Are you a social media addict?

By Taylor Gaudens

@TaylorGaudens

Social media.  Two words that dominate hours of our day.  But how much does it affect our lives?  We check our computers and phones about as much as we drive our cars. And sometimes we even check our phones while we drive.  Face it, life is not simple, but social media does help us to keep up with friends, family and celebrities.  Staying connected seems to be at the top of everyone's priority list these days.

 

I surveyed 10 people from ages 20-38 about social media and how it affects their lives.

Of the 10 users, two have used social media for four years, ranging to one user who has used social media for 15 years.

The range in using social media is from one hour per day to five hours per day and one, who uses Facebook "about an hour each month, if that."

I found that everyone who spent at least an hour on social media websites per day, 90 percent of those surveyed, multi-task.  Each user stated he or she used social media while at home.  Those who occasionally  check social media websites on their phone is 20 percent.

Every user surveyed uses Facebook.  Most users first started using social media websites when they created a MySpace account several years ago.  Only 40 percent of the users have Twitter accounts, which they only visit about once per month.  None of the users surveyed use blogging websites.

The consensus for using social media websites and social networking for personal use was 100 percent.

One question all users had the same answer was the purpose for using social media and social networking websites:  it is an easy and fast way of keeping in touch with people.  While some users enjoy keeping up with family members spread across the world, or viewing and sharing pictures of family with old high school friends, all seem to enjoy these benefits from social networking.  Some users take part in social media to keep up with school organization and fashion, 10 percent, and 90 percent use websites such as Facebook to look at friends' statuses, post their own status, and share and view pictures.

When it came to acquiring new skills, 50 percent said using social media websites and social networking helps them practice typing.

Only a few users, 30 percent, used social networking to communicate with a "crush."  Only one user went on to date someone they met online.  They are no longer together.

The downside to staying to digitally connected?  Most users agree that it can take over lives, and it can give many users a "false confidence," "an unwarranted sense of privacy," and even "lose the ability to interact in person."  To a few, social media is a distraction.  A distraction is good, but not when more important things need to be accomplished.

That's a lot of hours and similarities.  How do you compare?