Media Diet Notes

I decided to do my media diet on a Saturday, which would on a typical saturday be a huge problem, but since his particular Saturday was going to be really busy, I figured I wouldn't feel the need for my smartphone that much.

Two main things I had to do, which I knew before doing the media diet was a trip to Silkeborg to referee and back, but also a meeting with a good friend of mine later that day.
Friday, the day before, I did a little prep-media diet research - meaning I prepared my self for a whole day without my smartphone, radio, tv and computer.
So I wrote down the busses I was going to ride to get to Silkeborg and what bus stops I had to change to the next one - all of that was now written down on paper, the old school way, instead of having a map-app or GPS running while traveling from Aarhus and Silkeborg. Also I arranged with my friend, that I would be at his apartment around 16-17 that day, so he had to stay home in that hour at least.

I actually decided to do my media diet from 12 o'clock at night and then 24 hours - but since I was out partying that friday night, I didn't find it very comforting not being able to get a reach of anybody while being out. Where are my friends at? Call for a cap and so on. So instead I started my media diet at 4 in the morning, as soon as I was home.
A good night sleep - when I woke up I felt very jealous of my girlfriend, who was laying next to me checking her inboxes and Facebook account - which for this day wasn't allowed for me.
I had to survive a whole day without any kind of media at all - fortunately I had a busy day a head of me.

While traveling to Silkeborg, I was really bored - I noticed how everyone else besides me where listening to music/radio with their earphones plugged in and constantly glancing at their screens. Jealous - but also a little sad on their behalf, not that they are missing out on a conversation with me, which at that point actually would have been nice - just some kind of entertainment. Why have we turned in to be "screen hungering human beings".

They I feel left out? Yes
Did I feel that I was missing something? Yes - fear of missing out.
I was so focussed on the assignment/experiment, that the need of completing the assignment was more important to me, than just checking my "second life".
Also, I felt very relaxed and in harmony when I arrived to Silkeborg - very focussed on the next "assignment", which was to do a good job as a referee in Silkeborg under observation. I had no stress elements or frustrations from the outside world going into the game - which helped me perform well.

I had to cheat a couple times during this day, which in the 2 cases out of the 3 were an emergency. I couldn't find my way back to the original bus stop, so I had to use the GPS on my smartphone for once - the smartphone which I of course couldn't leave behind, I had to have it in my pocket along my travel. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to ask anyone - and I know if I didn't catch that bus, my entire preparation sheet from the day before would be meaningless.
On my way home from Silkeborg I unconsciously turned on the radio - at first I didn't notice I had broken my own rules, but after 20 minutes of radio use I realized I had used a media, even though I wasn't allowed to - I felt ashamed.

Later, when meeting up with my friend - the clock was passed the arranged 16-17 o'clock meeting time, so while standing in the rain - I had to give him a call. Unfortunately he had left his apartment 15 minutes ago, but would be back in a little while. Which in this case would have been prevented if we could have communicated throughout the day.

After the phone call, I noticed my text message inbox had 2 new messages, which was a mentally hard challenge not to have a look at.

When I woke up the next morning, I noticed that some of my friends, who I had told I would be on a media diet, had posted several embracing pictures and facts about me on my wall. Facebook, friends and friends of friends were now able to see me really drunk, really tired and other fun facts and embracing stuff, which used to be private/internal among the group of friends and I - but now everyone was a part of it.
I decided to give them a call and they deleted all of it - but for a 24 hour period they had changed my identity and others view at me with just a couple of posts.

Despite, feeling this task was easy, I also felt that some of the actions made on my social network site Facebook was crucial to my "second life" appearance. Now my need to check my social media accounts are now even more important to me, and within the next few weeks will the amount of times during the day raise, just due to the above mentioned episode.

Building block 2

Section 1: The thick description

After having tracked my media use for 48 hours, I started to understand the mechanism that social media evokes in my everyday living.

When going through my 48 hour tracking notes I notice how many hours a day I spend on these media, not only the amount of minutes, but also the frequency of the use. I tend to reach for my Iphone as the first thing in the morning, which is the perfect example of the symbiosis, me and my Iphone are a part of.

