The University of Maryland is commonly referred to as a “party school.” The students here, for better or for worse, are known to go out rain or shine. It was a Wednesday and we all had class in the morning, but it did not seem to make a difference. It is syllabus week, after all.
Last night I observed my roommates getting ready for a night out in College Park. They were all sitting on couches discussing current plans. They all seemed engrossed in their phones and did not speak much to each other.
The conversation hopped around, ranging from “Did anyone like your post in the group?” to “Did you see that email?”
Then, almost suddenly, they all got up and started walking to their rooms to get dressed. As an observer, I was confused. How did a room of people barely speak to each other and then get up to start getting ready for the same place, without confirming? It was literally unspoken, which baffled me.
I realized cell phone usage caused this. Everyone was too
involved with their cell phones to actually converse. Everyone was on WiGo, an
app that facilitates students at universities to see where everyone else is
going.
As an observer, it was strange to see. It wasn’t until I
finished the assignment and resumed my normal activities that I realized I was
exactly the same. I immediately started opening apps to find out what everyone
was doing.
I asked my roommate, Alexandra, how her phone enhances her
plan-making for a night out. I then asked her what apps specifically help. She
mentioned WiGo, Facebook and messages.
Although she didn’t mention it, I observed her using
Snapchat a lot. With all of it’s features, especially newer ones, it can
essentially serve the same purpose as multiple other apps.
Overall, it was interesting to step out of the bubble and be
an observer to a situation I am a participant in all the time.
