Term Paper #1

Who would've ever guessed that looking at other people's lives would affect how you live your own life? You'd think as 'independent men and women', it wouldn't, right? Well, if you think that it doesn't, you're wrong. Social media holds our lives in the palm of its hand like a mother holds her newborn infant: so fragile and precious, held tightly and closely. And if you ask me, social media is just a fancy name for dependence. I may be coming off as aggressive, but know that this isn't hypocritical talk; it affects me too, more than I'd like it to. 

 

This is the very first thing that I wake up to in the morning. I can't help but wake up to videos of people's morning 'grwm' videos. It's just something about watching another young woman being productive that influences me to be productive, that influences me to want to get out of bed and make my own bed that morning. Cecily Bauchmann. This woman is one of my favorite people that I've never met before. We all have those, right? She is a Christian, a pastor's wife, and a mommy of 4 kids. I enjoy watching her 'grwm' videos because they inspire me on how I take care of myself and my home every day. It makes me more appreciative of the things God blesses me with. Not to mention, it does wake me up in the morning and gets my legs and feet moving to the floor from my bed.

        Getting ready in the morning is never complete without music to listen to. Being able to go on the internet and play one of my favorite albums or a playlist of recent popular pop songs is the best. This is how getting ready for a long and busy day of classes, ensembles, and work becomes manageable. Whoever created the first social media platform for artists to post their music was an absolute genius(which was Sean Parker and Shawn Fanning by the way.) Here are some of my most recently listened-to albums and playlists. Have you ever heard of Musi? For my college students not able to pay for Apple Music or Spotify Premium, I just did you a solid. You're welcome.  

🎒   -     In between classes, I don't spend as much time on social media as Madison a few years ago would have. My day is filled with classes and tasks back to back, and I don't have much time to bask in watching other people's lives up close to decide what to do with mine. But the music continues. Streaming artists' music while transitioning from class to class keeps me on the fast train. However, when I do have time, sometimes I open Facebook to see what the family has been up to. Sometimes I open up Instagram. To you, I may be lame, but my explore page is filled with memes, besides flutists and their mid-weekly practice updates. I just can't help wanting to laugh any chance I get. As a music major, watching other flutists who are phenomenal at playing encourages me to want to be better, and to strive for more. 

        My day usually stays the same throughout, with a tune playing in my ear almost everywhere I walk to, and a few glances at Facebook and Instagram posts, and ending with TikTok (of course.) If I'm being honest, I spend a lot of my downtime on my phone, and this isn't good for my academics. Knowingly, I should spend more time in my books and researching things I can't quite understand from my 1:10p.m. Applied Theory 2 course. If we're speaking about personal time, being on social media and the internet keeps me away from social interaction. I will say that I am very social and am usually the friend in the group who always wants to do something together. When I'm not in the social mood, social media keeps me company like a significant other...which isn't a good thing because it can become obsessive. Social Media is something that keeps me entertained, but it is also something that makes me want to be better in my life. It all depends on what you are filling yourself with. Are you filling yourself with videos and shows that have nothing but drama and violence? Are you filling yourself with encouraging or discouraging videos and podcasts? My friends and I often share videos or memes with each other that we know each other would find funny, and this shows me how similar we use social media. 

To end my day, I go with a good hour of TikTok videos, because Social media has us in the palm of its hand, remember?