I Tracked My Social Media Usage- Here is What I Found !

Over the past three days I have tracked my social media usage across personal diaries and analytics within my phone. I have always known that I am pretty dependent on my phone/social media, but it was interesting to really analyze the amount of time I really do spend on it. Whether it be staying connected to family, or keeping up with my friends- social media is a large part of how I communicate.

On a daily basis, I noticed myself using iMessage, Snapchat, Instagram, Gmail, my bank app, Youtube, Tik Tok and Spotify. I spent the most time using TikTok across all three days (1/27-1/29), and the top apps that followed were Youtube, iMessage and Snapchat and Spotify. I think TikTok is my top app because I honestly find a lot of inspiring and motivating content on that platform. Sometimes it is nice to get away from Instagram and spend time watching content that has been curated for me and brings me joy. The rest of the apps that followed were not surprising to me because I use them to communicate with friends/family and often listen to Spotify while working/doing school work, walking to class, or exercising. My top apps were no surprise to me at all.

I find myself logging on to most of these apps because I have some free time or I received a notification. The three days that I did pick were towards the end of the week so my school load was a little smaller and I finished work at 5. This allowed me to have some time to myself so my screen time may have been a little higher. I would be interested to analyze my social media usage at the beginning of the week, when I am very busy with classes and work.

I am usually alone when checking these apps- I always make a conscious effort to be present whenever hanging out with friends and if I am at work or school I focus solely on that. The only time I am on my phone around friends is if a family member/friend sends me a text or call and it is something that needs an immediate response.

Some habits that I did notice is that I check my phone right when I wake up and it is the last thing I do before going to bed- this is a habit I would like to change. I think it’s because I like to slowly wake up in the morning/check up on anything I may have missed overnight. Regarding night time usage, that is kind of the only time I can connect with family/friends because everyone’s busy day is coming to an end. Check out some analytics about the past three days below!

January 27, 2022

First Pickup- 12:47 AM (First Used App, Snapchat)

Total Pickup’s- 98

Notifications Received- 121

Apps used:

• Tik Tok (44m)

• Youtube (33 min)

• Messages (25 min)

• Snapchat (22 min)

• Instagram (17 min)

• Spotify (5 min)

• Outlook (3 min)

• LinkedIn ( 2 min)

• Safari (2 min)

• Mail (1 min)

• Camera (1 min)

• Wells Fargo (1 min)

• Ride MCTS (55 secs)

• Pinterest (41 secs)

• Clock (30 secs)

• Find My (23 secs)

• Venmo (21 secs)

Activities Performed

• Check notifications, responded/tested friends and family, set alarm clock, took an image, listened to music, watched content, found a bus to work, paid back a friend, paid credit card bill, checked location of my roommate

January 28, 2022

First Pickup: 7:40 AM ( First Used App, Spotify)

Total Pickup’s: 96

Notifications Received: 160

Apps Used:

• TikTok (1 hr 38 min)

• Spotify (57 min)

• Youtube (34 min)

• Instagram (31 min)

• Messages (22 min)

• Snapchat (15 min)

• Safari (12 min)

• LinkedIn (7 min)

• Photos (5 min)

• Outlook (2 min)

• Wells Fargo (2 min)

• Mail (1 min)

• Doordash (1 min)

• Find My (58 secs)

• Yelp (51 secs)

• Clock (27 secs)

• Calculator (16 secs)

• Facetime (7 secs)

Activities Performed

• Checked notifications, watched content, listened to music, texted/responded to friends and family, connected with some people on LinkedIn, check my finances, ordered some dinner, calculated something, looked up restaurant reviews, missed a facetime call from a friend

January 29, 2022

First Pickup: 8:43 AM (First used app, Snapchat)

Total Pickups: 92

Notifications received: 75

Apps used:

• TikTok (1 hr 13 min)

• YouTube (46 min)

• Instagram (43 min)

• Spotify (28 min)

• Snapchat (25 min)

• Messages (10 min)

• Maps (6 min)

• Safari (6 min)

• LinkedIn (2 min)

• Mail (1 min)

• Camera ( 1 min)

• Outlook (55 secs)

• Facebook (39 secs)

• Twitter (35 secs)

• Clock (14 secs)

Activities performed:

• Watched content, listened to music, searched directions, replied/texted friends and family, checked linkedin post analytics, responded to emails, took a photo, set my alarm