Social media has had an impact on all aspects of life, including education. As educators strive to meet the needs of today’s tech-savvy students, social media has become an integral part of modern learning, both in and out of the classroom.
In as much as the Social Media’s Impact on Education can never be overemphasized. Many people, however, believe that social media can have a negative impact on education, particularly among younger students whose brains are still developing. If you’re concerned about the impact of social media on education or want to learn more about how it can help your students and their grades keep reading to learn more.
Who Is Using Social Media in Education?
With students using social media on a daily basis, educators are realizing that ignoring its influence on education is no longer an option. It can be said that both students and teachers use social media for educational purposes.
Students’ use of social media sites such as Facebook has prompted schools to establish official pages for sharing information about their school or classes. Besides that, many educational institutions have begun to allow teachers to communicate with parents via various forms of social media.
The positive impact of social media on education
Social media has been dubbed everything from a passing fad to a force fundamentally altering our culture. However, it does not take a rocket scientist to recognize the importance of social media in society.
In fact, some experts believe that social media has had a greater impact on students than any other technology in history. How do sites like Facebook, Twitter, and Snapchat help students? What effect has social media had on their education? What happens if these websites aren’t used for academic purposes?
The negative impact of social media on education
Whatever your feelings are about social media’s impact on students today, there’s no denying that being connected has an impact even if it’s a negative one. Teens who spend more time online are more likely to say they don’t like being around people and feel isolated from their peers, according to Pew Research Center research.
They are also at a higher risk of sleep deprivation as a result of screen time. What should teachers do? Moderation is essential in most situations. Keep an eye on your student’s social media usage and encourage them to take breaks throughout the day. It may be difficult for them to resist at first, but once they get used to putting down their phones or laptops after a few hours of use, they will be able to do so.
Is it worth risking possible consequences if we can make learning more effective?
On the one hand, the impact of social media on education is very positive. It has never been easier to communicate with teachers, students, families, and schools. Anyone, at any time of day or night, can easily access information.
There are no more excuses for not doing homework or not understanding what is going on in class. However, with all of these benefits come some drawbacks.
What happens when students become overly reliant on technology? What happens if they don’t have access? What happens when parents become overly involved in the lives of their children? What happens when students believe they can always turn to their phones rather than their teachers? These are just a few examples of questions waiting for answers.
The Teachers Role
Schools may decide to investigate various types of social media. Teachers may also use these websites for their own purposes. Whatever you think of social media in general, it will continue to play a role in education for many years to come. It is up to us, as educators, to determine how we want that role to be played.
The Parent Role
While it is a parent’s responsibility to advocate for their child’s education, it may be difficult for a student with active social media accounts if their parents are unaware of what is going on in their lives. Most students who use social media have Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram profiles with friends and followers their age. These websites allow students to connect with others who share their interests and goals.
Conclusion: All hands must be on deck
Whatever we decide to do about social media as educators, we must start working together. Rather than making decisions based on rigid policies or fear of what social media might do to our schools, let us approach it with an open mind and consider how we can use tools like social media to empower students while supporting teachers.
As the saying goes, if you don’t take any risks, you don’t gain anything. It might be time for us to take some new risks in order to learn new ways to interact with our students. When, if not now? Who else but us? And, if not here, then where? We have a choice; let us make it a good one.