Term Paper | 1
Term Paper | 1
Like many people, I rely on social media to stay connected with friends I don't go to school with anymore. Instagram is usually my favorite. I can share photos from events or my photography, but also because it also lets me see what my friends are up to throughout the week. YouTube plays a big role in my life too. I love true crime, and listening to new cases keeps my mind busy and always gives me something to think about.
Most mornings start with Snapchat. I quickly check my messages to see if anything important came through overnight. This only takes me just a moment, but it helps me stay caught up. After that, I then move on to YouTube which has become a regular part of my morning routine. While I get ready, I almost always listen to a true crime video. The videos are usually about an hour long which is the perfect amount of time it takes me to prepare for the day. This helps me stay awake and engaged because my brain stays tuned to the case that is being told.
During classes, the way I use media depends on what is allowed. If ChatGPT is permitted, I use it to spark new ideas, brainstorm, and help with assignments. It gives me the idea to think in different ways and make difficult topics easier to understand. If ChatGPT is not allowed then I stick to OneNote for note-taking. This makes it much easier to be able to study later on.
Once my classes wrap up in the afternoon, I usually check Instagram or Snapchat again. I catch up with friends, rely to messages, and scroll on either stories or feeds to see what everyone is up to. I love sharing pictures that I have taken over the week as well.
Evenings are when I settle down and focus on finishing tasks. I often turn to YouTube for explanation videos, ChatGPT for new ideas, or OneNote to make notes for my classes. I use tools like Google Calendar, Notion, and Pinterest, which keep me organized and help me come up with creative ideas. They also help me track my assignments and deadlines. I enjoy my personal platforms like this because they can give me constant inspiration and motivation throughout my week.
At night, I like to wind down and watch something that is slower paced. TikTok is usually my go-to, I watch videos about recipes, makeup tutorials, and traveling. I spend about an hour on this platform, this helps my mind to relax and so that it can reset for the morning. This feels like a reward for having a long busy day.
Eventually, I will set my alarms, put my phone away, and go to sleep, so that I can be rested for the next day.
Even though it might sound like I spend a lot of time on screens, I do not feel that it is an excessive amount compared to most people. When I am with my friends or in between classes, I try to pay attention to the world around me so I do not miss the small but interesting details happening in real life. Sometimes this means people-watching and noticing the way others interact, and other times it means enjoying a casual conversation that makes the day feel lighter. These moments remind me that I am truly present instead of spending unnecessary hours online.
Even though they may seem ordinary, these experiences have a kind of value that time spent on a screen cannot replace. I try not to let my attention drift too far from the people who are physically with me, because I know how important it is to be engaged in those moments. More meaningful memories are made when I allow myself to be fully in the present, noticing the laughter, the conversations, and the little details that make each day special. Choosing to stay present shows me that balance is possible and that while media has its benefits, the most genuine connections are often found away from a screen.
Many of my friends use social media in similar ways, carefully trying to balance the time they spend online with the time they spend offline. I believe that this balance is important because social media can have both a beneficial and harmful side. When used thoughtfully, it can be an amazing tool, but if it takes up too much of our lives then it can become a huge issue.
On the negative side, it can make people a little lazier and it sometimes gets in the way of building genuine relationships. It can lead to unhealthy habits which can hurt the ability to form face-to-face relationships. Spending too much time online can even make loneliness feel stronger. You can have the whole world at your fingertips and still struggle with the idea of being isolated. On the positive side, media has supported fundraisers, spread awareness about important issues, and even helped solve real cases. It has also made education more creative and interactive. Most importantly, it has connected people from all over the world who may never have met otherwise.
To me, media is both powerful and complicated. At times it can feel overwhelming with endless updates and constant notifications, but it can also be deeply inspiring. The key is learning how to find balance. I want to continue enjoying the digital world because it connects me to friends, sparks new ideas, and creates opportunities I might not have otherwise. At the same time, I want to hold on to the value of real conversations and in-person connections.
I truly appreciate the advances that technology has given us. Things that once seemed impossible are now part of our everyday lives, from instant communication across the world to creative tools that help us learn and grow. These innovations have changed the way we live, often for the better. Still, it is important to remember that a screen can never replace real memories or face-to-face experiences. That is why we should be mindful of how much media we consume and how it shapes the way we spend our time.
In the end, I do not believe we need to get rid of technology. Instead, we need to use it wisely so it adds to our lives rather than taking away from them. With a healthy balance between the online and in-person world, we as a society can make the most of both by embracing the creativity and connection of technology while still cherishing the authenticity and meaning of real-life experiences.
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