Social media’s rise has revolutionized how people interact, share information, and learn. Platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, and Reddit have gained traction and significantly influenced the education sector. It has become an integral part of students’ lives. They use it to learn, access various information, and discuss with their peers. However, social media has impacted student learning and wellbeing in both positive and negative ways.
In this guide, we’ll shed light on both aspects to give a realistic view of social media’s potential for student learning and health.
Social Media Throwing A Wrench In The Works
Social media has become one of the major causes of distractions for students, decreasing their focus and productivity. Each time a notification pops up on the screen or the ting sound of it distracts the learner from focusing on their studies. They have also become addicted to scrolling feeds, and their thumbs have become accustomed to sliding down reels. Their addiction tempts them to open social media for a few minutes while they take a short break from their studies.
Learners don’t realize when those few minutes turn into an hour or two long of using social apps. These 30 to 60-second reels are something pupils can’t get enough of due to their addictive nature. Thus, it becomes a habit hard to break, drawing them away from their academic responsibilities. Consequently, they end up procrastinating, finding it hard to concentrate on their tasks, resulting in poor academic performance.
Student’s Ticket To A Wealth Of Educational Content And Resources
Social media is also a ticket to a wealth of educational content and resources. Platforms like YouTube, LinkedIn, Facebook, Pinterest, Edmodo, ResearchGate, Blackboard, Coursera, Khan Academy TedEd, and TeachersConnect are some prominent names in this case. Students use them to find their relevant educational materials, from videos and infographics to articles and blogs.
These platforms encourage them to learn independently and have less reliance on teachers. Professors often upload their lectures over their social profiles or pages, letting learners keep up with classroom lessons. Many students have created pages on their favourite subjects and posted aesthetic yet informative posts on them.
Learners create notes in bullet points or short paragraphs, accompanying them with charts, colourful images, or drawings. They also use vibrant, sharp pens, cut markers, and highlighters to make their academic text more appealing. Additionally, many coursework writing services are available on social media, extending their hand to ease pupils’ burdens.
Opening A Can Of Worms In Students’ Minds
As we mentioned earlier that, social media is so addictive students excessively use them in their day-to-day lives. Due to this, it negatively impacts their mental health, creating various issues for them, such as anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, and social comparison. They only look at the glamorous lives and achievements of others and fail to realize the hard work done behind them.
There is an unintentional constant comparison of them with others who seem to have better lives. It creates a sense of inadequacy, loneliness, and dissatisfaction with one’s life. They also use social platforms to seek peer validation and out of fear of missing out. Some students fake themselves and their lives to make a good impression on others. They invest their most focus on it and reduce their attention towards studies, leading to bad academic performance.
Offers A Much Needed Kick
On one side, social media negatively impacts students’ mental health. On the other side, it also offers them a much-needed kick. Whenever they feel like losing hope and motivation, many look up to their social media personalities who have achieved what they want. They delve into the stories of individuals who burnt the midnight oil to achieve their academic goals.
Looking at how others go above and beyond to ace their academic journey becomes a driving force for tutees. It pushes them to give their best, hit the books in a timely manner, and burn the candle at both ends. They also find inspiration and solutions to their problems by following educational pages. They find out various effective strategies to study better.
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Misinformation And Threat To Academic Integrity
Social platforms also contain misinformation, rumours, and false information, making it difficult for students to find credible data. Their exposure to biased or inaccurate content makes it challenging for learners to understand concepts properly. It leads to misconceptions and faults in reasoning.
Reddit, LinkedIn, Instagram, etc. are comprised of posts without proper attribution and have the chance of copying. Using the same content can contribute to plagiarism and ethical dilemmas in academic settings. It can compromise pupils’ integrity and decrease their chances of securing educational achievements.
Promotes Creative Expression And Engagement
Assignments, exams, or quizzes may not let students express their creative side, but social media definitely does. It provides ample opportunities to showcase and enhance creativity, plus engage with like-minded individuals. Students get the chance to share their creative interests with the world through art, videos, writing, cinematography, and multimedia projects.
Pupils look up to platforms like Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest, and so on to share their ideas and work with a broader audience. Consequently, they gain recognition, inspire others, and get realistic feedback for improvement. Some learners even participate in challenges, contests, or interactive features to socialize and explore new ways of expressing themselves creatively.
How does social media influence students?
Excessive interaction with social media can negatively influence their academic performance and overall efficiency. It also contributes to the feelings of anxiety, depression, and loneliness among learners.
How does social media impact students’ wellbeing?
Overuse of social platforms can lead to a lack of time management or even addiction, negatively affecting students’ wellbeing. It results in overthinking, self-doubt, an inferiority complex, and more.
How does social media affect the productivity of students?
Students who spend plenty of time on online social platforms tend to secure poor grades and neglect their academic responsibilities. Factors such as media sharing, binge-watching, scrolling reels, web searching, and video gaming steal learners’ attention.
Summing It All Up
Social media has both positive and negative effects on students, and it is more like a double-edged sword. It provides easy access to educational content and allows for creative expression, which can be beneficial. However, it also distracts students easily, leading to lower focus and academic performance. Spending too much time on social media can harm mental health by causing feelings of comparison and inadequacy. Overall, balancing using social media for learning while managing distractions is essential for students’ overall wellbeing and academic success.
