Hands-On Assignment 3: Time Diary

 For this assignment, I’ve decided to track and analyze the time I spend using Instagram. I access this particular social media platform exclusively through the app that I have installed on my phone. I monitored my usage from February 18th through the 21st. Over this time period, I averaged about five hours of use per day. 

I don’t believe that my social media usage negatively impacts my schoolwork. If anything, it affects my sleep schedule as I typically utilize Instagram at night when I am in bed preparing to get some rest. 

When I use Instagram, I typically am scrolling through posts and reels. I usually use the share function to send them to my younger brother and two other specific friends. I will occasionally post them to my Instagram Story. I use the story section of the application the most. One of my New Year’s resolutions was to take more pictures and videos and I enjoy sharing them in my story. In general, I like the temporary nature of the story function. Stories are only available up to 24 hours after a user posts something. Users are also able to limit which of their followers can see their story. I find this to be useful and I often edit who is able to view my story depending on the content I am sharing. 

I usually post about once a month. I post photo roundups from the previous month. I rarely comment on content but I am trying to work on this. I want to focus on complimenting the pictures and videos of my friends and followers because I enjoy it when others leave kind thoughts on my posts.

February 18th

I spent 4 hours and 57 minutes using the app today. I spent most of my day completing schoolwork, so this is probably why I used it the least out of the four days. I get easily distracted by my phone, so when doing homework I leave it on my nightstand while I work at my desk. I scrolled through Instagram mainly while I was cooking/eating dinner and then later before bed.

February 19th

I spent 5 hours and 49 minutes using the app today. Once again, I used Instagram during the later part of my day when cooking and resting for the night. 

February 20th 

I spent 7 hours and 19 minutes using the app today. I spent the majority of my morning in bed scrolling through Instagram. Also, I used the application while I was on the treadmill at the gym for thirty minutes and again at night before I fell asleep. 

February 21st 

I spent 5 hours and 36 minutes using the app today. This was surprising to see as I felt like I was on the platform more than usual. I went to a concert tonight. (I saw JID and Smino if you’re curious.) There was a bit of waiting around involved. I was in line to enter the venue for about an hour and once inside it took about an hour and a half for the show to begin. I was scrolling through the app to kill time during this. I also was posting about my experience on my Instagram Story throughout the event.