How Digital Media Influences My Routine

Stephen Sponsler 

MKT-265

SNHU

Digital media is a part of the majority of my day. From the beginning of my day to the end, I move between platforms for news, entertainment, schoolwork, work, and communication. The content I see and the way that it’s delivered shapes not only what I consume, but how I feel and react as a digital participant and consumer.

My Go-To Platforms

My day usually begins with a scroll through Instagram reels, YouTube shorts, or starting off with Spotify Daylist. Instagram is where I check updates from friends, browse content from brands that I like, and occasionally fall into a rabbit hole of Reels. It’s both entertaining and, at times, overwhelming doomscrolling. YouTube plays a bigger role when I want long-form content, tutorials, interviews, or product reviews. I also use it as a form of background noise while working or cooking.

Spotify is a near-constant presence throughout the day. Whether I’m commuting to work or studying for school, music and podcasts fill the background. I tend to gravitate toward music over podcasts for quick bits of entertainment over long podcasts that I need to focus on.

LinkedIn is a more structured experience. I use it less frequently, but it’s where I connect with professionals, follow companies, and engage with marketing-related articles. Google Search, naturally, supports all of this. I use it throughout the day for everything from class-related research to price comparisons while shopping.

Emotional Responses to Digital Platforms

My feelings toward digital media will generally vary depending on the platform and context. YouTube and Spotify are generally going to offer more positive experiences as they offer opportunities for learning, and entertainment. On the other hand, Instagram can be emotionally mixed. While it provides entertainment, it also has a lot of content that can lead to comparison or emotional fatigue.

A large amount of notifications can be another source of stress for some people. Whether it’s a new connection on LinkedIn or a sale alert in your inbox, the constant demand for attention can be distracting and overwhelming. I’ve learned to turn off most notifications, make use of the Do Not Disturb function on my phone, and limit app usage when I need to focus.

According to a 2023 Pew Research Center report, 61% of U.S. adults say they feel worn out by the amount of political content and social noise online (Auxier et al., 2023). This reflects how digital media not only informs but emotionally impacts us.

Observing Digital Marketing in Action

As a marketing student, I’ve become more aware of how marketing strategies show up in my daily scrolls. Personalized ads are the most obvious example. After searching for something like a new set of kitchen knives, I will suddenly see product placements all across Instagram and YouTube for different companies trying to sell me kitchen knives. This is an example of cross-platform retargeting, made possible through data tracking and cookies (Chaffey & Ellis-Chadwick, 2019).

I also see a strong emphasis on influencer partnerships. Brands increasingly rely on micro-influencers to present products in a way that feels more authentic. When I see a skincare product being used in a “get ready with me” video, it feels less like an ad and more like a recommendation, even though I know it’s likely a paid placement.

Short-form video is currently the dominating form of media that people access on social media apps, especially on platforms like TikTok and Instagram Reels. Research from HubSpot (2024) found that 90% of marketers using short-form video plan to increase or maintain their investment in it, mainly because of its high return on investment and shareability. These videos are generally tailored for mobile users and often mimic user-generated content to feel more natural.

Email marketing is also evolving. I receive personalized emails that address me by name, highlight items I’ve viewed, and include curated recommendations for me to check out. These emails are very data-driven and automated, but well-crafted ones still feel personal.

Final Thoughts

Digital media isn’t just part of our day-to-day routine; it helps to shape how the day unfolds. It influences our decisions, the emotions that we feel from one moment to the next, and our exposure to marketing messages. As I continue studying marketing, it will be interesting to see how brands are able to better balance personalization with transparency, and how ethics play a role in targeting consumers across platforms.

References

Auxier, B., Perrin, A., & Rainie, L. (2023, March 16). Social media and the impact on users’ mental health. Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2023/03/16/social-media-and-the-impact-on-users-mental-health/

Chaffey, D., & Ellis-Chadwick, F. (2019). Digital marketing (7th ed.). Pearson Education.

HubSpot. (2024). The state of marketing report 2024. https://www.hubspot.com/state-of-marketing

Location: Minnesota, USA

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