 

“My Iphone is my little baby” – as the overprotected mother  I am, I drop everything as soon as my baby needs me. The two scenarios which occurs everyday and very frequent: 

1)   The Iphone makes a sound/vibration – could be a new text message, e-mail, re-tweet, facebook notification or livescore update.

a.     Attention, reaction will occur within seconds, which causes lack of focus/attention towards time and space.

2)   The Iphone is about to make a notification of any kind, but it doesn’t quite know it yet, that’s why I need to update, check and even double check my inbox of facebook, twitter and e-mail account to make sure I didn’t miss anything. It could be a silence scream for help for my Iphone-baby? (Which never have happened – lack of trust on the technology?). Bad habit or just the fear of missing out.

When feeling or hearing the well known Iphone vibration or sound, I immediately looses my concentration on whatever I was during. The repeated pattern:  sound – reaction – relief.
For some reason I tend to feel more relaxed when knowing I’m up to date or have answered whatever notification ended up on my screen. I noticed that my online interactions had a higher priority compared to an offline interactions – what had my attention the most and what interactions had the ability to draw its attention away from another interaction/conversation? The answer to both questions ended up being the online interactions.

Finally, I noticed a feeling/need/desire to contribute to the social media which I’m a part of – I often see the social media as a world/community I once was member of, but no longer contribute to. I still have a entrance to the community but I don’t the deserve it.
Especially when it comes to Twitter and Instagram I tend to feel that I should tweet or upload something. “Put and take”-concept – I enjoy and spend so much time on these media ‘stalking’ other people – why are they not allowed into my world?

Tracking Plan Notes

Raw Data

23/10

9:17 – The first I do this morning after my alarm goes off is to check my mail inbox. Two e-mails of no importance. One from twitter, ”10 others start following…”, the other from ”Holdsport”, Frederik is not attending todays practice.

My thoughts for during this as the first thing of the day are generated from the fear of missing something during my sleep. Despite having lots of friends from the states and other foreign countries my final reaction after several minutes on facebook tends to conclude – nothing has happened!
9:37 – On my way out of the door – e-mail inbox checked again, facebook checked – a text message from Casper. I answer him short. I’m in a hurry, on my way to work. I wonder what my girlfriend thinks of me just standing in the doorway – “what is taking him so long”, why isn’t he closing the door?

10:05: At work – checking my e-mail inbox again, still the same unread e-mail left. Why didn’t I delete that mail the first time? I keep coming back – cheating my self to think it is a new mail with important content. I ignore the unread e-mail once again. Opening my Facebook-app – “something most have happened”? I turn on my “Fodbold Fm” podcast and start working

10:10 – I’m at work, I still check my SMS-inbox. New text from Casper – quick answer.

10:15 – Still one unread e-mail – my curiosity to check my inbox is killing me. I can’t work properly without knowing. Disappointed I discover the same unread e-mail once again – why didn’t I delete it earlier? Finally I delete it – I feel stupid. I wasted time and stopped my work to check the same e-mail I already crossed by earlier this morning.
10:56 – My phone is finally on silence-mode – still I can’t stop thinking of what Caspers respond is to our conversation earlier this morning. I reach for my smartphone once again during work – 2 text messages from Casper and Rene. 1 new e-mail – could it be the same or did I delete it the last time? Where is my memory?  New e-mail – but still of no importance. 

11:00 – sQnder liked your photo on Instagram.  Which is displayed on my smart phone just lying within a reach. I start to wonder what picture that might be? I haven’t posted anything on Instagram for a long time – maybe I should do that soon?

11:32 – New text message from Rene. I’m doing all of the above at work – I wonder what people might think? Working on our phone?

11:42: Text message from Casper – quick answer “Cool”. I’m deleting another e-mail of no importance. Staying up to date with Facebook on my Iphone.
12:07 – My Macbook is turned on for the first time today.

12:32 – checking my e-mail inbox doing class – because I’m bored.

