Andrew Selepak Comments on Social Media Use by Millennials and Smartphone Dependence

Andrew Selepak, University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications director of the online Master’s program with a specialization in social media, was recently quoted by three media outlets on the use of social media.

In “#RoadRage Is All the Rage on Instagram,” featured on NBC News on Aug. 11, Selepak comments on Millennials and their tendency to post on social media after encountering road rage when traveling to and from summer jobs and internships.

Also on Aug. 11, Prevention Magazine included comments by Selepak on how smartphones can be a source of both communication and stress. In “I Used My Smartphone as a Phone – an Only a Phone – For a Week. Here’s What Happened,” Selepak argues that most people don’t use their cell phones only as a phone.

“We like to know what is going on in the world as it happens and our cell phones, with their various notifications, satisfy this need,” said Selepak. “When we are always attached to our phones, we can miss out on the world around us. The virtual world—with its rewarding likes and retweets—can take the place of in-person human interactions.”

Selepak also commented in “How to Do a Social Media Detox and Still Have Friends” published on Livestrong.com on Aug. 1. In the post, Selepak offers suggestions on how to initiate a social media detox including uninstalling social apps and/or turning off notifications.

Posted: August 15, 2017
Category: College News
Tagged as: Andrew Selepak, Livestrong.com, NBC News, Prevention Magazine, Social Media