Recently in my Media Studies class, we've been keeping track of how much time we've spent on many forms of media such as TV, the internet, video games, and music. As I logged on my chart how many hours I had spent using the different forms of media, some of the results caused me to think and some of them weren't that surprising. I found it interesting how I had spent so much more time throughout my day using digital media rather than print media. Have you ever considered how much time taken out of your day is spent on things like social media, TV, and other online sources? You may be surprised with some of the results. Here are some questions to ask yourself, and what I've answered personally:
1. With which medium do you spend the most time? Why? What attracts you to it?
I probably spend most of my time on the internet out of all media, because the world relies on the internet and we use it everyday. In order to do certain school projects I rely on the internet and I also rely on it for leisure things such as music, uploads, and social media. Another medium I use quite often is music because it helps me stay productive, and I enjoy listening to it while doing my homework. What attracts me to music is that it's a way to help me unwind and is a great coping mechanism. My perspective on the internet is that it's good for teens to have it so accessible, but it isn't entirely beneficial because it can limit face-to-face communication and opportunities.
2. Which medium do you use for information? For entertainment?
For information I mostly use the internet and for entertainment I either use music or movies. Personally, I believe that teens are more drawn toward receiving current events on the internet and social media, because it's something that they're familiar with and has become a huge part of our lives. I believe that the older generation is more drawn towards what they see on the TV, or news articles in the paper since that's what they've grown up with, while teens are more familiar with the internet. Based on my own preference, I would rather sit down and watch an interesting movie than play a video game, or listen to music. There's many preferences out there, it all depends on the person. What types of information do you obtain from the media? How reliable would you say that information is?
3. What types of information do you obtain from the media? How reliable would you say that information is?
Usually social media is a great source of information and a way that I receive most information, especially since people are constantly posting and sharing things, and shared information can travel so fast. The information I am most exposed to is easily obtained by Google and other online sites. It can range anywhere from world current events to things happening in my community. The certain information I obtain can be based on worldwide phenomenons such as COVID-19 or changes in pop culture. I would say that the information from the media can be either true or false, all depending on where or whom it's coming from. Information from the media should be viewed carefully as it has proven to be very persuasive or inaccurate, and it should be thoughtfully considered before believing and developing an opinion based on it.
4. Do you think if you filled this chart out five years ago it would have been different? How so?
I think that if I filled this chart out five years ago, it definitely would've been different because our world has changed so much since then and I didn't have the same access to the internet. Today, many kids have much lower attention spans because they are constantly entertained by different forms of media instead of using their own imaginations. When I was younger, I would've spent more time reading rather than online because I didn't have the same privileges then as I do now since I'm older. I also find that there's more options regarding entertainment now, since our world has changed so much and is so consumed with media.
5. If you filled this chart out five years from now, which numbers might be different?
If I filled the chart out five years from now, It think that not too much would change. My music preferences would mostly remain the same and my other entertainment preferences wouldn't change too much. I think the numbers that might change slightly would be the numbers I recorded from the internet and from TV shows since my responsibilities will change in the future. I might also use certain forms of media differently or more often then the ones I do now, since my life will probably be a lot different. Now I listen to music, spend time online, or watch movies probably the most out of all forms of media, whereas five years from now, I might use media in different ways.
6. Summarize in a few sentences what this chart tells about you as a media consumer?
The chart that I filled out recently tells me that I spend a little more time using digital media rather than using print media, which is common with my generation. As a media consumer, I don't spend as much time on many things that many people my age would. For example, video games are a popular preference for many people my age, and I rarely play them. I would say that a majority of my day is still spent socializing with family and friends and doing homework, or going out. When I look at how much time I've spent using different forms of media, it makes me think of how I could improve my self discipline and using my time wisely. Looking at the chart that I completed, it makes me think of how I could set certain goals for myself regarding my use of media.
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