How To Use Digital To Become A Smarter Person
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So everyone has basically made up their minds that social media is making us mean and dumb. The internet in general has had that overall effect on us but I've noticed that, since I changed the way I consumed digital media I've become more knowledgeable, more informed, and more able to think critically about what I see and hear.
Here's how it happened.
1) I started listening to news podcasts.
I used to exclusively listen to comedy podcasts. There is nothing wrong with that but I'm not in the comedy business so there weren't many practical lessons I could take away from an episode of Never Not Funny. Even if you're not a particularly newsy person, finding a daily 30-45 minute news podcast that covers the issues you care about can a) start your day off properly and b) ensure you're getting vital information to help you engage with current events on an adult level. My podcasts are Rachel Maddow, Jake Tapper Running Mate, and Anderson 360.
2) I started downloading apps that made me better at my job.
As I've mentioned before I'm a digital creator so I spend a lot of time looking at aggregated news and productivity apps. I'm not saying game apps aren't fun but things became easier for me on a day-to-day level when I started focusing on streamlining my routine. For instance, every morning I use the feedly app for a quick snapshot of the biggest news stories of the day (or the night, rather). I also check Newswhip when I'm on desktop. I organize my findings in the Trello app (I have this on desktop, mobile, and iPad) and talk it out on Slack (I have this on desktop and iPad).
3) I started learning again.
There's lots I don't know and there's lots that I'm interested in. You don't have to sit down and read a 2,000 page book on the Ancient Greeks if that's what you're into. I'm currently up to the 1800s in A Brief History Of British Kings And Queens via audiobook. Similarly, Ted Talks are a wealth of crowd sourced knowledge. Just because you've left school or you struggle to find time to read doesn't mean you can't continue your education. Audiobooks, the Kindle app, and podcast apps make it so easy to learn about things you're interested in.
4) I started studying the content I was consuming.
Again, this is mainly for my job, but every weekend I do a content analysis to prepare me for the week ahead. Then I brainstorm evergreen content to bank when I really need it. I do this because a) I like to be prepared and b) I am a part of a demographic. What do I like to consume? How do I consume it? Those questions are as relevant for me as they are for the people I make content for. As soon as I started understanding this, critically thinking about news stories and how to present them became a whole lot easier for me.
5) I got smart with the way I used social media.
Right. So like most people my age, I've been using social media for a decade. It's become second nature to me but it's only recently that I started using social media to follow experts, influencers, and talking heads both inside and outside of my field. That simple act has made me so much more conscious about social issues, about the media industry as a whole, and about the nature of new digital media.
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