My Relationship with Media

  I would consider my relationship with media as a love-hate type deal. It is my outlet to learning about the world as well as staying connected with in it. However, it can often be a source of distraction, manipulation, and  confusion. I would say I am well versed in the average media outlets such as social media, news, and entertainment. The one thing they all have in common however, is that they all come from the internet. Occasionally I will reach for a magazine or read my dad's newspaper just for the heck of it, but most of the time I experience the joys of written connection through my laptop and iPhone. It is so simple to be involved at the click of the button and requires so much less physical demand than flipping pages. 

     I try to be conscious about how much I am influenced by ads and brands, but it s difficult. I was browsing my Instagram feed the other day, and I realized I am not actually following real people. The majority of people I check up on are brands and companies I enjoy. This speaks to the of influence they actually have on me. 
     I also enjoy my share of Netflix and music like any-other teenager. I have degraded to the level where I am running out of shows to binge watch. If someone were able to tell me the hours I have spend staring at my screen watching How to get Away with Murder, I would be afraid to hear because I know it is some absurd-unhealthy amount. I listen to music that is not necessarily enjoyed by another person within 10 years of my age. When I listen, I don't focus on the artist's themes and lyrics as much as I do the rhythms and beats so I don't think music influences me in such a way it might someone else. Bruce Springsteen, The Avett Brothers, and Brandie Carlile are some of my favorites but I do not necessarily connect to their messages. 
     Like most teenagers at my high school, I am extremely caught up on the ways of social media. Within the channels of media I use, such as Instagram, iMessage, snapchat, ect, I often see societal pressures built in underneath the surface. This could comparing the amount of likes I get on a picture, how many followers I have, or even the amount of comments. Because we subconsciously ranking each other in accordance to our activity on screens, it create an invisible gap between teenagers. Anyone participating in social media is tangled up in this phenomenon causing them hesitation when offered an opportunity to explore new ideas because they are so comfortable with the concepts they are used to. 
     Overall, I am connected with media on a regular basis. Although it might not always please me, I am addicted to it. It is a part of my everyday life. Everywhere I look someone is telling my to be a certain way, buy a certain product, or act a certain way. The struggle of the American teenager is to navigate ourselves through this chaos. We need to build the necessary skills to create our own identity and be happy the way we are.