Assignment 3

Snapchat is very versatile and one of my most used social media apps. This is why I chose to analyze my Snapchat usage for the time diary assignment. Over a four-day period from April 25-28, I recorded the amount of time I spent on the app, took note of when I would typically use it, and observed my behavior on the app and what I would use it for. I spent 2 hours and 27 minutes on the app on Monday, 1 hour and 24 minutes on Tuesday, 2 hours 46 minutes on Wednesday, and 1 hour 37 minutes on Thursday.

I primarily use Snapchat as a casual way to communicate with my friends. We send photos, videos, and messages back and forth throughout the day. I usually talk to the same twenty people on the app every day. It’s an easy way to connect with a lot of people at once. I also often use it to post Snapchat Stories. I like this feature of Snapchat because they get taken down after 24 hours, so it’s easier to be casual about it. Along with posting them myself, I watch other people’s Snapchat Stories to see what they’re up to. Lastly, I often scroll through the “Discover” page– this feature is essentially a feed of content (news, comedy, pop culture, etc.) that is tailored to your interests and updated daily.

Evidently, there is a lot to do on Snapchat– it is very easy to lose track of time on the app. Even with time limits set on the app and notifications turned off, I still use it way more often than I would like to. I noticed that I use it most when I wake up in the morning, before I go to sleep at night, and when I am bored. This could include when I’m waiting in line, trying to pass time before I have to leave or do something, or just simply procrastinating. 

I usually have a lot going on Tuesdays and Thursdays, so I don’t have as much time to go on Snapchat and other social media platforms. I spent a significantly higher amount of time on Snapchat on Monday and Wednesday. This makes sense because I usually work less hours on these days, and I don’t have any live classes. These are the days that I use to both relax and to do my schoolwork. When I’m doing my schoolwork and notice myself hitting a wall, I noticed that I always stop what I’m doing and immediately go to Snapchat or some other form of social media. This also happens when I start to get worried about what I’m doing and/or what I have to do. I realized that Snapchat, although fun and beneficial, is definitely a mechanism I use to temporarily distract myself from the stressful parts of life.

I would not say my social media usage depends on the time of the semester. I think it’s steady throughout. My usage on social media is obviously less on days that I have much to do, but I feel as though from the start of the semester to the end there are always days that I am very busy and days that I am not. 

I am glad I had the opportunity to critically think and observe my Snapchat behavior. I am working on using the platform (and all other platforms) less, and recording my usage is definitely a step in the right direction.