Self-Surveillance

Part One: 24-Hour Tracking Observations--Saturday, May 1

Saturday was a fun-filled day for electronic tracking. In the morning I ate breakfast at the dining commons where they took my identification card and swiped it through the machine. On my way out from breakfast I decided to check the mail where I found a security camera. Walking back to my dorm I saw another surveillance camera located on the top of the building that was used to monitor the construction going on next door. I later went to an ATM to deposit a check. I went to Rite-Aid where there was another surveillance camera upon my entrance into the store. I used my debit card to pay for my bag of M&M's and shampoo.

Part Two: 48-Hour Self Surveillance

Day One: Sunday, May 2

10:00am: Good morning, Davis! Off to eat breakfast.

10:45am: Brush teeth! :D

12:00pm: Read Harry Potter (instead of studying)

3:00pm: Go to Arboretum to study.

10:00pm: Watch "Hey Arnold!" and go to sleep.

Day Two: Monday, May 3

9:00am: Wake up!

10:45am: Pack snacks for class.

10:55am: Go to class.

3:00pm: Studying.

7:00pm: Shower.

a) From this exercise I realized how much I am being watched while doing simple, daily activities such as checking the mail and buying M&M's. I did not notice that every time I swiped my card at the dining commons or made a withdrawal from my debit card that I would be electronically tracked and surveyed. I learned that my relationship between my own privacy and the media is not completely voluntary, and that every day without permission cameras and other tracking devices are taking note of my whereabouts.

b) Being public has an effect on my actions, especially when I am publicly alone. I feel more self-conscious which affects the way I do little things like walk, hold my purse, and stand at a crosswalk. This exercise was difficult at times because I would be doing daily activities like going to my bike or going into the bathroom to brush my teeth and I would take a picture of those things which felt really unnatural. However, if I adapted a self-surveillance way of life, like Hasan Elahi, taking pictures of these everyday actions would not feel so abnormal.

c) In my everyday life, media plays a role in both my private and public life. An example is that in my private life, it plays a role in how I discover and access different forms of media like music and films. In my public life, it plays a role in communicating and sharing those types of discoveries to my friends through media-networking. When immersed in the world of media a public persona can be considered to be able to establish a boundary between their lives of public media and private media.