Jess Etheridge
OK I’M awake! My iPhone’s alarm clock app goes off. I roll over, eyes still closed, and slap my hand around, trying to grab my phone.
Emails, texts, tweets, Instagram likes, snapchats, Vine notifications have come through in the night. Twitter is always the first social network I check. Seeing what people around the world are talking about gives me an idea of how the day is going to go. If people are complaining a lot, it has an impact on how I feel. If someone tweets about kittens, I know it will be a good day.
Twitter is the place I find out about things first, including news and what my mates are up to. I spend at least half an hour each morning scrolling through my social networks. I don’t feel prepared for the day unless I go through this ritual but it makes me happy to be part of such a large network of people.
Shamefully, I check friends after all this. I start my late shift at work. What happens as soon as my computer is booted up? Check Twitter. I don’t know if it’s because I’m a journalist or it’s just a habit after five years of tweeting. After a few minutes skim-reading, I log onto Facebook. I’m not big on Facebook but I notice people are starting to post their 10- year Facebook videos. I don’t watch any of them. I hardly post on my personal page, and when I do it’s work-related or photos from a trip away. I jump into a conversation with
texts
from comedian Rose Matafeo and Stuff television blogger Mike Kilpatrick about how women are interviewed by journalists. I don’t know either of these people but this is probably what I enjoy most about tweeting: Talking to people I would never have talked to otherwise. Later I tweet singer Anika Moa about electronic duo Daft Punk. She must like what I’ve said – she shares my tweet with her 11,000 followers and she ‘‘favourites’’ it. Chuffed. A bucket of fish has been thrown at Prime Minister Key at Waitangi. How do I
John know? I was on Twitter as it happened. Cue screeds and screeds of fish puns. My personal favourite came from @covlin, who said Key would ‘‘mullet over’’. I’m home! Usually I arrive early enough to live-tweet – commentate on a show or event on Twitter as it happens – Big Brother. But alas, I’ve missed it :(
I turn on 3News and my timeline turns into an arena where people debate the day’s top stories. It’s cool because people from around New Zealand wade in and share
their views. Writing this diary makes me realise the best way to talk to me is online. I don’t text much but different platforms work for different people. I share more of my thoughts with a couple of hundred complete strangers. But a lot of my friends have Twitter and often we organise to hang out or get dinner together that way.
I find myself reading list after list on BuzzFeed. It’s addictive and I often share what I’m reading online or with friends. I’m also Facebook chatting a friend in Australia – we’re talking about the film American Hustle. He asks me for some help on his cover letter as he’s on the job hunt. He sends it to me through Facebook. I Instagram a photo of a charm I was given during the day. It’s a blue-beaded fish with bells sewn on. ‘‘I don’t understand,’’ one of my colleagues comments underneath. ‘‘ It’s a fish!’’
Time to live-tweet Shortland St, watch some YouTube and message a couple of friends. I find myself in the same position I started my day. In bed, on my phone. I’ve read it’s bad to sleep in the same room as your phone as it can have a huge impact on sleeping patterns. I’m grateful I don’t wake up during the night to check my phone or social networks at all. I tweet ‘‘goodnight!’’ Put it in flight mode. Set the alarm. Sleep.