I use it to access social media and other web content. A substantial amount of time is usually spent on the social media because I am a very sociable person. Some of the social media that I am always updated about being Weibo, Instagram, Wechat, and Line. I use these mediums mainly for entertainment. I also use them to connect with friends and learn about the latest celebrity gossips.

Efficiency is one of my key goals. I, therefore, make use of applications that can increase my efficiency at doing things. I make use of the Waze traffic app so as to avoid heavy traffic that would delay me from getting into whenever I am headed in time. I also make use of the Target Cartwheel app whenever I am doing grocery shopping so as to get the best deals around and thus saving money. Still on the issue of saving money, I use the GasBuddy app to check the cheapest gas rates around. Another app that helps me saves money in the Asos app. The app offers a platform to shop for beachwear since it is summer. They have cheap things and even offer discounts to students. I also utilize the Mint App to track how I spend my money. The use of this apple singly might take a short time but on a combination of their times, I found out they eat a huge chunk of my hours every day.

I also make use of Christian application. I am from a staunch Christian family and everyone in my family usually takes time every day to engage in prayer or to learn about the Bible. For me, the use of the Frcc Christian life app on my phone does the trick. I usually use the app during my long drive to school. I also sometimes listen to music for entertainment or to pass time on my way to and from school. This is usually on my phone which I connect to the car’s stereo. When I do not have enough time during the day, I usually sneak to the Bible App on my phone for some “Christian life” time.

Media to me is a source of information and entertainment. I cannot start to imagine how different life would have been if I did not have the media that I have not. For instance, lack of the computer would mean I would not be able to take the online summer classes I am taking at the moment. It would also mean no new recipes from YouTube. Not to forget there would be no background music for the long study and driving hours. How much more boring can life get than that! I use media mostly when I am lonely. I do not like being alone, and the media acts as a distraction and a time passer. It also helps me forget problems and worries and a portal to release all my personal worries.

I definitely use my phone more than any other media. The phone is used for a number of specialized ways, including technical use and for gratification. It is my go to media for entertainment at anytime and anywhere. I like how I can just pull it out and in no time I am a different almost imaginary world where time moves faster than in real life. I use it for both entertainment and education. Besides the regular social media use, I utilize it when I need to know answers to random questions quickly. Were it not for it, I would not know five different ways of getting rid of gum when it sticks to your hair.

At the end of the two weeks, it was apparent that I had to spend the third day without the use of my phone. I can also confirm that the experience was just as expected or even worse. I had to leave my phone at home to avoid the temptation of using it. The day felt a lot longer than usual, owing to the many hours that I did not spend on the phone. No music, no application, no social media, nothing. I carried my laptop with me to try and cover the void left by the lack of the phone. This, however, did not help much since I could just slip on my laptop at any time. These inconveniences coupled with getting stuck in traffic made me appreciate the importance of my phone. Without the phone, the day was boring, and I felt anxious every time I remembered I did not have my phone on me.

My Diary