Bluelight-online forum for those with substance abuse / addiction

 Blog Theme 1: What is your media life like?

Ques.1: Could you describe your media memories: What kind of experiences have been important, frightening, funny, interesting…. Can you recall your first media experience and the most interesting one?

Ans.1: I genuinely feel that media does play an integral part in my life. In today’s time of globalization, where lines have blurred between countries as more and more people are going to foreign countries for education, jobs and exploring their hobbies, staying connected, informed, and updated is of paramount importance, especially to manage the mental and emotional wellbeing. It also gives me a kind of feeling that I am not missing out on to something, and I am very much alive, moving ahead at a same pace as this world is moving. As far as experiences are concerned, it is always mixed for me - frightening, funny, sad, and interesting depending upon the content you are engrossed in. However, I would say that being a very balanced and neutral individual, I do not let the media overpower and influence me negatively. My first and most interesting experience with media is when I had a facetime/ video call with my sister. It was more than 3 years I had seen her since she had moved to Canada after her marriage. Though we were in touch with each other over calls, it’s been ages I had interacted with her face-to-face. I was in my teens and school back then. Till that time, I had been introduced to only traditional media like newspaper, tv etc. During those days, connecting to people face-to-face and see them live over phone was a far-fetched dream. That video call made me feel as if she is sitting next to me and chatting. It was so live and completely an out of world experience for me which made me realize the power of media and communication. Another equally important encounter with media that I would like to quote is when I was interviewed about the experience of immigrants as students while pursuing my bachelor’s course in “Social services and early childhood education”. I remember feeling a bit nervous yet excited as it was my first public interview. When I saw my interview being published and reaching out to so many people, I really felt overwhelmed. This experience sparked my interest in public speaking and connecting with people in a more constructive manner wherein you are being heard and your opinion is made public for a better outcome.

Ques.2: Do you use so called traditional media like newspapers, magazines, tv and media outlet online? What kind of credible media sources do you use when you want to know what’s happening in the world/ in your home country?

Ans.2: Since I come from millennial generation, I had been exposed to traditional media from a very young age where I have seen my parents, peers relying heavily on newspaper, tv etc. for their daily diet of local and international news. All this made me quite inclined towards traditional media and even I enjoy using these media sources. At the same time, I equally enjoy modern media which is a good source of news in real-time.

In today’s time of technology and advancement, it has become quite difficult to identify the credibility of media sources. Many fake and incorrect news keep floating. Paid media houses are raging now a days due to multiple factors like political intervention, TRPs bid for acquiring more viewers/ consumers etc. So, I cannot rely upon selected media resources because probabilities of getting fake and tampered news are everywhere. So, what I do is to go through varied media sources to check the authenticity of news and in case I feel something fishy about any news I do try to verify the same. Hence, as a responsible individual I try not to succumb to any news which are available on these platforms rather I prefer keeping my media kitty as varied as possible to get hold of right and authentic news.

Ques.3: What kind of digital media do you use? How big part does media play in your everyday life? Give examples. Do you participate in online communities and networks? Which apps do you use? How would you describe yourself as a media user? Are you a heavy user of social media? What is most important for you, sharing content or interacting with others? Do you prefer words or visuals?

Ans.3: The digital that I use are – E-mail, WhatsApp, social media platforms, podcasts, music streaming devices, informative websites, and blogs etc.Media does play an important part in my life. It is a source of information which keeps me abreast with what is happening around and in the world. As a result, I feel empowered and confident while interacting with different people I meet with in office/ social circle. Through media, I remain connected with my family despite being physically away in another country for education. I get to know about different communities, cultures, political environment, business market, etc. which help me build my perceptions, thoughts and shape up my decisions for a better life. At the same time, I ensure that I responsibly use media power and not let it overinfluence my life beyond a certain limit. I restrict my indulgence in media to a level that it does not disrupt my personal and family life and I do not get addicted to it.

I do participate in online communities and networks to socially interact with people across communities. I use WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, shopping websites etc. I am not a heavy user of social media. I deliberately keep the usage to optimal level to avoid overindulgence for a balanced life and to ease out the struggle of my life. I only use social media to get needed information, maintain good social circle, to reduce commuting time which I spent while shopping, for research work, for my children’s homework and to stay connected with people who are located far away from my place.

I prefer interacting with people over sharing content as you get to know different perspectives, thought process which help in understanding the world around and to grow as a better human being. I prefer using words over visuals as it provides more clarity in speech and covey your thoughts more transparently especially statements having deeper meaning. Visuals cannot fit in for all occasions and alone might not convey the entire thought behind your statement, and many a times visuals are unable to interpret fully and hence, can be misleading.