How I use "New" Media...

Week One

The "new" media to me is not considered "new" at all, as most of us have grown up surrounded around computers, espcially in a learning enviroment.

Email is something which as "interactive mail" has pretty much over taken over traditional mail or "snail mail". I don't check my email as regularly as some people, only about once a day. Before Facebook or MySpace, I used to use it far more. I use it purely to keep in touch with my parents, and is especially useful as my father is usually working abroad. Email is used daily in the university enviroment, I usually use it to query tutors and for them to pass on information. I recieve some emails from mailing lists, mainly from clubs and bars that I frequent. These are generic emails sending information to everyone on their list, usually on upcoming events.
Social networking is certianly taking over from traditional forms of emailing and keeping in touch. I used to use MySpace obsessively, until Facebook took over in the last year or so. I don't even know why I use these sites, usually I dont do anything but look at other people's profiles or update mine. It is useful to get in touch with people from years gone by, that I just lost touch with. Email has some negatives. Spam emails are what usually clog my inbox, and they couldnt be anymore useless.

Chatrooms are something I barely use. I dont go online and talk to people I dont know. Instant messenger servives, such as MSN are nearly always on when I'm at home, even if Im not always talking on them. There are about 5 or 6 people I talk to online everyday using this method, it is also very useful (and cheap) if one is in a long distance relationship, as calling every night starts to cost alot. I see why people use chatrooms, if they are lonely or like something that targets a niche audience, something that they cant talk to their friends about, I think chatrooms are useful for that sort of thing.

I use the internet to download music, and to find out about new songs and artists. I also use the internet to find out when and where my favourite events and DJs are playing. I do not shop online as much as I used to, I used to use eBay alot, but that is becoming less regular.

The Multi-User Dungeon games that are online simply do not interest me, although I know some people that enjoy online role-play games. I do not really use the internet for anything other than MSN, Facebook, university work , downloading music and finding out information, which some may say is not using it to its full potential.