I accepted the challenge to attempt to go a week without using Facebook or Google and see what the results would be. Usually I check my social media platforms whenever I get a notification. I use social media to stay in contact and stay up to date with friends and family. I use Google a lot in my daily life for school, online shopping, and random questions I need answers to. It gave me a lot of anxiety at first not having access to platforms that have become such a part of my everyday routine. At the same time it was a very liberating feeling to disconnect for a little while and focus on the present. The second day felt strange waking up and instinctively checking my platforms and remembering I couldn’t. I was able to start my day quicker cause I usually would scroll for 10-15 mins before getting out of bed. It made me become more aware of how often I would check my phone and how useful Google was. The third day was the most challenging and each day became more apparent how dependent I was on social media. I ended up using Google on the third day because I was confused about a term for a class.
As a society we have become so dependent on technology and feel the need to constantly be connected. As Nicholas Carr states in the article, “Is Google Making Us Stupid, “the Net is becoming a universal medium, the conduit for most of the information that flows through my eyes and ears and into my mind”.There are advantages to easily having information accessible. In comparison, disadvantages would be overusing it and not being as productive as a result. A disadvantage Carr touches on is losing our ability to read in a traditional sense and skimming because of our need for information instantaneously. I enjoyed this assignment because it made me realize the importance for your overall wellness to disconnect once in a while. At first it was stressful because I was so used to being connected but felt relaxing to take a step back.
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