13:07 – On facebook – chatting with Casper. Wishing Oliver and Jan ‘Happy Birthday’. Spend approx.. 6 min on Facebook.

13:40 – Posted a link on ‘Digital Living’-Facebook-group. Wrote an private message to Mikkel regarding Sunday.
14:20 – Caught on facebook again.

16:21 – Checking my e-mail inbox, text message inbox and facebook.

17:00 – On Facebook once again

18:58 – going through my Instagram – a lot of new pictures uploaded during the day. Maybe I should join and contribute with an upload.

22:21 – Facebook again – lots of Champions League reaction among my friends. Should I do the same? They do it? We probably watched the same game.

23:29 – Adding new Instagram friends – checking my netbank balancy.
23:42 – Last Facebook check before bedtime – always looking for new content, but never share anything

24/10

11:15 – woke up. Opening my Facebook-app as the first thing this morning. 9 new notifications – some regarding my work, the digital identity book club and a Christmas event. Also 2 new e-mails, which are quickly deleted. From “ASOS” and “Spilexperten” – spam e-mails. I manage to answer most of it and went through my wall – 10 minutes spend. A relief to have done my “duty” – I feel great and decides to stay in bed for a little longer. Life is again restored and under control.

12:15 – On facebook editing a document regarding phone numbers for studentworkers at work. Also I decide to attend the Christmas dinner event I was invited to.

12:28 Another e-mail of no importance.

14:41 – Writing Rene and Casper about our Lasagne-date tonight.
15:38 – Taking a break on Facebook.
15:50 – New text message from my dad – quick answer – “I’m busy”.
16:28 – On Twitter – reading a lot of tweets about NFL. Also on Facebook – some new test about calculating our mental age based on our answers in a survey – it is trending. Should I join – I take the test, but didn’t share my result.

17:00 – Watched television, the newest episode of Robinson – and I started wondering what others might think of my habits.

18:00 – Liked the new facebook group of Vendsyssel FF, and deleted the old one ‘FC Hjørring’

While I’m eating I’m constantly disposed with soccer updates on Europa League. My Iphone is no longer on silence mode and therefore my phone makes a noise everytime on of the subscribed teams matches have a match change, whether it is new score, cards or halftime.
Despite eating and enjoying my mail with my friend – I constantly react to any noise or vibration from my phone – I have to keep track and stay up to date with the different scores in Euorpa League – I start wondering if I’m any fun to be around – is my friend just here for the free meal or is he enjoying my company. For the next hour or two my company is basically a livescoring application just repeating whatever is on my Iphone screen. 

19:34 – Liking and commenting a photo on Facebook from St. Valentin as a part of a ‘free pair of shoes’ competition.

20:00 – 24:00 – At a party – constantly checking my phone for updates on Instagram, Facebook – constantly interrupted by text messages, soccer scores or anything like it. I also discovered that most of the things people talk about are things seen on their wall – the new news media is peoples own facebook wall. Any sign of silence within a conversation can and will also be saved by lines such as “have you seen this?” (Showing new Iphone App/Youtube video/ Facebook break up etc.). Again I’m left with the feeling – did I miss something? Why haven’t I seen this before? I’m I lacking behind? Should I check more often, more frequently or I’m not a part of the trend-setting mass anymore?

Highlights – Main points

·      Massive use of Iphone, Mac and Facebook.

·      Easily interrupted

·      Looses focus (time and space) due to social media

·      Fear of missing out #FOMO

Video upload – 2 minute VLOG: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1OLVfT82RY

Despite being very nervous about this vlog, I managed unconsciously to show what I am capable of when it comes to social media. I had my facebook account open and the cameras rolling, but I never managed to go through my facebook news feed, twitter or anything alike, because I was so caught up in explaining my reflection and observations after during my 48 hour tracking period that I only managed to illustrate one example. Other than that my facebook account was stand still while I was talking on and on about my lack of being present to places at once – online and offline.

My Vlog

This is my short vlog post, where I narrate a segment of my media use, reflecting on my notifications and how they tend to stress and distract me. My ability to concentrate on only one thing at a time is clearly disposed in this vlog.  This video will be available at youtube for the remaining semester.

