I’ve been seriously procrastinating writing this blog post… Right now, my open tab on ‘Social media’s implications for everyday life’ is sandwiched between online shopping, Top 5 fjord hikes in Norway, and social media like Facebook and Linkedin. Alas, I have decided to keep it simple and tell you about my day with digital media.
Not a Morning Person
It all starts at 7 a.m. when my phone alarm goes off. I hit snooze. The second alarm rings, and I reluctantly start waking up. Before I even think about getting ready, I check my phone. First things first: responding to messages and checking apps—Snapchat, Messenger, WhatsApp, Instagram. I’m irritated when I remember that I deleted Instagram at 2 a.m. the night before, after hours of doomscrolling through Reels. I had convinced myself I’d never download it again, but here I am, re-downloading it this morning. A few messages from friends pop up, along with some Reels they’ve sent. I respond, watch the videos, and—just like that—I’m drawn back into scrolling. I get bombarded with videos on makeup and hair tutorials, plastic surgery glow ups and the lavish lives of influencers or celebrities. I leave myself just a few minutes to get ready and out of the door.
The Daily Commute
I hop on my bike and go to play some music on Spotify, I don’t have premium. So now I am listening to a dutch woman talking about how I should go buy crypto, I think they reached the wrong target audience on that one. I remembered someone on this blog forum mentioned they listen to the news on their morning commute, what a productive use of time, so I thought I’d do the same. For the next 30 minutes, I listen to The Daily, where they are interviewing a republican woman named Sharon from Pensilvania about the upcoming US elections. I have learnt that Sharon is very opinionated and I am still unsure if this added any value to my day, but I will try to do this every morning because I need to stay updated.
I make it to the station and get on my train. This time is perfect to review the readings for the upcoming lecture or even better write this blog post. I get my tablet out, and it opens on Pinterest. It was a nice idea while it lasted but I spend the entire train ride looking for ‘inspiration’ and adding photos to one of my many and carefully curated Pinterest boards. I realise two very important things; I really need new clothes and I should spend more time in the morning styling my hair.
Working Hard or Hardly Working?
I make it to my lecture, where my devices automatically switch to “Do Not Disturb” mode—an attempt to keep me focused. The girl in front of me, however, is locked into Snapchat, snapping endless photos of her face to multiple people. Each one sends a photo back, and the cycle continues for the entire lecture. I’m more fascinated than judgmental—impressed, even—by how long she keeps it up. By the end of the lecture, I realise I’ve barely absorbed a thing. I was too captivated by the endurance and dedication involved in her Snapchat streak. Before heading to work, I try to squeeze in some study time. That’s when I get a notification from Vinted: “The Salomon hiking shoes you liked are discounted.” I buy them. I’ve been planning a long hiking trip, where the idea is to disconnect completely—no devices allowed. I crave some time away from the constant buzz of city life and the 4+ hours of daily screen time. With my new shoes on the way, I dive into planning the trip, scouring TripAdvisor and piecing together an itinerary down to the last detail. Before I know it, hours have passed, and it’s time for work. Even though I’m not supposed to, I take my phone with me to my shift. I don’t even check it, but having it nearby gives me this odd sense of comfort, as if I can’t be without it.
Okay, So What?
After my shift, I listen to music on my bike ride home, and now, here I am, finally writing this blog post, still uncertain about which direction to take. Reflecting on my day and my constant interaction with digital media—scrolling through Instagram, mindlessly adding to Pinterest boards, and even feeling comforted by the mere presence of a phone— has me thinking about how this reflects the wider societal shift toward hyper-connectivity and dependence on technology.
“The pervasiveness of digital media in social interactions raises questions about intersubjectivity and its dependence on embodied practices”
(Gallese, 2024)
The need to always stay connected, entertained, or up-to-date has blurred the line between productive use and mindless distraction. My day, filled with notifications, social apps, and media consumption, mirrors how deeply technology has woven itself into our daily lives. It’s no longer just a tool but a companion, shaping how we experience time, relationships, and even our sense of self. The pressure to stay connected and informed is so ingrained that moments of silence or digital detachment seem almost foreign. This raises larger questions about how modern life, driven by constant connectivity, impacts our ability to focus, reflect, and simply be present in our own lives. I think it is time for me to delete instagram again, let’s see how long it lasts this time.
I would argue that modern life, driven by constant connectivity, has negatively affected our lives. As far as I know, there are people today who are so engaged with social media that they have built up a fear of their own thoughts.
As for deleting Instagram. Perhaps that is too big a step considering you have already re-downloaded it before. Taking smaller steps by first limiting your time on the app, for example, may help better reduce the desire to go to it. Some apps can help with this. Furthermore, a reward tool would also help well if you do manage to stay off Instagram. A beautiful fjord walk in Norway might be a very nice reward for that.