For one day, I have logged everything that I have done using the internet. Even though I don’t have a chip in my brain perpetually connecting me to the internet, it often feels that way because of how often I am on the internet and how much I rely on it without even noticing. To log one day of every time I enter the internet will hopefully help me reflect, for better or for worse, on my daily internet usage. Here is my log for a Sunday.

8 am: Outlook, Snapchat, Text

I awake to the suspicion that I have emails or texts to read. I am right: I must have had a dream in which I had missed a meeting or class so, anxious from that, I needed to make sure I hadn’t missed any messages. After checking Outlook, text messages, and Snapchat (sort of a bad habit any time I pick up my phone) I am back to sleep.

10:25 am: Snapchat, Text

I’m up for the day and check the messaging apps. I only see a few snaps from friends and a message from my parents who want to chat later. I use my phone primarily for communication and connection purposes, but I don’t like other forms of passive social media like Instagram and Facebook. Otherwise, I’ll use my phone to play music, to look a fact up, to take pictures, or for entertainment like Netflix. For example…

10:40: Spotify

I’m streaming music while I shower.

11:10 am: Outlook, Canvas, Word, Spotify

These four websites are always open when I start working. I periodically use these websites and will throughout the day until I finish homework.

12:50 pm: GroupMe

I am messaging my General Admission club about the meeting we will have at 1.

2:20 pm: Netflix, Snapchat

I’m watching Netflix and Snapchating my friends as I eat lunch.

3:10-7:00: Snap, GroupMe

I studied with books outside for awhile and didn’t much use the internet. I did go on my phone on occasion to use text, Snapchat, and GroupMe. I felt pretty productive without using entertainment internet for this time period.

8:00-12:30: “study websites”

In this time period, I used my study websites with my computer. With my music streaming and the lights dimmed, I can get pretty sucked into the internet. After studying, I checked my Outlook one more time on my phone as I jumped into bed. That was my day on the internet.

What I find most interesting is that my lifestyle (and that of most people living in the USA) is tightly connected, almost reliant, on the internet-especially in pandemic times. Most things I did that had an element of communication: education, chatting, planning, entertainment, required a connection to the Internet. I don’t think that I will change my lifestyle, but I think it is important, if not just interesting, to keep in mind that this wasn’t the way people lived 40 years ago, not to mention all of history before that.