I am well aware that I spend an abundant amount of time using media in just about every aspect of my life, but after doing this assignment, it really opened my eyes to how much I use it and how much I actually depend on media just to get through my day.
06:30 AM – 07:00 AM – Twitter, Instagram, Threads
The first thing I do upon waking is grab my phone and access the three social media platforms I use as a modern version of the newspaper. I usually begin with opening Twitter/X and looking at the main trending topics so I can see what’s going on in the world. After scrolling through the trends, I move to my home feed. That usually doesn’t last long because of how much negativity can appear there. The uneasy feeling I get from Twitter often prompts me to switch over to Instagram and Threads, where I usually end up doom scrolling.
07:00 AM – 08:00 AM – Radio (93.5 KUSC App)
When I finally manage to get out of bed, I turn on KUSC (93.5 here in Los Angeles) through their radio app. They play classical music, and I prefer listening to that as I get ready for the day.
08:00 – 09:30 AM – YouTube / Apple Maps
YouTube is probably the medium I spend the most time on. In the morning, I listen to The Breakfast Club from Power 105.1 during my commute. Since my drive is over an hour, this show helps me pass the time and catch up on news and celebrity gossip. I also used Apple Maps to check for a faster route to work in hopes of avoiding heavy traffic.
10:00 AM – Microsoft Outlook / Teams
As soon as I arrive at the office, I open Microsoft Outlook to check emails and my calendar. The first one I noticed was from our property manager letting us know the elevator was out of service. Shortly after, I received a message from a colleague on Microsoft Teams, which has become a staple workplace tool since COVID.
10:30 AM – 12:30 PM – Google Chrome / Instagram
Much of my day is spent on the internet using Google Chrome as my browser. On this day, I entered a series of expenses for my department through our bank card portal and hunted down receipts. In between, I posted a funny meme on Instagram Stories about Taylor Swift’s engagement.
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM – Spotify / Apple Watch
During lunch, I packed a quick meal and went for a walk through Beverly Hills while listening to new music on Spotify. Rapper 2 Chainz had just released a new album, which I was excited to check out. I tracked my steps using the fitness app on my Apple Watch, since I’m committed to hitting 10,000 steps each day.
05:30 PM – Amazon Shopping
Later, I did some shopping on Amazon to pick up a few things I needed.
6:00 – 7:00 PM – SiriusXM Satellite Radio
On my way to the gym, I listened to SiriusXM Shade 45, a hip hop station, which kept me energized for the evening.
07:00 – 08:00 PM – Audible App
While working out, I listened to Nexus by Yuval Noah Harari on the Audible app. It’s a book about how human civilization advanced through the spread of information — fitting for a day full of media.
09:00 PM – 10:30 PM – Television (Disney Plus / Twitter)
After dinner, I caught the latest episode of Alien Earth on Disney+ and Hulu. Of course, while watching, I found myself doom scrolling again on Twitter.
11:00 PM – 11:45 PM – PS5 (Call of Duty)
I rarely get the chance to play video games, but tonight I jumped on my PS5 for a few rounds of Call of Duty. I’m not very good, but I still love it.
12:00 AM – Radio (93.5 KUSC App)
Interestingly, I ended my day almost exactly how I started it: listening to classical music on the KUSC app while showering and preparing for bed.
Reflection
Tracking my 24-hour media diet made me realize how deeply integrated media is in every part of my day. Some of the platforms I use, like Twitter and Instagram, are more about habit and distraction than reliable information. Others, such as Outlook, Teams, and even YouTube when I follow credible sources, are more useful and consistent. For me, the most credible sources are KUSC Radio and Audible books, since they provide reliable, educational, and thoughtful content. This assignment showed me just how important it is to balance entertainment and productivity with credible media that actually adds some sort of value to my daily routine.