Phone addiction is a real problem with no clear solution. Despite countless attempts to limit my screen time, cell phones are still a necessary part of everyday life. Clubs communicate through GroupMe, new destinations require Google Maps, and working as a social media intern has made media consumption a daily responsibility.
Recently, a friend and I concluded that if we can’t limit our digital media consumption, we can practice agency over the content we absorb. Thus, I started my journey to replace mindless consumption with intentional interaction. Here are five digital media recommendations that can help you replace dull scrolling with fact-based, motivating, and intellectually stimulating content.
- NPR’s Up First
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I start every day by listening to NPR’s podcast Up First in the shower. Hosts Leila Fadel, Steve Inskeep, Rachel Martin, and A Martínez share the top three news stories of the day in only 10 minutes. The program’s fast pace keeps me engaged and equipped with a basic understanding of the day’s most prominent headlines. College life is busy, and scrolling through news articles isn’t always a practical part of my morning routine. This podcast provides an accessible way to stay up-to-date without scheduling time to read the news.
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Flipboard replaced Instagram as my most used app, and I’m better off because of it. Flipboard is a news app that delivers articles from across the web to the user’s “For You Page” based on self-identified interests. Users can follow numerous topics, from “Global News” to “Coffee Brewing and Cannabis Growing.” I enjoy Flipboard because I can follow the news cycles I’m interested in without having to do my own research on each niche interest. As a journalism student, I understand the importance of consuming news from diverse sources, which is why I appreciate the wide variety of outlets that Flipboard promotes.
- History with Miss. Redacted
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It’s common knowledge that history is an integral part of the present and that there are endless lessons to be learned from the past. After meeting my history general education requirement, I realized that unless I sought out history education, I would not engage with it again during my undergraduate career. So, I started watching History with Miss. Redacted. Miss. Redacted (also known as “A Walmart Parking Lot” on TikTok and YouTube) is a former high school history teacher and total history buff. Her videos and Twitch live streams delve into exciting parts of American history, from the Monica Lewinsky scandal to Big Corn, using Gen Z humor. This channel helped me rediscover my love for history and is an excellent source of educational entertainment for when I’m eating a meal alone.
- The Gist
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I am not a sportswoman by any stretch of the imagination, but I hate feeling unable to contribute to conversations about sports. The Gist is a women-run multimedia destination providing sports news and understanding to people who feel left out of traditional sports conversations. I religiously read their newsletters to broaden my knowledge of sports culture (and feel confident name-dropping players at the bar). My favorite part of The Gist is their commitment to equal coverage of both men’s and women’s sports and closing the gender gap in sports media coverage. This fall is the first football season in my life that I’m looking forward to, all thanks to The Gist.
- Timm Chiusano On TikTok
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My final and most influential recommendation is Timm Chiusano’s TikTok. Timm is a father, husband, and creative executive at a Fortune 100 Company. While balancing his hectic schedule, Tim finds the time to film daily vlogs showcasing his life and giving advice to young professionals. His content is wholesomely motivating and a daily reminder that anyone can create the career of their dreams with a bit of grit, creativity, and determination. Timm recently published a cheat sheet full of tips and tricks he’s learned throughout the last 20 years (free of charge). His commitment to the common good and unmatched work ethic motivates me every time I open TikTok, and I encourage everyone to follow his gold mine of advice.
We determine whether our phones harm or benefit our growth and well-being. The recommendations above are five of the countless ways you can take control of your media consumption. Instead of letting the digital age control us, we can capitalize on the endless information at our fingertips by practicing mindful scrolling.
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