As a staff, we have just wrapped up our social media challenge that tested our strength to stay away from social media for a entire week. These are our final thoughts, and reflections on the challenge that explain how we remained/lost the challenge, what we learned, what we did instead, and our possible future with social media after this challenge.
Victoria Falcon: “I lasted for a good while, I think I forgot I was doing the challenge eventually so the night before it ended my mom sent me a youtube link for a video called Bugs the Barber along with the message ‘good night’ I clicked it without thinking twice, watched the entire video of bugs bunny messing up Elmer Fudd’s hair. Anyway, moral of the story is I don’t know why I received this message but I did watch it all the way through. I learned from this challenge that it was totally doable, but definitely made some aspects about myself much more clearer. First off, I know I need to constantly be busy or else I feel kind of worthless, but I didn’t realize how social media had a big part distracting me in the moments I had to spend by myself. I learned that those moments alone are so valuable because you strengthen your psyche. Instead of social media I had to find other things that were much more productive to do, so naturally I downloaded three new games. Two of which are now deleted, but one that I’m staying with until the end. This is a big deal because I never keep games. But in all honesty I did read more of my book that I’ve been trying to read, and finished an audiobook I downloaded around two months ago. I felt better, and smarter because of it because I was listening and reading things that had a direct line to my soul. I also learned that everybody else looks really stupid. That is a very offensive line and I won’t try to justify it with anything other than while people were constantly snapchatting every moment that passed, and over documenting their lives, I was living it, and feeling so good about myself because of it. I think because of this challenge I know how to separate myself better from these apps, at least I hope so. In the future, probably the summer, I plan on doing another, longer challenge, to spend some more time with myself in an environment where I’m not as busy as my school life. I really want to see what more I can do to strengthen myself before college. Social media is great for connections, and memes, but a wise man with a beard (and note he is only wise because of the beard) said, ‘use social media don’t let it use you.’ or something like that.”
Alicia Yanez: “I got knocked out because I had opened up a YouTube video that popped up on my screen and I had watched it. I learned that in person is way better than tweeting to that person for like 2 minuets. Social media isn’t as important as we all think it is. I made plans with people in person and I had time to actually do projects I wanted to start doing or move my room around and do early spring cleaning. I finally made plans and talked to people who I haven’t seen in a really long time. I think I will change the usage and it making time for people instead of letting time pass by because I’m on Twitter. I realized that yes the Internet is forever but you never really remember those memories until the notification from Facebook pops like “hey look! Remember this!” It’s better to make physical, in person memories not just a funny tweet no one will remember in a week from now.”
Amber Villanueva: “I got knocked out the third day by opening instagram. I learned that being on social media is more than of a habit for teenagers than everyone thought. Teenagers want to be in the loop of what their peers are doing everyday. Being off of social media taught me that social media isn’t more of a habit now. I got more things I needed to do done. I managed my time more. I will definitely not go on social media as much as I used to because I could get more things done. Sure knowing what your peers are doing is great to now but you can do other things as well.”
Keren Cumpian: “Well I was able to complete the challenge and last the whole week. My strategy was to delete the apps so I wont be tempted by the app or the notification. I learned that it is okay to disconnect yourself once in a while without fearing that you are missing something important because in all honesty social media does distract you from your work. Also that not everything has to be documented, put the phone down and enjoy whatever you are doing and actually pay attention to the people talking to you in real life. Instead of social media I downloaded games, I got the Neko Atsume game, Stop, and Trivia Crack so that entertain me very well. Then another thing I did was finish about 2 seasons of The Office so that was pretty cool. (And homework that I still managed to procrastinate it. I mean I was bored but not THAT bored to start it.) I would change the stuff I tweet, I realized that I don’t have to tweet about everything I do, and I will also put my phone down when I’m hanging out with my friends because they are pretty important to me and deserve my full attention. Another thing I will change is the usage of my phone when I am in an event, I don’t have to document the events because I’m sure that with a picture or two I will remember how much fun I had. Another thing! Don’t live your life through your camera phone, or don’t think you are worthless depending on how many retweets or likes you get, just make sure you have fun in everything you do and feel good about yourself because I mean I’m pretty sure all of you are pretty cool & rays of sunshine. :))))”
Janelle Martinez: “I lasted the whole week by logging out of all my social media apps so I wouldn’t get the urge to get on especially by accident. After finishing the challenge, I learned that I could actually last without social media. Although it was just for a week, I was sort of proud of myself and definitely surprised. Instead of going on social media, I downloaded a few games. I only played them when I was super bored and that also made me realize I only get on social media when I have nothing else to do. I’m not really planning on changing anything about how and when I use social media. I don’t think of myself as addicted to it but I will try to limit myself because I admit… I use social media when I’m doing my homework then eventually just ignore the work. And honestly I thought during the week with no instagram, twitter, or snapchat to distract me that I would be so productive when the truth is that social media is not the reason for my procrastination.”
