Social Environment
I am typically exposed to the mass media in one and the same social environment, at home. However, despite the fact that the difference is not considerable, I feel that my perception of media is still affected even by the room, in which I consume information. To be specific, when I am in my bedroom, checking Facebook news or my friends’ recent updates, reading a book, or watching Netflix, I feel totally relaxed. I simply enjoy being alone and entertaining myself with videos, social networks, or books.
When I go to the living room to read, it means that I have to be more focused to study. It can hardly be done when I am in my bedroom as there are too many distracting factors there. When I watch TV in the living room, it means that I do not mind having a company to discuss the news. Finally, when I do the same in the kitchen in the morning, I am occupied with preparing and eating my breakfast; therefore, television serves as a background and I cannot be focused on the information that I receive.
Although the major part of media consumption takes place at home, I still stay online in social networks at the university. This environment makes a lot of difference since I cannot be active online during these hours. I have to concentrate on my studies and extracurricular activities. This implies that I only accidentally read some pieces of news or watch my friends’ photos and posts.
From this, I can conclude that the level of exposure to the mass media is the highest when the settings are informal but not overloaded with various types of amusement sources (like my bedroom). There should be only one source of media to ensure concentration.
Time of the Day
Although the schedule provided is highly approximate indeed, the deviations from it are not frequent. The fact that I can easily trace the pattern of my media experience allows me to claim that I am typically exposed to them at the same times of the day.
When I wake up, I need some time for chatting with friends or simply reading their news on Facebook to set the mood of the day. It lasts for about 30-40 minutes while I am lying in bed, dressing up, and making some morning preparations before my studies. Media consumption easily fits in as it rarely distracts me from anything important.
Next, when I go to the kitchen to have breakfast, the situation is the same. I do not need to be particularly focused on the informative part of the news. I can eat or communicate with the members of my family at the same time. I do not browse social networks when I am not alone not to get detached from the interlocutor.
As I have already mentioned, I do not constantly update Facebook or Instagram at the university although I am online to have something to fill pauses.
Then, at home, I first read books (for studies or for fun) and then watch Netflix. I rarely change this order as I know well that if you start watching videos when you still have important information to memorize, you will waste too much time procrastinating. Finally, when I finish with the news in the evening, I go to bed to spend some time on social networks. There, I can read what I skipped during the day or simply relax watching funny pictures or videos.
As far as weekends are concerned, I believe that my consumption of the mass media in terms of settings is considerably different. The reason is that I do not spend so much time at home and usually visit friends or go to cafes or other public places. There, I can browse the Internet or watch TV being in the company of several people.
Media Functions
The most popular functions of the mass media for me are entertainment, information, and education. I believe that, despite the fact that initially printed sources were created to perform the informative function, the appearance of the television changed the picture dramatically. Today’s media are so overloaded with information that the only way to attract new readers or spectators for them is to continuously provide entertainment. Some of the shows I watch even change their direction to attract a bigger audience.
For instance, the Big Bang Theory began as a show for science geeks and, besides being amusing, gave a lot of interesting facts that could foster you to enrich your background on a particular topic. However, now the show has already turned into a soap opera rotating around relationships. Sometimes, I give preference to educational shows (like those of Stephen Hawkings); yet, I still perceive Netflix as a source of entertainment and opt for smart but funny shows (like The Simpsons). The same amusement function is performed by Facebook and Instagram (although social networks can be rather informative at times).
It is different from television since it is not convenient for me to watch my favorite movies interrupted by advertising. That is why I watch TV only for the sake of the news.
As far as the educational function is concerned, it is mostly performed by books and documentaries. Currently, I read Henry Miller and watch Amanda Knox.
Business Models
The most frequently encountered business model supporting the channels I use is a subscription. Satellite television requires buying a package. I have the basic one since my family members are not big fans of watching TV.
As for Netflix, here the situation is different. I have the premium package because I like streaming in Ultra-HD, and the difference in price is not considerable. Prices start at $8 and increase by $2 with the next package. There are only three options available there.
Facebook and Instagram are based on subscription and advertising at the same time. You must have an account to use them but you are not obliged to pay. Instead, you have to watch numerous ads in each group, especially if the number of members is big.
Finally, the last kind of business model is a single-purchase. However, while it is completely “single” when you buy a printed book, it is not quite the same as Kindle. You have the platform to read your e-books but the number of them available for free is rather limited. Thus, you have to pay if you want to download something that is not available free of charge.
Media Messages
I do not think that I am particularly influenced by any of the messages I am exposed to although I can recognize them. For instance, in some shows that have been in production for many years (like The Simpsons or The Family Guy), it is typical to promote family values. Regardless of the fact how many unresolved conflicts or misunderstandings arise among the Simpsons, there has been no episode for 30 years, in which the family breaks apart. Despite the fact that the show is ironic and mocks at the American dream, it still sticks to the idea that family is the basic social institution.
In contrast, I have recently started watching Black Mirror–a satirical drama that is focused on the topic of alienation created among people by modern technologies. The director shows how desperate we are as we have no close people around in the whole world. This topic is recurring in modern shows.
In fact, it is interesting that Instagram promotes being single as a positive phenomenon. Instead of concentrating on detachment from reality, it shows how cool it is when you are a blogger or a party animal and have no time for boring family life. The more events you visit or the more photos you take, the more popular you become regardless of your real personal and professional life. I am convinced that this distortion of values should not affect our minds if we want to develop as a society. Personally, I observe the trend but do not follow it.