CS371 Blog Post #2 - Lucca Maggiolo

 Hello everyone!

In class it was very interesting to learn about the concept of mediatization. Once reflecting on how much I use my phone or social media platforms throughout the day, I do not know if I should laugh or be worried! It is that constant thought of checking your phone when you wake up, go to the bathroom, walk to school, before going to bed etc. It is apparent that we are currently living in a culture that naturalizes this notion of being on the phone and the use of social media platforms as a way to escape, fit in and contribute towards our ‘happiness’. In the article ‘It’s a modern-day Facebook’- how BeReal became Gen Z’s Favourite app it mentions “the app prompts users to take a simultaneous front and back camera picture every day at a specific time, within a two-minute window” (Clarke, 2022). The small amount of time given in the notification displays the awareness of the mediatization concept. When reflecting on my own usage of the app, the two minutes is mostly enough time to capture a photo due to already being on my phone or having it close by. In addition, when looking at the power of affordance that was also discussed in class, it is evident that this concept connects to the BeReal app. If we are constantly on our phones or have it nearby, we may experience multiple times throughout the day where we may wish to take a photo and share to BeReal. Although, it is the power of affordance where we must wait for the notification to go off in order to post. On top of this, in order to view our friends posts, we must post something first. This enables us to post something in order to participate and to overall view what our friends are doing. 


Do you find yourself already being on your phone once the BeReal notification goes off?



Clarke, L. (2022, August 21). It’s a modern-day Facebook’- how BeReal became Gen Z’s Favourite app. The Guardian. Retrieved October 2, 2022, from: https://www.theguardian.com/media/2022/aug/21/its-a-modern-day-facebook-how-bereal-became-gen-zs-favourite-app

Comments

  1. Erika PerliniOctober 3, 2022 at 9:24 PM

    Hi Lucca,

    I really liked your blog post! I thought the class survey of our own social media use really made me realize how often Im actually on my phone. I am a huge fan of BeReal and almost alway catch the notification. I agree with your point how since we are constantly using our phones, there are multiple times where I want to post on BeReal before the notification goes off. I think the power of affordance where we have to wait and then participate to see what everyone else is up too is what makes the app so unique.

    ReplyDelete
  2. OwenOctober 4, 2022 at 10:48 AM

    Hello Lucca,

    I enjoyed reading your blog post. Although I don't use BeReal I can understand the power of affordance. I think that we can almost relate this to any social media platform in a way that when we get a notification on our phone we feel the need to see exactly what it is right away or have to deal with it instantly. Although this is a little different than what exactly BeReal is I think they connect on a certain level. With this app becoming so popular as of late can you see maybe Instagram or other social media apps maybe copying this idea of posting before you can see someone else's post?

    ReplyDelete
  3. Alexa NicolleOctober 5, 2022 at 9:03 AM

    Hey Lucca,
    Great post! I can draw some similarities between our posts because I also acknowledged that social media comes with both risk and opportunity which is how you similarly explained that you don't know if you should laugh or be worried. To answer your question, I notice i am not usually on my phone when the Bereal notification goes off. I find that i usually disregard it and I post when i want to see other posts or when I am doing something epic. I guess this is the other side of the app that lacks acknowledgement.
    Thanks

    ReplyDelete
  4. Avery CarpinoOctober 5, 2022 at 9:34 AM

    I enjoyed reading your discussion post! I agree that the power of affordance is evident in people’s everyday use of social media. As a BeReal user, I often myself checking for the “Time to BeReal” alert, especially when I am doing a fun activity that I want to be able to showcase. BeReal has only heightened my need to be within close proximity of my phone, as I constantly seek to be ready, willing and able to check my social media platforms — most commonly Instagram, Snapchat, or TikTok — whenever I get a notification. The way in which social media platforms contain or call for particular social actions is evident in my need to promptly check my phone after hearing the ‘ding’ or ‘buzz’ of a notification from any social media app — it is almost impossible for me to fight the urge to check my phone after getting an alert.

    ReplyDelete
  5. victoria sordiOctober 5, 2022 at 11:36 AM

    Hi Lucca,

    Your blog post is well written! I love using BeReal, and am constantly looking forward for the daily notification so that I can post and see my friends posts. Saying so, your post has made me realize that by making sure I keep an eye out for the BeReal notification I am constantly on my phone. My phone is the first thing I look at when I wake up, and the last thing I look at before going to bed. The power of affordance does tie into BeReal, when you mentioned how there are times throughout the day where we may experience wishing we could post on BeReal I heavily related. There have been multiple times, I wish I could capture exciting things I was doing and post them on the app for my friends to see.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Nick GiuntaOctober 5, 2022 at 2:32 PM

    Great post Lucca, it was very interesting to read about BeReal and your outlook on mediatization. With how society is today social media has become a part of everyone's lives to a point where we have to look back and realize how much time we really spend on it. In terms of BeReal, I do not have the app personally but I now understand how it works. Waiting for the notification is for sure power affordance as you do not know when it is going to go off and once it does you have to post a picture of what you are doing in that given moment. Going off of your idea of people in society wanting to participate in all things social media, it can consume a lot of your day as you constantly want to see new posts so you can keep up with what is being shared. Overall, I enjoyed reading your post and learning more about BeReal

    ReplyDelete

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