Dependencia de Youtube

YouTube

When it comes to movies, music, amusing videos, and conversing with people on the Internet, there’s always one website saved in the back of my mind that I know to visit: YouTube. YouTube was one of the very first websites I used when I learned how to surf the web. Not only does it give me access to watch or listen to whatever I like, it’s free and available at any time to use. With this kind of Internet access during my free time, it’s easy to get lost in the top radio hits of this month, or the preview of the next biggest movie coming out.

I decided to give up YouTube considering it’s the website that I use most often, and the one I lose most of my time with. I wasn’t excited about sacrificing my enjoyment of YouTube for two full days, and I knew it was not going to be easy. However, I turned off my iPad and left it in my parent’s room, deleted the YouTube application from my phone, and removed it from my favorites on my computer so the temptation to open it during the two days wouldn’t arise. Waking up on the first day, I had several messages and notifications from friends on my other social media apps, but I was wondering where the updates of new videos on YouTube were since I was used to always getting notifications of whenever they were posted. Disappointed, I remembered that I deleted the app the previous day. This was going to be a long two days of trying to find something to replace my habit of watching videos and listening to my favorite songs all the time.

I always listen to my favorite songs on YouTube when I’m on my way to school, because the radio gets annoying repeating the same songs over and over again. It’s always been convenient being able to plug in my phone and search for my favorite songs to jam out to while heading to school or work, but giving this up made my commutes much longer. I’m so used to having the freedom of skipping to the better parts of a song, or changing the genre completely, but instead I listened to music I don’t really like anymore, and had to hear the annoying advertisements in between. That same day, my friend told me she watched a really funny video, and sent me the link to watch it too. Since the video was uploaded on YouTube, I tried to find it posted somewhere else, but it wasn’t shown on any other website. I was so frustrated that I couldn’t’ watch it, but I didn’t want to wait. Thanks to my friend, I didn’t have to. No, I did not give in and pull up the video on YouTube, but instead had my friend explain the whole video to me in her own words.

After a long, boring drive home, I began to study for a math test I had coming up, but came across a section I didn’t quite understand very well. Most of the time when I don’t get something while studying, I’ll look up videos or tutorials for more information and help. They have provided me with many tips during my study time or homework because it’s easier for me when I don’t necessarily have to wait for help or pay for tutoring. Not being able to use the website, I struggled with my homework and my studying became much more difficult. I started to realize just how much I relied on YouTube to help me with more things than I expected.

Just two days of giving up this website showed me how it really has an effect on my life everyday. I realized it was a distraction since I would always watch videos rather than be productive and read a book, finish my homework, or simply socializing with people in person. YouTube has also benefited me apart from allowing me to listen to enjoyable music by providing me with the help I need while I study or finish my homework. Getting home from school and having to find something else other than watching a simple video on YouTube felt very unusual and weird, and I couldn’t wait to log back on and check for new videos. At the end of the two days, I have to admit I was pleased at the fact that I not only

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