Tracking notes

Tracking Plan

23/10

9:17 – The first I do this morning after my alarm goes off is to check my mail inbox. Two e-mails of no importance. One from twitter, ”10 others start following…”, the other from ”Holdsport”, Frederik is not attending todays practice.

My thoughts for during this as the first thing of the day are generated from the fear of missing something during my sleep. Despite having lots of friends from the states and other foreign countries my final reaction after several minutes on facebook tends to conclude – nothing has happened!
9:37 – On my way out of the door – e-mail inbox checked again, facebook checked – a text message from Casper. I answer him short. I’m in a hurry, on my way to work. I wonder what my girlfriend thinks of me just standing in the doorway – “what is taking him so long”, why isn’t he closing the door?

10:05: At work – checking my e-mail inbox again, still the same unread e-mail left. Why didn’t I delete that mail the first time? I keep coming back – cheating my self to think it is a new mail with important content. I ignore the unread e-mail once again. Opening my Facebook-app – “something most have happened”? I turn on my “Fodbold Fm” podcast and start working

10:10 – I’m at work, I still check my SMS-inbox. New text from Casper – quick answer.

10:15 – Still one unread e-mail – my curiosity to check my inbox is killing me. I can’t work properly without knowing. Disappointed I discover the same unread e-mail once again – why didn’t I delete it earlier? Finally I delete it – I feel stupid. I wasted time and stopped my work to check the same e-mail I already crossed by earlier this morning.
10:56 – My phone is finally on silence-mode – still I can’t stop thinking of what Caspers respond is to our conversation earlier this morning. I reach for my smartphone once again during work – 2 text messages from Casper and Rene. 1 new e-mail – could it be the same or did I delete it the last time? Where is my memory?  New e-mail – but still of no importance. 

11:00 – sQnder liked your photo on Instagram.  Which is displayed on my smart phone just lying within a reach. I start to wonder what picture that might be? I haven’t posted anything on Instagram for a long time – maybe I should do that soon?

11:32 – New text message from Rene. I’m doing all of the above at work – I wonder what people might think? Working on our phone?

11:42: Text message from Casper – quick answer “Cool”. I’m deleting another e-mail of no importance. Staying up to date with Facebook on my Iphone.
12:07 – My Macbook is turned on for the first time today.

12:32 – checking my e-mail inbox doing class – because I’m bored.

13:07 – On facebook – chatting with Casper. Wishing Oliver and Jan ‘Happy Birthday’. Spend approx.. 6 min on Facebook.

13:40 – Posted a link on ‘Digital Living’-Facebook-group. Wrote an private message to Mikkel regarding Sunday.
14:20 – Caught on facebook again.

16:21 – Checking my e-mail inbox, text message inbox and facebook.

17:00 – On Facebook once again

18:58 – going through my Instagram – a lot of new pictures uploaded during the day. Maybe I should join and contribute with an upload.

22:21 – Facebook again – lots of Champiosns League reaction among my friends. Should I do the same? They do it? We probably watched the same game.

23:29 – Adding new Instagram friends – checking my netbank balancy.
23:42 – Last Facebook check before bedtime – always looking for new content, but never share anything

24/10

11:15 – woke up. Opening my Facebook-app as the first thing this morning. 9 new notifications – some regarding my work, the digital identity book club and a Christmas event. Also 2 new e-mails, which are quickly deleted. From “ASOS” and “Spilexperten” – spam e-mails. I manage to answer most of it and went through my wall – 10 minutes spend. A relief to have done my “duty” – I feel great and decides to stay in bed for a little longer. Life is again restored and under control.

12:15 – On facebook editing a document regarding phonenumbers for studentworkers at work. Also I decide to attend the Christmas dinner event I was invited to.

12:28 Another e-mail of no importance.

14:41 – Writing Rene and Casper about our Lasagne-date tonight.
15:38 – Taking a break on Facebook.
15:50 – New text message from my dad – quick answer – “I’m busy”.
16:28 – On Twitter – reading a lot of tweets about NFL. Also on Facebook – some new test about calculating our mental age based on our answers in a survey – it is trending. Should I join – I take the test, but didn’t share my result.

