Americans using new media
- The average American is a ravenous media junkie, consuming up to nine hours a day of television, web time or cellphone minutes, according to new research which raises fresh questions about how technology is revolutionising society.
From iPods filling commuters' ears, the screens scrolling headlines in the elevator at work to proliferating on-the-move tools like cellphones and Blackberry handhelds, media is everywhere in the United States, like much of the rest of the developed world.
So begins an AFP piece (reproduced on Yahoo! News) that takes another look at that study I brought up again a few days ago on American media use trends. Scholars at Ball State U in Indiana pretty much confirm the findings of a Pew Internet and American Life study on US internet use, published in January. The AFP piece notes that, typically, 70 million Americans go online every day (as of December 2004), up 37 percent over the previous year. "That figure looks set to grow, as new low cost technologies spread the benefits of the world wide web to social groups so far cut out of the information revolution."
posted by hdougie at 10/12/2005 08:46:00 AM
12 Comments:
Although I knew that the media is ever so changing and being more and more involved in our lives, I never realized that we as consumers spend an average of 9 hours a day on/ with media. It is truly amazing, how much of an impact the media has on individuals within society. There has been a remarkable increase since last year and I would be interested to see how much of a difference a year from now will make.
~Matt Hoffman
It is remarkable to me to learn of the large increase in media use from year to year. I think it is awesome that our technological advances can help create such efficient ways to communicate with each other, but I also find it kind of sad. It's pathetic that people feel 'weird' without their cell phones or that people compulsively check away messages on AOL instant messenger - and I'll admit, I do it too! However, the thing that shocked me the most about this post was the enormous amount of time people watch television - 9 hours! That is insane and I definitely do not watch that much TV, especially in one day.
- Tara Thomas
Everyday, as I walk to my classes, I see so many people talking on their cell phones; it has become such a common thing to see around campus these days that the scene does not surprise me anymore.
AOL's instant messenger is definitely a big part of the "nine hours" as well, since people stay online for days chatting with buddies or checking each other's away messages. With the cable companies competing for the best quality cable/internet in the most decent cost, there is no doubt that the use of media is just going to keep on increasing.
Hiroko Yuki
I have to agree that the stated nine hours of media consumption surprised me. That just goes to show why advertisers spend so much money on ad placement, throughout all mediums. We'll, listen, read, or watch it! Our connection to the media is intense and consuming. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but it does make me wonder where does it end? When will we be satisfied with the amount of media we receive in a day? I often think to myself, what else is there left to invent? They continuously surprise me with newer and better products and ways to keep in touch. I heard recently that they now have introduced an ipod that you can watch videos on.
~Shannon Cox
It seems rediculous to think that the average American spends up to 9 hours a day consuming media in its various forms. That's like- a whole work day. imagine going to work and doing nothing all day except surf the web, watch tv, listen to the radio/or your iPod, and chat on your cell phone. It would be crazy. But I can believe it because the media really is everywhere, and it seems inescapable. It has become such an integral part of our lives that we can't live with out it. Every free second a person gets they check their cell phone, check their email, check the score on tv, etc... What if we lived in a society that didn't center themselves around media. Places in Africa, or South America, for example, they don't have AIM or iPods, they don't go to the movies every weekend, they don't NEED a cell phone. Think about that. None of us NEEDS to have an iPod, or NEEDS a screenname, we just do because it's here, and it's such a big part of life for us. It's second nature. Most people don't even give it a second thought when they sign online, or buy a new cd. It's just part of life. And because it's just part of our lives, we end up becoming "media junkies" for 9 hours a day.
-Heather Acomb
I feel as though a lot of people are stressing the opinion that the '9 hours' of media time are hours that are wasted. However, we have to remember that there are instances in which media can be used to make our lives more efficient, and to save us time. For example, instead of going to the library to look up an article in a journal, I can do an online search of periodicals and pull up the same article in a fraction of the time that it would take me to go to the library and search for a hard copy. I admit that things like television and instant messenger can be a distraction when there is work to be done, but used correctly, the ease with which we can obtain information through media is an asset to all of us.
