1. 1. Without having experienced a social media withdrawal, how can you imagine it would it affect your daily routine?

 

I actually have personally experienced s social media withdrawal due to traveling every year and during my studying abroad last year also. I traveled with a group of 14 students.  I recalled when we were in Nicaragua for approximately 5 weeks; we had absolutely no connection to the internet. And it felt like a real withdrawal because it’s not like you could step off campus and there’s the rest of the social media world again. There was no smartphones that’ll work through 3G either (most of the group don’t even have a phone because we travel throughout so many country).

 

Life was definitely different. I felt like I had more person to person time and not so much online or on the computer or my cell phone. It forced us to be closer together because we would actually spend our time on personal interaction rather than, for example, when we were in Panama we had an internet connection and you can see that everyone’s off doing their own thing on their computer (mostly social media) during our free times.

 

Another time of the year that I would have a social media withdrawal is during Christmas when I would go visit my parents in Thailand. It’s not a complete withdrawal but the internet connection is usually so slow that I’m not patient enough for it and I wouldn’t be able to use my Iphone either. I would usually feel like I’m cut off from the rest of the world for that December month. Although I feel like I’m cut off, it was probably the best thing that could happened because it forces me to actually spend my undivided attention with my families.

 

Overall I would definitely say that social media plays a huge role with my daily routine and even life-style. Life here is at a speed far faster than the rest of the world. And I feel like that lifestyle has its consequences.  I still couldn’t honestly say that one is better than the other but you can see the positives and negatives for both life-styles. I think that we shouldn’t take what we have for granted but then also try to find where the happy medium of those two worlds meet. I know that it’s an easy thing to say but the line is very thin.

 

  1. 2. Once you have answered 1 above, complete a self-imposed “unplugging” from one or more social networks that you typically use. Fully dis-engage from your iPhone, Facebook, Twitter or other social tool. How long were you able to stay unplugged? What was easiest/hardest about disengaging? What did you learn in the process?

 

Approximately 7 hours at the max when I sleep. I’m technically married to my Iphone.  The easiest and hardest thing about dis-engaging in social media I think is it forces me to spend my time some other way. The article mentioned “Thirteen percent of student respondents said they rely on Facebook to combat boredom between classes,” and it’s so true.  In previous question I’ve stated some of the reflections but I’ve definitely learned that

 

  1. 3. What alternatives to completely unplugging might be good suggestions for your peers as they learn to balance social engagement in online and real-world environments?

 

I think we should try and make a conscious effort to arrange more time to spend in the real world with the people around you. I’ve read another article about how social media and texting will change the way our generation communicates. There’s study that shows how social networking is hurting the communication skills of college students. (http://www.thedaonline.com/opinion/social-networking-hurts-the-communication-skills-of-college-students-1.1689315) It’s ironic how what’s created for the purpose of connecting and linking people together is pulling people apart in reality. I remembered someone once said to me “the more friends you have on Facebook the less friends you have in real life,” and the irony is there. Coincidentally I was watching the movie the Social Network last night and it was funny to see how a person who created the most popular social media website is a guy who has problems with his social skills in real life.  As I mentioned in the first question, we just have to find that thin line balance and do the best you can.