17:00 – Watched television, the newest episode of Robinson – and I started wondering what others might think of my habits.

18:00 – Liked the new facebook group of Vendsyssel FF, and deleted the old one ‘FC Hjørring’

While I’m eating I’m constantly disposed with soccer updates on Europa League. My Iphone is no longer on silence mode and therefore my phone makes a noise everytime on of the subscribed teams matches have a match change, whether it is new score, cards or halftime.
Despite eating and enjoying my mail with my friend – I constantly react to any noise or vibration from my phone – I have to keep track and stay up to date with the different scores in Euorpa League – I start wondering if I’m any fun to be around – is my friend just here for the free meal or is he enjoying my company. For the next hour or two my company is basically a livescoring application just repeating whatever is on my Iphone screen. 

19:34 – Liking and commenting a photo on Facebook from St. Valentin as a part of a ‘free pair of shoes’ competition.

20:00 – 24:00 – At a party – constantly checking my phone for updates on Instagram, Facebook – constantly interrupted by text messages, soccer scores or anything like it. I also discovered that most of the things people talk about are things seen on their wall – the new news media is peoples own facebook wall. Any sign of silence within a conversation can and will also be saved by lines such as “have you seen this?” (Showing new Iphone App/Youtube video/ Facebook break up etc.). Again I’m left with the feeling – did I miss something? Why haven’t I seen this before? I’m I lacking behind? Should I check more often, more frequently or I’m not a part of the trend-setting mass anymore?

Highlights.

·      Massive use of Iphone, Mac and Facebook.

·      Easily interrupted

·      Losses focus (time and space) do to social media

·      Fear of missing out #FOMO

#FOMO

Fear Of Missing Out! #FOMO

Brilliant reading about why we're doing status updates on facebook. Why most updates are annoying and only a few are interesting? I recommend you spend 15 minutes to read it through and reflect on it.


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/wait-but-why/annoying-facebook-behavior_b_4081038.html

Social Media Draft (Brain dump)

The last time you engaged in the social media – meaningful or not.

The last thing you did?

What was the last social media you engaged in – a recent social media activity.

My last meaningful social media interaction must be my tweets during the summer, where I started tweeting during my vacation in France. I started to tweet about things that had my interest, but compared to my former tweets, these where of a more serious character. 

Why?

Several of my friends had started to "share knowledge" or at least pretended to be 'wise' on topics such as NFL, Superligaen - which encouraged me to join and '"play" along.

Therefore, I ended up "teaching" the world nonsense and information of no matter. Detailed information, content without any meaningful point - still I contributed to the twitter world.

The transition form an undergraduate to a grad student changed my view on twitter - my new approach for this short term of time was now more serious. My voice now had a meaning.

As I stated earlier, I stopped my active and serious twitter approach after a couple of weeks, as I felt it didn’t suited me very well - I was pretending to be someone I wasn't. Smarter - knowing things, some more useless than other. My ‘wise’ knowledge and view upon things were now shared with the rest of the world. Trying to contribute and being a part of the whole twitter/hashtag world didn't suit me.

Accessible account - everyone can follow you. Public person in the hunt for followers, the right hashtags and receiving recognition from other "experts on twitter - retweets!

Actually, I have had twitter for quite a long time, but never used the media seriously. Always seen the media as a 'put and take' fishing park - where I only went fishing, but never returned anything. 

Then, I changed my twitter approach to a more internal use - just for friends. The outside world wouldn't make any sense of these internal jokes among my twitter friends, which by that time only existed of friends from the offline world. 

I have never participated in a larger nationwide discussion or debate regarding a topic, which had the interest of mine. It was fun - but it took time getting use to.

I believe it requires being open-minded offline in order to be 'public' online. Pretending is not an option - it has to fit your personality. If you are a 'loud' person offline - commenting and debating regardless of the audience - the twitter world might suit you better than me