Branding: A Day in The Life

My typical day starts and ends with digital media, and I consider it useful, though also a bit overwhelming. In the morning, I generally check my phone before I am completely awake. First,, I look at my messages, then go on to apps such as Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Gmail, and, at times, a news or weather app. I visit Instagram and TikTok most frequently for entertainment and to keep up with social updates. Instagram seems more personal because I can see my friends and family, along with reels, stories, and local events, all in one place. TikTok, on the other hand, is similar to a continuous stream of short videos based on the ones I have recently watched. When I want something longer, I watch music, tutorials, reviews, or background videos on YouTube while doing my homework or chores. Gmail and other school-related apps are not very entertaining but necessary, as they help me stay on top of my assignments, reminders, and communication.

The way I respond to digital media varies depending on the app and my current mood. I feel positively about digital media when it helps me to feel connected, organized, or informed. For instance, messaging apps make it simple to keep in touch with people I don’t see every day, and YouTube can be a real help when I need to learn how to do something step by step. I also enjoy that I can quickly find information, compare products, or get updates on what’s going on around me. On the other hand, I do at times have negative reactions because these apps can make me feel distracted or exhausted. TikTok and Instagram in particular make it easy to lose track of time because there is always another video, post, or story waiting for me. I could open an app for five minutes and only later realize that I had been scrolling without really deciding to keep going. I also observe that seeing other people’s best moments online can cause pressure, even though I am aware that those posts are edited or selective. Therefore, digital media is useful to me, but it also demands self-control.

The most noticeable aspect of digital media in marketing at the moment is how personal and always present it seems. Ads are no longer simply separate commercials that interrupt the content, but instead they have been incorporated into the user experience. On Instagram and TikTok, sponsored posts often look very similar to ordinary posts, particularly when influencers promote products in a relaxed manner. On YouTube, ads appear before videos, during videos, and sometimes within the video itself if the content creator has a sponsorship. I have also observed that marketing takes my behavior into account. Whenever I search for shoes, skincare, or a restaurant, I soon start seeing related ads across various platforms. This can be a convenience since it presents me with products or services that I might actually be interested in, but it can also be annoying because it serves as a reminder of just how much of my activity is being monitored. In general, my experience with digital media demonstrates that these platforms are not just designed to connect with me or amuse me, but also to hold my attention and leverage that attention as a marketing opportunity.