It’s incredible how much my daily routine depends on, and even revolves around, digital media technology. In fact, almost everything I do during the day relies on some sort of digital media service provided by my laptop or cell phone. Let’s look at some examples.
One of the first things I do every morning is turn on my computer and check my email inbox. Messages in my inbox let me know if a class is changing its meeting location, if an assignment deadline has been postponed, or if basketball practice is moved to the weight room. While the ability to instantly transmit these messages has given professors and coaches the flexibility to make changes on the fly, this also means that I have to constantly “tune in” to my email inbox. In order to keep up with all the potential email updates I check my email on an average of nine to ten times a day.
While emails allow me to send messages to people instantaneously, cell phone calls and text messages are the solutions to get an instant response. Ever since I got a cell phone in tenth grade it has become a “must carry along item”, along with my car keys and wallet. I make about an average of six or seven calls a day on my cell phone. With a few touches on the key pad, I can immediately reach my high school buddies, family members, current classmates, teammates, coaches and anyone else on my cell phone phonebook. My cell phone makes it easier for me to connect with anyone, anywhere, anytime I choose to. Additionally I no longer have to plan meetings with people to far ahead, when I know they are just a call away anytime I need to schedule something.
Although I have never been a big fan of online networking websites, I quickly found early in my freshmen year that having an account with Facebook.com is extremely beneficial to keeping in touch with new people I meet every week. Because almost every college student in America has a membership on Facebook.com – I can contact anyone that I might have met as long as I know there name and school. On the same token sometimes I receive messages from people who I have barely met.
In high school, the only two ways people contacted me was through an actual meeting, or through a phone call. Now digital media has enabled people to get in touch with me anytime and anywhere. As a result my social network has extended beyond those who I come in close contact with every day, and those who I give out my number to. In addition things can happen almost spontaneously and without too much planning.
Because I am an active media user who depends heavily on technology, more opportunities are available to me. However while digital media continues to redefine many traditional social boundaries, it becomes more important for me to use these new technologies as a tool to expand my horizons, but not as a replacement for good planning habits and real life interactions.
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