Digital Literacy Narrative
A digital literacy narrative about my use of media in my everyday life written in my Digital Writing class.
Digital
Literacy Narrative
Ring.
Buzz. Chit. Chat. Scribble. Type. Click. My life is full of these seemingly meaningless
sounds emanating from the media and communication that consume my life. Yet
without these means demanding my attention at every second, minute, hour, I
would not know how to behave without them continually present. Regardless of
the type of communication, I use these interactions without thought. It is my
instinct to pull out an electronic device to engage in media– and communication–based
interactions. It would take a lot to be able to revert back to the “older” ways
of verbal communication and only able to use pen and paper. Digital media
undoubtedly controls and runs my life—I cannot seem to control or am able to
change this simple fact.
Waking up
from a quick nap between classes, I am engaging in media use through the music
playing my favorite song to wake me up from my quick slumber. I check my phone
for any messages, making it possible to communicate with my friends across the
country. Instantly, I send and receive quick text messages that are sent
without much thought to how the messages can be saved and referenced at a
moment’s notice. I block out the company of my boyfriend as I engage in the
consumption of media that I consume at the quick tip of my fingers. It is
second–nature to check my phone to see the messages from family and friends, to
check the weather, to see status updates from my virtual friends, to view news
stories all over the world, or to access any data or information that I could
possibly wish to know or learn at that exact moment. All of this is
possible because of the mini–computer I carry at all times with me because
otherwise, I would feel lost without it—my smartphone.
Whether
engaging in class discussion or talking to a friend, I was unable to not check
my phone or to not look at printed media within a short time span. These forms
of media interrupt my day more times than I care to admit. Even though both class
and work time need my full attention, my mind cannot allow me to not divert my
attention to another source of media. The skill of multitasking I have gained
allows me to do this without many negative consequences. It is an unconscious
act—a habit. I barely can control it. Even when I know that my full attention
should be on my education as well as the importance of the spoken word of my
professors and classmate, my need for some type of alternate media consumption always
seem to my priority.
My media use
without a question isolates myself and others in our everyday lives. Whether I
am bored or just in a silent room, it is second nature to revert to some form
of media use—verbal communication, technology, music, images, printed material,
etc. I realize that I am checking my laptop, my tablet, and my cell phone more
times than I look back at notes from class, my textbooks, or even a book I’m
reading for enjoyment. The usability and accessibility of the electronic
devices take precedence over the academic materials in my possession. In this era,
it is possible to learn as much––or even more––from technology than printed
media because the quickness of their accessibility.
My own media
life perspective also defines my media use. I realize and admit that my life is
framed by the media usage that consumes my life. Without some sort of
communication and media, I would not be able to complete my everyday routine. While
even writing this paper, I cannot allow myself to not listen to music, to not
check my phone, or to not use a writing utensil to take notes. My interaction
and consumption of the various medias––specifically the digital means––demand
my attention at every second, and this seems unlikely to change any time in the
near future.
—Adrienne (Salinas) Boyd
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