Media Audiences: Media and My Everyday Life

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In last week's seminar we were asked to take a look at the media and how it fits around our everyday lives. I touched slightly on this in my last post, which you can read here, however I wanted to write about how media integrates with my life on a daily basis in more detail.

Media plays a huge role in my life, even more so than I first thought, here are a few examples...

- University/Studying: Using the computer, reading and replying to emails, reading books, using the library
- Socialising: Texting/iMessaging friends and family, using social media apps e.g. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat etc, and arranging activities with friends and family through phone calls
- Entertainment: Watching television programmes (e.g.using BBC iPlayer), viewing creative content on platforms such as YouTube and listening to music on websites such as Spotify Web Player or iTunes
-Shopping: Using the internet to online shop and watching product advertisements
- Political Opinions: Politicians using Twitter (engages more young people in politics) and part political broadcasts shown on television

My Daily Routine

You may have seen 'Morning Routine' videos on YouTube, which often start with people waking up then scrolling through their phone as the first thing they do. I think we're all guilty of it really, I only ever don't check my phone in the morning when I'm in a real rush. Typically, I'll start by checking my messages (both texts, iMessages and Facebook messages), and then move on to scrolling through the likes of Instagram, Snapchat and Twitter. After this I'll check my emails, and so on.

Another part of my 'daily routine' will be watching a TV programme while getting ready for the day, or listening to Spotify. I usually watch videos on YouTube as its just quick and easy but sometimes I'll use BBC iPlayer/ITV Player.

I'm actually guilty of not reading that much (awful I know), but I definitely find it easier to do everything via my iPhone or MacBook.

Blogging falls into a massive part of my daily routine, as I already write my own blog (and have been doing for two years now), so taking and editing photos is usually a part of my day. Alongside this is writing up blog posts, scheduling tweets (if anyone's wondering why I'm sometimes tweeting at 4am) and messaging other bloggers/brands.

I do think its a 'generational' thing, constantly checking my phone, not to say everyone is like that but I do think it is massively to do with society. In my opinion, I don't think there's anything wrong with it but I suppose I'm biased as I write a blog and therefore kind of need social media in my life.

Surviving a week without my iPhone?! What would be affected...

In the seminar, we thought about what we would actually do without our mobile phones for a week. A week isn't a long time really, sounds easy right? Nope, the WIFI in my halls went off yesterday for about an hour and I was just sat there completely bored (no one was in by the way). I sound completely materialistic but because my phone is completely integrated into my daily life, its feels very weird when its not there.

The top three things that would be affected in my life without my phone:

1. Alarm: I don't even own an alarm clock, so if my phone ever breaks (touch wood it wont), I won't be able to wake up at certain times
2. Messaging and Social Media: Although I've got my laptop, I use my phone for 80% of responding to messages, mentions and emails
3. Taking photos: I photograph sooo much with my phone so this would definitely be a problem if I didn't have it

I think it would be good for me to go without my phone, but I don't think I'd last a week if I'm honest - however I do reckon it would put life into a little bit more of a perspective. We've been asked to log when we use media in our daily lives so I'll update you with a much more detailed version of that soon.

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