I took note of all the media I consumed on Sunday, April 9th.
Facebook
I use Facebook very consistently throughout the day every day. Though I pay for Internet (through my school fees), I don’t pay specifically for Facebook. I would consider it free, and considering how often I use it, this is a great value.
Instagram
I use Instagram every day. It is free, with a value essentially equal to Facebook.
Youtube
I use Youtube periodically. It is similar to Facebook and Instagram in terms of expense on my end. There is a subscription service provided by Youtube, called Youtube Red, but I do not subscribe to it (nor do I have the urge to). I consider Youtube to be a good value to me.
Netflix
I use Netflix nearly everyday (and, unfortunately, for too many hours on those days). I do pay $8/month for this service, and considering how often I use it, I think it is a good value.
Apple Music
This is a subscription for which my family pays $14.99/month. This price lets all 4 members of my family stream music non-stop. I use this every single day of my life. Though I alone don’t pay for this, single-user student version of this same subscription is $4.99/month and I would absolutely take on that expense considering the value that this service provides. Once I’m no longer in college, I would have to switch to the $9.99/month single-user price. I’m also fine with this.
Podcasts
I also listen to podcasts just about every day. I use the Podcasts app on my iPhone, which is free. Though many podcasts have options to pay to have access to new episodes before anyone else or receive exclusive content, I only listen to free episodes. I feel a bit guilty about this, because I do believe in supporting creators. When I have the means, I see myself supporting the podcasts I enjoy. Until then, however, I am consuming this media at no cost.
CNN
I visited the CNN website today. I usually try to visit it every other day or so. I do not pay for it.
Athens Online
I visit Athens Online roughly every day. It is free.
Buzzfeed
I visit Buzzfeed perhaps once every three days. It is free.
It’s difficult to quantify how much I spend on media, because I am largely dependent on my parents and I’m not sure how much of my student fees go towards Internet access. Considering my position at this point in time, I would say I spend very little on the media I consume. This is very worth it, and even when I do take on paying for more myself and relying less on my parents, I would still consider the price of my favorite media outlets worth it. Media is such a big part of my life.