Amanda Rocha: “Surviving the social media challenge was probably one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do, which is actually pretty sad if you think about. Getting through it consisted of playing many games on my phone and trying to stay busy at all times by trying to do some homework or something that just was not on my phone in order to keep away from the urges of wanting to get on twitter or another application. The whole experience however taught me that my relationship with social media is a really bad one and I use it to run away from my responsibilities, which in reality only stresses me out more than I should be stressed, being a high school senior and all. I also learned that it is possible to not use it so often or to even not use it all; it is okay to not be in the loop, being in the loop is not a social requirement, it’s an option and whether you choose to be in it or not, there is no right decision. After discovering my capabilities when I don’t let social media take over all of my time, which were actually being able to finish homework and reading assignments, I will definitely change the amount of usage I allow myself on social media. Of course I will never completely give up social media but I will definitely time manage better.”
Alondra Martinez: “I lasted by finding other things to focus on. I always struggled with doing things because I would convince myself that I didn’t have the time to do it. I found out that all the time I spent on social media could be put to better and useful things that I’ve been avoiding. I learned that I did better without social media. I did my homework, started the process of cleaning my room, slept and read more. I also learned that not everyone needs to see my feelings spilled out on their timeline. It feels really good when people ask what’s wrong and they try to comfort you, but it’s toxic relying on others to make yourself feel better. I started writing in a journal about what I’m feeling and it feels so much better because I’m not throwing my problems on everyone. I honestly downloaded a lot of games and deleted them after I got bored of them, and I started doing productive things like homework and cleaning. I did this to distract myself mostly because I felt like if I didn’t do anything, then I would be more tempted to get on social media.It got to the point though that I could just sit there and not do anything because I was getting used to not having social media. I believe I will use social media less. Before I got back my social media, I was really excited because I felt like I missed a lot. When I got back on, it was exciting for like five minutes, but then it started getting dull. I feel like social media is the equivalent to talking when there’s awkward silences. When there’s awkward silences, you just feel the need to fill it with talking to possibly get rid of the silence. Social media is the same way, you go on it to fill in the little gaps that you think you don’t have things to do. Don’t get me wrong, social media is great, but you can’t let it get to the point where you’re sitting there refreshing your feed every twenty seconds waiting for something interesting to pop up. You have to go out there and find it (SUPER lame and cliche I know).”
Victoria Johnson: “I lasted the whole week as I expected since I’m not really into social media anyways. I don’t think this experiment taught me anything I didn’t already know about myself, I can live without it just fine, I suppose for me it’s more of a nusense than a convenience. I didn’t even have a phone until my sophomore year. And I didn’t really replace it with anything, I just slept more. 10-11 hours instead of 9-10 hours, and to be honest I’m still tired. I don’t think many people noticed my absence, unless they saw my instagram goodbye post. I don’t have a very sociable personality and i think that’s why it’s easier for me to disconnect from the world, because I don’t care enough about other people’s lives. Which is another reason i limit my social media, if I posted every thought that crossed my mind, id have to put up with all the people who don’t like what I say. Its easier just to be off.”
Clarissa Silva: I started off doing good probably because I was busy that first week that we started the challenge. I was almost there, but I gave in and posted a snap of my nephews screensaver that he had focused it on his little girlfriend that he claims was just a friend(; that he got all blushy to tell us about. and also because I wanted to do the different faces that snapchat has on my little nephew to see how he would react. Through out of all this I learned that it isn’t so bad without social media. You really can do other things and not be on your phone and still have a good time. Thankfully, we started the week that my sister and nephews were going to go back to California. I was able to spend one on one time with them and do last minute things. Overall the experience that I got out of all this is that I can find different fun things to do and instead of tweeting away. I could write down how I feel and say what’s on my mind and also inside. I expected myself to be on all my social media 24/7 like before, but now i’m not always on it and i’m pretty proud of myself.