Anthony Forman

Advanced Mass Communication

Blog Post #3

5/9/16

Media Multitasking: Constant Distractions

            As technology continues to advance, it continues to encourage and shape our media culture. With technologies such as Television, Smart Television, Smart phones, Ipads, Tablets, etc. we consistently have a distraction just waiting to be taken advantage of. It seems to be becoming more and more difficult staying attentive to just one media or device. It’s hard to tell who is at blame for this, is it us as consumers, or the technologies we are constantly surrounded by? It isn’t putting the blame on just one, we can’t deny that we are always distracted whether we are actually using multiple devices or thinking about that. An article talking about media multitasking says, “evidence suggests that “media multitasking,” or engaging in more than one media activity at a time, is a common occurrence.” (Foehr). I argue that media multitasking is a constant distraction that is next to impossible to avoid, especially in our generation.

            With always having such easy access, and excess availability to different platforms, we are always so easily consumed by technology. Not only do we have the option to watch a movie, and text at the same time, but we can watch a movie, text a friend, post an Instagram, and check your email pretty much all at once. Some argue that its great how much access we have all at once, but is it really great, or does it just pose for one big distraction that we are blind to? In a study done, a 15 year old girl was quoted saying, “I’m always talking to people

through instant messenger and then I’ll be checking email or doing homework or playing games AND talking on the phone at the same time.” (Foehr). I’m not sure about you, but I get a headache just reading that statement. It’s no wonder why everybody is saying that they have ADD or ADHD, look everything we feel we have to keep up with.

            Is it really possible to gain knowledge and obtain all of this information simultaneously? I’m sure some people are more than capable, but not to their full potential. A study on the neurological aspect of this says, “a number of dual-attention studies have examined situations that more closely resemble today’s media multitasking situations. The findings from this research ultimately suggest the outcome one would expect: we cannot attend to and process simultaneously multiple non-related messages.” (Foehr). It is a lot easier when you are getting two platforms with connected information, but when you are getting multiple platforms with multiple different messages, it is nearly impossible to focus on. For example, think about you sitting down and watching a movie in the movie theaters where you are aware there are others around so you don’t use your phone at all. Now, take that same movie and watch it at your house where your phone and laptop are out, there is no way you remember the same information about the movie as you did the first time you would watch. There are too many distractions!!!!

            While we tend to multitask on all medias, there are some that gain more attention from us than others. The first in media multitasking is your primary activity, then there is your secondary activity. In an article talking about primary and secondary activities, it says, “when they are on the computer, they usually are doing something else, and media activities dominate as secondary activities.”, “The computer truly appears to be a media multitasking station, and may be at least partly responsible for an increase in media multitasking.” (Foehr). I would argue that Television and the computer would differently be the primary activity where we are consuming media as a secondary activity. As a current college student, I can’t tell you a time where I’ve been on my laptop doing work and would be checking things like my Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, etc. It’s almost like biting finger nails, it’s this stupid bad habit I just can’t seem to break. Although sometimes I would argue that me doing that is just taking a break from the school work I was doing for about 3 minutes, it is definitely just a distraction that I could certainly do without.

            It is hard for me to step back and blame the technology for all the awesome things we have been introduced to as a generation. We can’t be that naïve to really put the blame on our phones, laptops, ipads, or TV’s. It’s evolution, it’s time to adapt or die. We as technology craved people need to stop blaming the Iphone and get straight to the point. Its up to us to stop and realize these technologies are consuming us, get up off our lazy asses and go outside and throw a football or baseball around. Let’s start using technology and media as a resource and as an advantage for knowledge, as opposed to using it to fill a void, distracting us, or just keeping us from being bored because its 6 and our shows don’t start until 8.

Works Cited

Foehr, Ulla G. "Media Multitasking Among American Youth: Prevelence, Predictors and Pairings - Report." Media Multitasking Among American Youth: Prevelence, Predictors and Pairings - Report (n.d.): n. pag. Dec. 2006. Web. 8 May 2016.