My Relationship With Media




I would honestly say that I'm kind of addicted to media. More specifically, my phone. Apple recently added a new feature to their phones where it shows you how many hours per day you spend on your phone. And it shocked me to find that I use my phone for up to six hours a day. That's a whole quarter of my day behind a screen. And that doesn't even account for the time that I use to watch Netflix or YouTube on my laptop. This made me think about how essential media has become to my life. I use it every day to stay connected to the world around me. Whether that be talking to friends or family that I don't get to see on a daily basis or looking at the news online to stay informed. 

 I feel like the internet (which is definitely the most prominent form of media in my life) is often viewed negatively by older generations, and I definitely understand that aspect. Social media can be very harmful to teens, especially ones who start using it at an early age. I have seen firsthand how social media can be used to manipulate one's life into something it's not, simply for the sake of appearance. But I also think that the internet has had many positive effects on kids today. If not for the internet, I probably would not be nearly as informed on global issues as I am today. The way I view others and the world would probably be different if I had not been exposed to everything that I see and interact with on the internet.

So, while I do think that I tend to spend a little too much time on my phone, I don't think that I have a toxic relationship with media. I just think that I need to remember that it is not the most important thing in my life and that there is a limit to how much I should use it.

Comments

  1. Madi KwongApril 23, 2019 at 10:03 PM

    I agree with the fact that use technology can be both beneficial and harmful to us. I like how you pointed out the new feature on iPhones. I think that Apple's "Screen Time" is a great way to bring awareness to how much you are using your phone. This feature allows you to spend less time on our phones if you are willing to make the change.

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