Surviving without Social Media for 24 Hours: Is It Possible?

In an age where youngsters log in to their Facebook accounts to learn about the whereabouts of their friends instead of paying them a visit or calling up, or where an entire generation worships micro-blogging sites and video sharing platforms like Twitter and YouTube, it seems pretty improbable that one can survive without the ‘help’ of social media.

And abstain from using social media for one whole day? Is it really possible? Can today’s Gen Y actually survive 24 hours without logging onto either Twitter or Facebook or other such mass mania inducing social media platforms? 200 undergraduate students of Maryland University found out the answer to this intriguing question through a study that was conducted in March 2010.

200 undergrads of Maryland University were challenged by the university’s International Center for Media and Public Agenda not to use their iPods, iPads, laptops, iPhones, text messaging, Twitter, Facebook or any other type of social media for 24 whole hours. The study concluded that American college students just don’t know how to survive or function without relying heavily on social media.

Let’s take a quick look at the top 4 inferences of this study.

• American kids can survive without their daily dose of newspapers and televisions, but not without their Apple iPods!
• Facebook and constant texting are indispensable parts of their lives.
• Literal addiction terms were used by students to describe their dependence on social media.
• Spending time on social networking sites is more preferable than going out with family and friends!

So addicted are they to technology and social media that without their help, they cannot perform even their daily tasks. Even completing trivial chores without depending on social media, becomes a ‘struggle’ for these American kids!