Media Usage

In my Adult Development class we talked about how media use—specifically the amount of time watching TV—increases with age. This just made me think about my media consumption right now and what media will really be like as I start to age and when I’ll eventually make the shift to being an elderly.

I asked myself the question, “With how much media consumption I am currently at, if it is said to increase with age, what will that mean when I’m older?” This was a scary question for me because with the amount of time I spend with the media now, that would mean even more time when I’m older! And I thought to myself, I’m not going to have time for that! OR… If that really is the case, I won’t have time for anything else!

I want to cut down on my media usage. This class has really made me see and think about the harm that comes from too much media, and also being more careful about the media we consume. This week I really got thinking about what I want to be doing with my spare time, and it’s not always watching TV or flipping through Facebook. A movie or TV can be a nice break, but I do not want it to be my go to when I feel like I have nothing to do.

I want to make sure that media is enhancing my life and not taking over my life. I have set goals and intend to be more infrequent with my time spent with the media.

Social Media

I recognize the harm that can come from social media and its many forms. I’ve seen it do a lot of harm, but this week I discovered a new appreciation for social media and saw it fulfill a good cause that wouldn’t be able to be accomplished any other way.  Though there are positives and negatives, it is a unique tool and can be very helpful. If we choose to use it properly, and in moderation, social media is in all honesty, amazing.

Social media has some downsides. It can be very time consuming—I know this all too well. I have wasted countless hours on social media, my biggest weakness being Instagram. It is something that I turn to when I’m bored, or even when I’m not bored, I’ll still use it to avoid something like homework. Social media has been something that has interrupted my studies and interfered with my concentration. I have used social media to the extent where I know my productivity levels have dropped because of it and it was something I had to fix. Media in general can be very addictive. Social media is something that is easy to make a habit and can quickly turn into more. And this, of course, is something we need to be careful of.

I’ve also seen how social media can destroy self-image and it has become a way that allows for people to portray their lives in a non-realistic way. It brings about competition and comparisons and doesn’t display the full truth in many cases. What we don’t want is to gain or lack self-worth or self-confidence based on social media.

Recognizing some of the bad that comes with social media, I also felt extremely grateful for social media this week. This week I felt that social media is truly able to unify and serve a great purpose. Whether is was the birth of a baby or an engagement or the sharing of a scripture, it is a great way to stay in contact and reach those, and so many, that you wouldn’t be able to normally. It gives people the opportunity to see and support so many of those around them. We can teach, share, and announce what is playing such a large impact in our current lives.

As we use social media, hopefully in a positive and beneficial way, it’s important to remember to value ourselves and share things that truly matter to us. If we do this we can gain a lot from social media and it can be a great tool to take advantage of.

The Super Bowl

This past weekend was one of the most, if not THE most anticipated sporting event of the year…. THE SUPERBOWL But one of the unique things about the Super Bowl is that many of the viewers are not even sports fans. And why is that?? Because of the commercials!!!

Every year, the Super Bowl receives massive amounts of viewers. This is a media viewing that is amazing to me. The time blocked out for the Super Bowl, the hours that it consumes, people stick around for almost all of it. Unlike other shows or performances or broadcastings, when commercials are used for a bathroom break or snack time, the commercials are what keep people riveted to the couch. People are invested in these media clips and advertisements because companies spend millions and this is where their best work for advertising will be seen.

I felt that this year’s bunch of commercials were not as good as the ones in years past. There were a handful of good ones, but hardly any that really stuck out to me or really hit the mark. Often there are commercials that make me truly feel something. Whether it is humorous or serious or just straight up clever, a brief 30 seconds can be very influential.

The media is an amazing tool. Because of the media, company after company was able to display and boost their name and product. Super Bowl commercials are the perfect example of mass media. They are seen by many and can influence many. Media can bring people together, and it can be great for sharing messages and informing large amounts of people.

Music Part 2

This week I kept coming back to music, so I decided I have more to say. This has been an interesting week. With ups and downs, I’ve felt like I’ve been on a rollercoaster. Like California Screamin’ in Disneyland. You go upside down and it’s fast and crazy but it’s soooo much fun. And mentioning Disneyland, they of course have incredible music and you can’t help but sing along to the catchy songs while walking around the park. (Can you imagine Dineyland or just Disney in general without music??)

My week started with watching the Live production of Grease on Fox on Sunday night. And this whole week I’ve been wishing/wanting my life to be a musical – and it’s almost felt like it at times. There is a song for everything. No matter my mood or the setting or the people I’m with, there is music for every occasion. And this week as I was walking to class or out of class or while at the gym or while driving to work, I always had a song in mind that I wanted for that particular moment. And it was quick and easy to go find it.

The accessibility of music today is astonishing. I have Spotify Premium and it is amazing to me, and my absolute favorite. I can listen to as much music as I want whenever I want. I can find a new song with three clicks and design my own playlists in a matter of minutes.

This week I felt so so lucky to have so much choice in the music I listen to. I had moments where I wanted Tim McGraw’s new song “Humble and Kind.” There were other times where I wanted to listen to Justin Bieber, a time for Piano Guys, a time for Andy Grammer, a time for Oldies, and of course time for more country. I’m still working on being more conscious and aware of what I’m listening to, and with that being a work in progress, I really just realized how much I appreciate that I have the choice.