My 2023 wrAPPed: A Year in Screentime
Thus begins the time of year when internet users crave one thing—their year in analytics. Well, I don’t have those, but these are the five programs that dictated my year online. Step into the digital diary of my 2023 as I unveil the screen time sagas that shaped my year, unveiling the technological tapestry that both consumed and entertained me.
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What can I say? I’m a screenager at heart. Instagram is the app that by far dominates my screen time on a day-to-day basis, and now that I’ve taken a break from TikTok, Reels has taken over. I began sharing more photography work this year, and took advantage of Instagram Reels to boost my following a bit. I’m also guilty of spending hours watching my friends’ stories, and spamming my own with niche memes and references. I simply love to post. (Follow me on Instagram @mxlissajoy)
Duolingo
In 2023, I devoted my commutes on the train to learning Russian on Duolingo. Unfortunately, I’m not fluent and still struggle to understand my partner (a native Russian speaker), but the effort was made. My longest streak? 23 days. I remained at the top of the Sapphire leaderboard for 22 hours. I stayed motivated by watching their owl mascot intimidate people via TikTok comments. Duolingo, if you read this…tell your social media intern that she’s my hero.
The Sims 4
I’ve spent about $70 this year on The Sims in-game add ons. Though it’s a simple game with little conflict or plot, it holds my attention to a concerning degree. My most significant feat in The Sims this year was discovering cheats, leading me to own the most extravagant, luxurious house in all the land. I do not regret the sleepless nights I’ve had this year watching my simulated family roam about a perfectly designed digital mansion.
Spotify
I’ve already discussed my feelings on Spotify’s annual wrapped campaign, but I’m pleased with the results of this year’s streaming roundup. For the third consecutive year, The 1975 is my most streamed artist, landing me in the top 0.05% of their listeners. It feels so good to be pretentious! Some genres I had the most fun discovering include UK Garage, Drum n Bass, Hyperpop, and Pop Punk.
iBooks
Sometimes I think people forget there’s a book app built into Apple devices. I bet you did, too. I’m not afraid to be open about this one: I read a hell of a lot of fanfiction in 2023. My platform of choice? Archive of Our Own. The best I’ve read this year was a 557 thousand-word epic, titled All The Young Dudes, a story spanning seven years in the Harry Potter Universe. I’m one of the smart few who downloads fanfiction as an ePub to read offline, directly in iBooks. To my fanfic readers, you’re welcome.
