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Technology: Personal Positives and Negatives
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Technology, in my opinion, is a fickle beast. I use it every single day in my work life and personal life. In my job at the public library I am constantly using technology. Whether that be helping patrons with technology, answering emails, printing, trouble shooting and searching the catalog. Technology is also a huge part of my work at the elementary school with helping students navigate their own chromebooks and helping them learn about and on technology. I also more directly use technology at the school when substituting for teachers. I would say in my work life that I have a very positive relationship with technology. However, the same cannot be said for my personal life.
In my personal life I use my smart phone all the time and honestly way more than I really want to. My smart phone is my alarm clock, gives me access to emails, helps me communicate via texting and phone calls, takes pictures, tracks my steps, houses my music and on and on. Technology can be an incredible tool, however, I often feel like it is using me and not the other way around. I have always had an issue with “doomscrolling” on Instagram. I’m finding that I have very little self-control with the app and in recent months it has only gotten much worse. If you don’t know what doomscrolling is, it is essentially cyclically consuming seemingly endless negative content and not being able to pull yourself away from it. My smart phone and scrolling had become so commonplace in my day that I wouldn’t even realize that I had picked up my phone and started scrolling through the instagram feed. I tried having one of those “are you sure you want to keep scrolling” message pop ups after 15 minutes and it still didn’t work! A couple months ago, I ended up removing the app from my home screen and turning off all the notifications so that I was more intentional and mindful about when I would open the app. Thankfully it has helped me so much with my social media consumption overall. I think that there is a fine line between being informed about current events and consuming never ending information and I really struggle with controlling that with my smart phone. So, while I use technology successfully everyday in my work life, I really struggle with having endless access to information in my personal life.
In my personal life I use my smart phone all the time and honestly way more than I really want to. My smart phone is my alarm clock, gives me access to emails, helps me communicate via texting and phone calls, takes pictures, tracks my steps, houses my music and on and on. Technology can be an incredible tool, however, I often feel like it is using me and not the other way around. I have always had an issue with “doomscrolling” on Instagram. I’m finding that I have very little self-control with the app and in recent months it has only gotten much worse. If you don’t know what doomscrolling is, it is essentially cyclically consuming seemingly endless negative content and not being able to pull yourself away from it. My smart phone and scrolling had become so commonplace in my day that I wouldn’t even realize that I had picked up my phone and started scrolling through the instagram feed. I tried having one of those “are you sure you want to keep scrolling” message pop ups after 15 minutes and it still didn’t work! A couple months ago, I ended up removing the app from my home screen and turning off all the notifications so that I was more intentional and mindful about when I would open the app. Thankfully it has helped me so much with my social media consumption overall. I think that there is a fine line between being informed about current events and consuming never ending information and I really struggle with controlling that with my smart phone. So, while I use technology successfully everyday in my work life, I really struggle with having endless access to information in my personal life.
Hi Abi! I think we're also in another class together so it's nice to learn more about you! What do you like to read? My favorite book is Anne of Green Gables; have you read it?
ReplyDeleteI totally agree about using tech way more than I'd like. I'm definitely addicted, though trying to become less dependent. I think it's funny that you had to delete the Instagram app off of your home page because I did that too! It's a bit scary (and sad) how the app makes so much money off of people using it that they try to make it as addictive as possible.
Thanks for your post and I look forward to reading your thoughts for the rest of the class!
Hi Abi,
ReplyDeleteI think you you summed up the love/hate relationship of having technology so well in your final sentence! Endless access to information is a lot of power. I also struggle with the idea of being constantly reachable, both personally and professionally, it's a lot!! I have friends who have their phones set to black and white instead of color to try to keep their social media usage down, I think it's had varying success but something to keep in mind!
Hi Abi! Kudos to you for the many hats you wear on top of getting your MLIS. I can only imagine how busy you are! I was also working in a public school for my first year of graduate school but took a step away from that so I could focus more time on this degree. You mentioned you like to read-- what are some of your favorites that you have read recently? I haven't been able to read as much but a recent audiobook listen that I recommend is First Time Caller by B.K. Borison, if you like romance at all!
ReplyDeleteI can also relate immensely to the doomscrolling-- I am especially bad about getting on TikTok frequently! I found that turning off notifications helped tremendously. I even set up a time limit on some apps so it will kick me out after an hour each day (although some days I have been known to "ignore" that time limit).
Hey Abi! It's so nice to meet you! You have such a busy schedule! That is amazing that you are balancing it all! I am OBSESSED with doom scrolling on social media like TikTok. It can be very dangerous how much you spend on it, and how it can affect your sleep. I actually use it a lot throughout the day just for mindless activities. Sometimes it is a great way to just distract yourself and just to do something that doesn't require much thought to it. I really love and commend your work ethic. I respect a hustle, so it is amazing that you are also subbing whenever you can. If you have advice on how to manage technology use with 2nd graders please share, because it is extremely difficult introducing new technology to 7-8 year old's and can be discouraging.
ReplyDeleteThank you!!
Great to meet you, Abi. Technology isn't black and white, is it?! What's important is that you recognized it was becoming a burden and you took steps to control it- good for you! I'm looking forward to exploring it with you more this fall.
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