Your task for this assignment is to record your media consumption for 5-7 days straight. Take note of how many hours you spend reading, watching television, using the Internet, or engaging with any other forms of media. While you do not have to give an exhaustive account of every TV show you watch or website you visit, do note what types of books, TV, websites, etc. that you consume. You can also describe which particular shows you watch or sites you visit daily/on a regular basis. After listing your media diet for each day of the week (length of time, types of media), you should provide a brief analysis. Questions you might address in your analysis include: What does your media diet say about you? How do you think it might compare to the media diets of other people your age? What might your media diet suggest about American society more broadly? Are there changes you'd like to make regarding your media consumption? How might your social location influence your media intake?
It is hard to record how much time spent on social media since it is connected to my phone. I have a Facebook application on my Blackberry which notifies me of any new wall posts, picture comments, status updates, etc—basically anything under notifications. Also, I have a Twitter application which constantly keeps me in the loop for Twitter, all I have to do is go to the application and I am free to browse my Twitter “timeline”. It also notifies me of any “mentions” or “direct messages” that Twitter utilizes. However, I can say on average I spend 10-15 minutes a day using Twitter. For Facebook, I spend an average of 20-30 minutes a day.
Watching television really depends on the day. Lately, there have been Giants games, 49er and Raider games, Golden State Warrior games, and even San Jose Sharks games. Obviously I do not watch them all but I do my best to keep up. Along with these games there are specific days which television shows come on. Most of these shows are cartoons (yes, I still watch cartoons like Family Guy and the Simpsons), reality shows, and an occasional drama. On average I spend at least two hours a day watching television.
Also, going off sports, much of my time is spent checking the score of games if I can’t view it. As you might have guessed, there’s an application for that! This only happens on select days but I can say that I spend about 10-15 minutes total a day checking the score.
I feel that my media diet is probably comparable to many other college students and people my age. There are only so many shows that air on the television at certain times (disregarding the ability to look them up online). Many of my friends watch shows like Jersey Shore and use Facebook very much. I think that this media diet suggests that American society, or more specifically, American society considering college students, share most of the same interests. I feel that it is very difficult to find a college student without a Facebook. It has become a directory now rather than a social networking sight in my eyes.
I would definitely like to spend less time on my media consumption, especially considering that instead of watching “The Situation” try to get with girls half his age and shaking my head at Snooki trying to save a lobster put putting it in freshwater, I can do something with my life! I am kidding, but they do make more money than I do at the moment!
I feel that social location would definitely change my media intake relating to social networking, as for television I would probably keep the same habit. Before I transferred high schools, I did not even have a Facebook. As soon as I got to my new high school, I found that everyone had a Facebook! I was still a hardcore Myspace user. I only made a Facebook so I could be known throughout school, not to conform. Going to a brand new school where I knew absolutely no one was a challenge and I guess I can say that Facebook helped me get myself out there and let everyone know that there was a new kid!
It was very interesting analyzing my media diet through this assignment. Self-reflection is always a fun and eye opening thing to do.
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