The Web & Me

Like changing your daily routine and spinning it in the opposite direction, old habits die hard. The Web has become a powerful tool in our lives, whether you find it to be a good thing or not doesn’t matter. What’s important is how you manage the endless possibilities that the internet grants you; how much does it dominate your life?

Therein lies the problem. Poor control of ourselves when using this tool has become a worldwide concern. It’s something I’ve had to deal with constantly. Now with online classes? It’s gotten worse. Throughout the day I’ve got to check and read my emails, just in case I get instructions for the next assignment on any given course. Zoom classes are the new normal (I know, that phrase is overused at this point) and,  quite frankly, makes my head hurt.

Of course, there’s also my source of entertainment. I barely watch TV. Mostly I’m binge watching YouTube videos from my favorite channels or scrolling through Reddit and Quora posts. It’s also very easy to fall down a rabbit hole while I’m on Wikipedia doing my usual “intensive research”, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing: it’s amazing how much random information I’ve got to bring to the table when any conversation turns dull. Have you heard of the demon cat that haunts government buildings in Washington, D.C? It might sound bonkers, but it’s a fun element to add in a discussion centered on conspiracy theories.

The key to moderate use of electronic devices for web browsing is to get a clock. Decide how long you’re going to spend in one sitting. For me, it’s usually two hours as a maximum. Then I go about my run-of-the-mill chores. This happens at various points during the course of the day. Sure, it’s not the most I could do to bring my regimen to a more productive state, but we’re working with baby steps here. It’s certainly better than staying in bed all day giggling at a screen (we’ve all been there).

For everything, there’s a double-edged sword. The internet can be used to communicate with people around the world, find things that are hard to get
in your region, grow an audience for an online business, for entertainment and information. Unfortunately, it’s not all roses. Our personal information can be compromised if we’re not using a reputable website. Piracy is more of an issue now then it was when the internet wasn’t a regularity, since many small creators are being robbed of their income. Children need to be supervised at all times when they’re given screen time, since they can be subjected to unwelcome material.

All things considered, I couldn’t live without the web. Most of my career will be based in it and I believe there is so much joy to be found. We just need to be mindful of what we all decide to share with the world and have structure that actually works with our individual lives.