Addiction to the Media Enhances American Lives Allowing them the Ability to be Connected to the Digital World that Surrounds them

An addiction can be interpreted many different ways depending on the object a person is addicted too or the amount of time a person manipulates that object. Many people put a negative connotation to the word “addiction” because it is usually referred to with smoking, drinking, abuse or other aggressive behaviors, however there is a positive side to addiction. An addiction comes from the constant use of revolving your life around a certain object or behavior that you cannot seem to live without. The Internet and technology can be seen as both a negative and positive addiction, however I feel the Internet empowers people and can be seen as a positive addiction.

            Now in the 21^st century it is possible to be addicted to media, however it does not ruin your life like many Americans believe, media enhances lives. I think it is possible to be addicted to the media because everything now days are connected to some form of digital media and our lives revolve around checking our emails and catching up on daily news events. Every morning I cannot get out of bed without checking my instagram, Facebook, twitter and email, I have to make sure I know what is going on in my friend’s lives and around the world. I use my computer in almost every single class to take notes because of the advances to Microsoft word allowing me to highlight, bold and underline certain phrases that are important to that particular class. The advances to the Internet and technology enhance my life because I am able to do things at a quicker pace and because I am OCD I am able to organize my life so much easier with my computer. Even though I am highly addicted to the media, I have learned when it is appropriate to use it and when it is not, it is all about the timing.

            In classrooms and at home I do believe rules should be placed on when it is appropriate to use electronics because many Americans are addicted to it and do not know how to live without it. In my house at family dinners cell phones are not allowed to be at the table because my parents view it as disrespectful. Also in the classrooms I think teachers should be able to create an app that blocks students from browsing the Internet because it can be distracting and cause students to not pay attention. The use of my computer in class helps me proficiently more than taking notes because I am able to have different layouts and color coordination to keep myself organized on which notes I should value more than others. I have downloaded a blocker on my Internet that is time based so when I enter a class I turn it on so that I will not be tempted to click Safari and simply browse Facebook since I am bored. Just like the app Nearpod used in our class, Professor Yaros has the capability to have students access slides on their own personal computer, keeping them focused and attentive. My computer helps enhance my learning, and I do not think it is distracting. The addiction to the media is a very hard concept to understand because it really depends on the person and the way a person uses their media to their own benefit.