Blog Post #1

My role in media can best be described as obsessive consumer. I think the obsession might’ve started when I got hooked on Tumblr about year ago and ever since then it’s been downhill for me. Tumblr’s platform and the ability to find individuals who share the same interests have allowed me to connect to these individuals as well as discovering new things that I didn’t know that existed. I religiously follow blogs about childhood shows, blogs about current favorite shows, blogs about fashion, and have learned about new music, fashion in other countries, and comics who have the ability to hilariously portray everyday life.  To add to my current Tumblr obsession, I also have 5 social networking accounts and spend a majority of my time on Twitter or Instagram following, reblogging, and liking posts.

Being able to follow others on these two social networking sites has added to my already not-so-positive view of myself. When you constantly follow the lives of the Rich, Famous, and Perfect you begin to realize how far off  you are from society’s expectations. You begin to judge yourself, your actions, and ultimately try to change yourself to try and fit what’s considered the beauty standard. Not only to I judge myself based on these networking sites but also from what I see on television.

I recently came to a realization that I spend an unmentionable amount of time watching television, whether its re-runs of crime shows or the latest gossip on whatever fabulously perfect celebrity. Crime shows don’t really have an effect on me besides paranoia but tabloid entertainment shows tend to make me feel less than wonderful.  The feeling of shame tends to overcome me when hosts critique a couple extra pounds Ms. Celeb gains or when they fawn over Victoria Secret’s model curves.  But the only thing I can do is turn off the television, close the social networking apps, and make myself feel better with a pint of ice cream.
Of course I also know that I'm not the only individual with this love/hate relationship with mass media. As a society that obsesses over the latest phone and can't be without internet connection we've tuned out our senses and allow ourselves to he controlled by the information, whether images or text, that assault us whenever we turn on our phones. As much as we are able to connect with others we are also easily exposed to much negativity from the media. Sometimes it's just best to put our phones down and cnnect to people who matter.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/05/
07/social-media-mental-health_n_5268108.html