Amanda Onofrio Blog #3

         As a college student who lives away from home, it is almost impossible for me to go one day without using the Internet or my smart devices. I prefer staying up to date on my friends and family’s lives as well as keeping informed on school assignments and upcoming due dates. In order to do so, I am consistently using social media platforms to stay in touch with others, along with my computer to access the Internet for school purposes.

            In order to address these habits I have with technology, I decided to endure 24 hours without use of the Internet or my smart devices. Prior to this experiment, I knew I was going to have a tough time completing the 24 hours without any technology. However, I was interested to see how this experiment would affect me socially and mentally.

  

          I chose to complete this experiment on Saturday, February 15, 2020, a day where I usually have no responsibilities and do not have to worry about the things happening around me. As I laid in bed the Friday night before this experiment, I made sure to text my mom and dad and go on my favorite social media platforms before I would not be able to for the next several hours.

            The first 3 hours into the 24 hours were great. I woke up at 9:00 AM, showered, and did some homework and my mind was not focused on social media or the Internet as I was staying distracted. It wasn’t until about 3:00 PM when I started to get bored and was tempted to turn my phone back on or open up my laptop.

6 hours in: Feelings

•        FOMO (fear of missing out)
•        Boredom                                            
•        Disconnected 

           I knew these type of feelings were going to be inevitable during this experience, however, I did not think I would feel as disconnected with the world as I did at this point in the journey. In previous years I have went five days without a cellphone because I was attending a church mission trip. The feelings I felt then were completely different as I was surrounded by adults and friends and had access to constant communication. Being detached from my devices made it difficult for me to keep in contact with friends and find plans to keep myself entertained.

            Come 6:30 PM, those feelings started to fade away. I decided to get some fresh air and left my room to go get a to-go box of food from the Commons dining hall. I ran into two of my close friends there and made plans with them to go do something fun at 8PM. It was odd for me to make plans with my friends in person as I am so used to texting my friends and making plans through the phone. Following this interaction I was able to see part of the uses and gratifications theory taking place. Being without the media for several hours at this point allowed me to understand how and why I use it as much as I do. Earlier in the day I found myself tempted to seek out the media in order to fulfill my needs that were caused by boredom. I often rely on social media and the internet as forms of “social interaction,” “pass time,” and “entertainment.” (Whiting & Williams, 364). However, being forced to communicate with others in person during this experience reminded me how consumed I am in the media.

13 hours in: Feelings

•       Determined
•       Relaxed
•        Present 

The adjectives above describe how I was feeling at 10PM on the day of this experiment. I went out with two of my girlfriends at 8PM to get ice cream and hang out and then headed back to my room after. While hanging out with my friends it was very peaceful not having to worry about where my phone was or who was texting me; I enjoyed having a real conversation with my friends without any distractions. 

A big change for me was attempting to go to sleep without checking my phone beforehand. I always watch YouTube videos before bed to make myself tired, however, on this day I was not able to do that. As an alternative of using my phone, I decided to take this quiet time to do some devotionals and talk to God. As a stressed and busy college student, I often find it hard to set aside the time to do my daily devotionals but I was very grateful for this moment. Following my devotionals and prayers, I went to bed very relaxed and at a peace.

            I woke up the next morning at 9:30 AM which meant I had completed the full 24 hours without no cellphone or Internet use. I was very proud of myself and had a great learning experience, however, I was very ready to check my phone and see all that I missed in the last day. I was not expecting to have many notifications when I turned my phone back on but I had quite a few texts from friends asking where I was. I probably worried a few people as most of my friends know that I always have my phone on me and will respond reasonably fast. 

I never realized how much the Internet has integrated itself into my daily routine until I went without it for a whole day. The most significant thing that stood out to me during this change was how much applications like Instagram affect my daily life without me even knowing it. Going without Instagram for a whole day taught me that I need to constantly be myself no matter what I see online. Chapter six of Teaching and Learning about Difference through Social Media, discusses how social media plays a large role in shaping how girls look at themselves. I can comply with this statement as Instagram photos affect my life greatly, even if I do not like to admit it. I am constantly comparing myself to others and I often feel pressured to “present myself as having a ‘perfect’ life” (Vega-Castaneda, 87). It was very relaxing to not have to worry about comparing myself or worrying about how I look in regard to the media during this period.  

It is interesting to see how much my mindset changed throughout the day. The longer the day went on, the more I became less anxious about what was going on in the media. I was able to focus on taking in every moment without having any stressors or obstacles holding me back from doing what I want to do. Although I was very bored and lonely at times, it was a great learning experience to remind myself that life can still be fun and interesting without having my face shoved into my phone and computer all the time.

References

Whiting, A. & Williams, D. (2013). Why people use social media: A uses and gratifications approach. Qualitative Market Research: An International Journal, 16(4), 362-369.

Vega-Castaneda, L. & Castaneda, M. (2019). Teaching and Learning about Difference through Social Media: Reflection, Engagement, and Self-Assessment. Routledge, 86-103.