1.) I just read the article on Harrisburg’s annual “social media blackout”. Without having experienced this before, I think totally disconnecting from (specifically) my iPhone would be horrible! I use my iPhone in between classes to check my e-mail, calendar and text my friends. I also use it on a daily basis to plan the rest of my day with my friends, texting about when we’re going to get together later. Disconnecting from Facebook would be easier than disconnecting from the iPhone, but it would still be difficult. Checking these social media sites to catch up on friends and their activities is how I unwind at the end of the day. I also use Facebook to stay in contact with groups I’m a part of, and to know when my groups are organizing an event or get-together.
2.) I attempted my “unplugging” from technology day on Saturday, and I decided to unplug from Facebook. I was slightly busy with other things that day, so I wasn’t really affected by the absence of facebook until around 4pm, when I had a lapse in my day. I knew my friends had all posted pictures of us at a recent social event, and I really wanted to look at them. However, instead I decided to be more productive and organize my calendar in preparation for the coming week. I also read a little in a book that I borrowed from the library for pleasure reading. I then spent the rest of the evening with friends and that kept me distracted. Ignoring Facebook turned out to be a little more difficult than I thought, only because I have Facebook on my iPhone. However, I was able to live for a day without Facebook- and it was actually pretty easy, and made my day more productive.
3.) Because completely unplugging is difficult and sometimes unnecessary, I have found a few alternatives. I found that by taking social media out of my life for a day, I was able to get more accomplished. A website called Anti-Social (http://anti-social.cc/) or anther website, Freedom (http://macfreedom.com/) allow you to block certain websites for a period of time, so that you can get work done, as distracting websites are not available for your use. You may also be able to find other non-technological forms of entertainment, such as a book for pleasure reading or catching up with a friend in a face-to-face conversation.