During the next few weeks of New Media we started discussing social media and networking sites, such as Facebook. The following questions were raised: Do you consciously unplug from the digital world? Would you benefit from being forced to do so? Is this just a gimmick like pretending to live in the past, or are we really "addicted" to our gadgets and instantaneous feedback?
While I do not consciously unplug from the digital world, I think I would benefit greatly from doing so. I also do believe that people can be addicted to Facebook and other social networking websites. And unfortunately, it is incredibly easy to develop these addictions.
I have to confess, I used to be addicted to Facebook. I was constantly online, whether I was talking to someone, looking back at my friends' pictures, or just reading through the news feed. And since I have the iPhone, I would constantly be refreshing the Facebook app even after I logged off of my computer. It took something important to get me to put my phone down and give it a rest. Fortunately, I now only use Facebook to keep in contact with family and friends, and have greatly reduced my time online. My most recent addiction, however, is Tumblr. Tumblr is a micro-blogging website which connects bloggers from all over the world. My favorite part about this site is that the feedback is instantaneous and most blogs are updated far more frequently than Facebook. There is always something interesting to read, look at, or watch on Tumblr. Currently, I have a hard time going one day without logging on, even if it is only to read what's new.
The times where I am forced to unplug from the digital world, such as when my the battery on my phone dies or my laptop needs to be charged, are difficult. But they are probably the times in which I accomplish the most. Unless my phone is dead and my laptop can't be used, it takes me far longer to do homework assignments or papers than it should. I have been trying to get myself to take one day each week and stay off of the computer and the internet on my phone, but it has yet to happen. Part of this is because of the emphasis we place on technology, especially in the college community. Most of the things I need to do for my classes are posted online, such as assignments, the syllabus, quizzes, readings, and discussion boards. My downfall is that once I get online, it is usually hard for me to restrain the urge to check Tumblr or Facebook. And as much as I love being able to log online and see something new every few seconds, I would really love to break free of these habits soon.
While I do not consciously unplug from the digital world, I think I would benefit greatly from doing so. I also do believe that people can be addicted to Facebook and other social networking websites. And unfortunately, it is incredibly easy to develop these addictions.
I have to confess, I used to be addicted to Facebook. I was constantly online, whether I was talking to someone, looking back at my friends' pictures, or just reading through the news feed. And since I have the iPhone, I would constantly be refreshing the Facebook app even after I logged off of my computer. It took something important to get me to put my phone down and give it a rest. Fortunately, I now only use Facebook to keep in contact with family and friends, and have greatly reduced my time online. My most recent addiction, however, is Tumblr. Tumblr is a micro-blogging website which connects bloggers from all over the world. My favorite part about this site is that the feedback is instantaneous and most blogs are updated far more frequently than Facebook. There is always something interesting to read, look at, or watch on Tumblr. Currently, I have a hard time going one day without logging on, even if it is only to read what's new.
The times where I am forced to unplug from the digital world, such as when my the battery on my phone dies or my laptop needs to be charged, are difficult. But they are probably the times in which I accomplish the most. Unless my phone is dead and my laptop can't be used, it takes me far longer to do homework assignments or papers than it should. I have been trying to get myself to take one day each week and stay off of the computer and the internet on my phone, but it has yet to happen. Part of this is because of the emphasis we place on technology, especially in the college community. Most of the things I need to do for my classes are posted online, such as assignments, the syllabus, quizzes, readings, and discussion boards. My downfall is that once I get online, it is usually hard for me to restrain the urge to check Tumblr or Facebook. And as much as I love being able to log online and see something new every few seconds, I would really love to break free of these habits soon.
No comments:
Post a Comment