Discussion 3

This is a personal story about how Instagram has personally affected my life.

My typical day starts as soon as I wake up, usually around 9 am, depending on how late I go to bed. It has become an automatic response to grab my phone when I hear a notification. This habit has further developed since I first got my phone in high school. At first, having a phone was not a big deal as it was just a tool for communication, listening to music, playing games, and watching videos. Over time, more usage caused it to slowly creep into every aspect of my life. I grew up in Jamaica, where having a phone was not really necessary to me. My dad would always say, "Don't open the door to anyone, not even me," just before he would head off to work. It was an easy rule to follow, so it became a part of my life. He would also make sure to leave food in the fridge so I would be okay until he returned. Most of the time, I was in school, so even if I did have a phone, I would not have time to use it anyway since I mostly only cared about school, playing with my friends, and helping out at home. I did not have a phone, and I did not have the urge to constantly check my phone's notifications, as most of my interactions were face-to-face.

As we all know, Instagram is a popular social media platform used by millions across the globe. Instagram helps friends and family stay connected through sharing photos, videos, and special moments of their lives, as well as offering the ability to message practically anyone on the app. Instagram also offers the ability to bring businesses online to enhance connectivity to their business and to promote themselves to new potential customers. Social media has changed how we communicate, not just with each other but also how businesses communicate with us as consumers (Smart Insights, 2023). After an exhausting day at school, I came back home and sat down to relax, but my phone would not stop buzzing—notifications for messages, likes on posts, and someone posting a story for the first time. Not only are more people logging on to social media, but we are also spending more and more time on these platforms (Smart Insights, 2023). I got so many notifications every hour that I kept checking my phone periodically over and over again.