-Jillian Nunn
I think the studies are pretty accurate! My grandparents and little cousins now use the interent. Technology has certainly become a way of life and if a person wants to keep up with the times they better accept the new age technology. With the growing technology economy and more people spending the money on it, it is following the common trend of prices lowering. A new affordable industry will help continue the rise in internet, cell phone use,etc...I find the studies to be very important because it shows the American people's interest in new technology and support for new inventions. Tachnology is a great boost for our economy!
Casey L. Hanna
These statistics I feel would come as more of a surprise to the generation that is far removed from a college setting. 9 hours may seem like a long time, but with the combination of all that consists of the media, it's really not that much at all. Practically everyone I know uses some sort of media almost constantly, many times multiple ones at the same time. Even while cooking, the television is on in the background so I can get my fix of daily sportstalk banter. Media has become such a normal piece of our daily lives we don't even realize just how long we spend on the media.
~ David James
As a culture, we have definitely become addicted to the media in its many forms. I think that with the huge growth of the Internet, in specific, we seem to now feel that we need to be constantly informed and connected to the world. I remember one week this past semester when the internet in our apartment wasn't working. For the whole week, my roommates and I complained abou feeling disconnected from our family, friends, and the world in a small but noticeable way. It's amazing how dependent we have become to these mediums and how we've incorporated them not only into our professional lives as sources of information, but also into our personal lives as social outlets. The problem I think that has come with the incredible increase of the media that surrounds us is the ability for audiences and media users to distinguish what is reality and what is not. The media in all of its forms (news, tv, internet, movies, ads...) is still something that has been created and framed by someone else, and can't be taken literally most of the time. The same goes for media that is used as social outlets; an online relationship isn't a real relationship. So as much as increased technology and media has helped us feel more connected to the world and to each other, we should still keep in mind the nature of media, with its advantages and limits. ~Marcie Hernandez
Sometimes I wonder how people lived without the internet, tv, radio, etc. it seems almost impossible with how obsessed people have become with these little devices such as laptops, ipods, palm pilots, etc. one day when i was getting my cellphone fixed, a woman was in the store getting her cellphone fixed too. she must have been in her later 40's and was having a hard time detaching herself from her old cellphone to use a new one. on top of that, she didn't even know her own house number!!!! she only used her cellphone, and had no idea what her telephone number in her house was since she never used it. i was in complete awe that she didn't know her own phone number and that she never took the time to memorize it. (it was new mind you). its so sad that people don't think they can function without these stupid little devices. the psp is such a waste of money...why do you need this little thing that holds movies and pictures and games, when you have a computer and laptop? i am just so tired of how the media makes you think that you absolutely need these things to function. it is not necessary...in about a year it will be absolete or broken (such as the ipods). so it gets me to think and wonder, what was it like before people entered the cult of mass media products?
-Stephanie Rufa-
Wouldn't it be nice if all of this media consumption could be more used to inform people about the real world? It amazes me that so many people are unaware of current events or key figures in society (that aren't movie stars). The days when rural farm families were out of the loop are gone. I hope that the increased use of media in schools is helping young students learn about worlds that were once very distant to them. I know that it is fun to watch your favorite TV show and play games on the internet but we also need to take advantage of this great technology being given to us and expand our knowledge.
Samantha Hall
Public internet access is available in all sorts of places today; libraries, Starbucks, and even according to another entry in your blog, Philadelphia. Society is changing at an incredible rate and technology is developing just as fast in order to supply a continuous level of information to those who wish to obtain it. Partnered with lower costs to manufacture and distribute all this technology, society is looking to expand and diversify exponentially. I think it is a great thing when I can watch television for a few moments, scan a scrolling marquee, or type in a web address to learn about up-to-date happenings in the news. Technology is doing wonderful things for the news and information media.
-Ed Green
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