Welcome to my 24-hour media diary for Monday January 27th.
8:00 am – TikTok
I started my day by scrolling through TikTok. I’ve tried to be more aware of how I interact with the app. I’m more observant of the algorithms that are being fed to me. Recently my FYP seems to be filled with News and interview clips.
I looked into the TikTok Terms of Service. Even with having a slight understanding of digital privacy, reading the fourteen part agreement was overwhelming.
9:00 am – Spotify
While preparing for work, I listen to my Spotify “Daylist”. A customized playlist that changes throughout the day. I love listening to my Daylist as a reliable way to listen to music that I know I’ll like. However, sometimes it feels like I’m being fed the same music repeatedly and it’s hard to explore new genres. This Forbes article explains how Daylists “‘learn’ what users are interested in based on continued tracking of interactions with Spotify”.
9:30 am – 3:30 pm – Spotify and Pride and Prejudice
Listening to music and my audio book is how I spend my work breaks. Audible is my go to for audiobooks. Since listening to Pride and Prejudice I’ve noticed that I’m constantly getting suggestions to listen to similar content.
4:00 pm – New York Times
I signed up for a New York Times subscription. While creating my account I had to submit the traditional personal information. One part of the sign up process that was unexpected was the prompt to choose the type of content I am most interested in.
5:00 – 7:00 pm – Canvas and MyASU
I log onto Canvas to read announcements and look at my modules. I also logged on to MyASU to look into future scheduling and finances. These platforms require personal registration information to be used.
8:00 pm – AMC Theatres, MAPS, Calendar
I bought tickets to see the movie One of Them Days using my AMC Stubs subscription. Buying tickets via the AMC app automatically linked my ticket to my Calendar and MAPS. Before leaving for the movie I was notified on my Calendar and received a notification telling me how long it would take to get to the theatre.
Concluding Thoughts:
After focusing on how my personal data and information is used, I saw some patterns. The majority of media I consume is algorithm based. It’s clear that much of what I consume is based on my interests and that I am somewhat stuck in a filter bubble. Despite starting new subscriptions, I am consistently fed information that is based on prior online behaviors. Zuboff discussed in our lectures that corporate surveillance is the predictions made based on human behavior. Going forward I want to be more intentional with reading the Terms of Service of the sites I’m using. Understanding what I’m agreeing to and the information I’m voluntarily giving can help me narrow down what I consume.