According to the study, I am an “ambivalent networker”. Ambivalent networkers make up 7% of the adult population. They are described as “adults heavily use mobile devices to connect with others and entertain themselves, but they don’t always like it when the cell phone rings” (Horrigan, 2009). I do not quite fit the demographic type. In the report it says the demographic is “primarily male (60%), they are young (late 20s) and ethnically diverse” (Horrigan, 2009). I am obviously a female and in my early twenties and I am definitely not ethnically diverse. However, I do fit this type perfectly. Ambivalent networkers are said to be avid texters. I text probably more than I call. Most of my friends usually just text me if they want to check in with me or see how I am doing. Usually, the only time I get phone calls is when it is something important. I can be having a casual conversation and send 3 page texts depending on what the topic is. I always hate it when my phone goes dead when I am out somewhere, especially if I am talking to someone important. I do have my days when I kind of take a break from my phone and internet to just relax and read a book. When I have these days, I don’t text anybody back or answer calls because I am just in one of those solitary moods where I don’t want to deal with anyone. One side of it is that I love my phone and other technology, but I also think its good to take breaks from it.
4 thoughts on “Blog 1”
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I find it interesting that even those who are of the opinion that it is healthy to take breaks from their ITCs also experience anxiety when without these devices outside of the home. I’m more guilty of this than most, but it still baffles me. If we were out without our cell phones, its very likely that most anyone in our immediate vicinity would have one we could borrow. I wonder if these devices that make it easier for us to connect with others have also increased our anxiety of interacting with people in person now that our smartphones occupy the time we might spend chatting with a stranger on the bus or standing in line.
Would you really want to borrow somebody else’s cellphone, though? It seems like such a personal device. Plus I think frequently there have been scams where someone asks to borrow your cell and then they run off with it (I know this has happened on campus from the safety alerts).
We do change our behaviors to the available circumstances – when I was a kid, you could still find payphones in plenty of public spaces (and they cost a dime!), but the pay phones are gone now, and since we have adapted to this need of perpetual contact (more on that later in the semester), I think that feeds the anxiety. I mean, in all likelihood I don’t really *need* to be able to call people at a moment’s notice every hour of the day, but I have basically convinced myself that I do because I *can.*
I admire your discipline in taking a break from your phone. Honestly, there are times when it’s very difficult for me to have that sort of discipline to set it aside for a little while. But, I think it can be extremely healthy. Way to go!
It is interesting thinking about how much we do actually use or cell phones. We have a device that allows us to have access to solve endless amounts of tasks. I also have agree with Dr. Markman about cellphones being to personal to lend to a stranger. I myself have personal information and I have a couple of friends in the Midtown who had their phones stolen by the scam.