Media Autobiography

My views and relationships with the eight different types of mass media have changed vastly over the years I have used them. In the first years of my relationship with mass media (ages 5-12) it was more of a one sided relationship. Back then the forms of media I used were primarily television, movies, recordings, and books, and the only use I had for them, besides books was fun. I mostly watched cartoons and movies, and listened to music that had no productive effect on me. As I matured and grew as a person so did my views and relationships with all the forms of mass media. When I was young I used television for entertainment only, I still use television for entertainment when I watch sports but now I try to watch things that have some kind of value and aren't a complete waste of time. I have personally come to find television in general can be very unhealthy if it turns into a habit so I do not watch nearly as much as I use to. When I was younger I thought of reading books as a task, or just something I had to do in school that could not really be enjoyable. Recently I have discovered that I actually like to read and have been reading a lot more often. Not only do I now find it entertaining and relaxing to sit and read a book I also find it very fulfilling. I have never been a fan of magazines or newspaper, I don't think I have ever found one that really interests me enough to subscribe to, and now that I am at an age where I could probably find one that would, I would rather use the internet instead. I could be wrong but it seems as if magazines are more about their advertisements than the purpose of the magazine itself.  Movies are something I have always enjoyed to this day, though sadly it seems to me that people in the industry are running out of good ideas because the amount of good quality movies has steadily fallen over the past 10 to 15 years. Like movies, recordings (mainly music) are something that I have always enjoyed, but they also share the same problem I have with movies, the quality has declined over the past 10 to 15 years and I can not relate the same anymore. Radio is one of two types of mass media that I use everyday. When I was younger I listened to FM radio for music. Now that there is not one station on FM radio that I appreciate or even plays any music that I like I have switched over and now exclusively listen to AM radio. I mostly listen to KNBR (sports talk radio) or sometimes other news stations. Internet is the other form of mass media that I use everyday. I believe that the internet is the most useful tool that I have, but I also believe it can be the biggest distraction and waste of time as well. I use the internet for school, finance, e-mail and other forms of communication, research/ any piece of information I need, and I also use it as a means of entertainment. However I am just now starting to break some of the habits that have come with using the internet. For example I consider Facebook to be a habit. I am actually on the verge of deleting my Facebook entirely, the only reason I haven't yet is because its a great way to keep in touch with family. The reason I want to delete it and see it as a bad habit is because I spend a lot of down time logged in filling my head with useless statements and information like "Megan just got back from the mall, about to go shower and hang out with the boyfriend" or "Ashley is so annoying get over yourself already". Personally I feel deleting my Facebook would be easier than regulating the amount of time I spend on it. Having said all that I still believe that the internet and books are the most important forms of mass media to me.