We live in an age where information is just a button press away. Although we are swayed by information all around us. We millennials want to know, read, understand and then speak our minds about it. That is where social media comes into play. Social media is one of the most significant elements we live with, and we cannot ignore it.
It is a collection of websites, applications, and other platforms that enable us to share or create content and also help us to participate in social networking. Social media is not limited to blogging and sharing pictures; there are a lot of solid tools also that social media provides. That is because the impact of social media is very high and far-reaching. It can make or break images.
But social media is a topic of controversy today, many feel it’s a boon, but a majority think it is a curse. Most believe social media has rapidly destroyed human interaction and modified modern human relationships. But others feel it is a blessing connecting us to every part of the world; we can meet our loved ones far, spread awareness, send security warnings, etc. There is a lot that social media can do. But it is an unarguable fact that social media has made our lives convenient, easier, and much faster.
Positive Effects of Social Media
Social media allows the social growth of society and also helps many businesses. It provides tools like social media marketing to reach millions of potential clients. We can easily access information and get news through social media. Social media is an excellent tool for creating awareness about any social cause. Employers can reach out to potential job seekers. It can help many individuals grow socially and interact with the world without a hitch. Many people use social media to make themselves heard by the higher authorities. It can also help you meet like-minded people.
Negative Effects of Social Media
Many physiatrists believe that social media is a single factor causing depression and anxiety. It is also a cause of poor mental growth in children. Increased use of social media can lead to poor sleeping patterns. Many other adverse effects include cyberbullying, body image issues, etc. There is an increased ‘Fear of Missing out (FOMO) at an all-time high in youth because of social media.
We cannot ignore that social media is one of the biggest elements present in our lives today. We can quickly get information and talk to anyone in any corner of the world. The youth is the future of our nation; they can make or break the economy. Social media is one of the most engaging elements in their lives today. It has a far-reaching impact on the youth, as they are the most active on social networking sites. Social media has a far-reaching impact on the youth, as they are the most active on social networking sites.
It’s a fad these days to be on social networking sites. If you do not have a digital presence, then for some people, you do not exist. The ever-rising pressure of being on social networking sites and having an impressive profile affects the youth in a big way. According to statistics, the average number of hours a teenager spends online is 72 hours per week.
This is very high considering that they have to give time to study, physical activities, and other beneficial activities like reading. It leaves little time for other things; hence, serious issues arise, like lack of attention span, minimum focus, anxiety, and complex issues. We now have more virtual friends than real ones, and we lose human-to-human connections daily. Other dangers include leaking personal information to strangers, sex offenders, etc.
This is the age of smartphones and microblogging. Everything that we need to know is just a click away. Social media is the most widely used tool by all age groups today but is more popular among the youth and students. Keeping this in mind, researchers feel that social media can play a very important part in education. It can be used to reach out to many students and be highly effective.
Many academic thinkers feel social media is a deteriorating agent for students, but it can be highly effective if used wisely. Instead of arguing that social media is good or bad, we must find ways to use it for our benefit. How can social media be used to our advantage in education? Let’s try and answer this.
Importance of Social Media in Education
Today platforms like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc., are most widely used by( both) teachers, professors, and students, and they have become quite popular among them. Social media plays a very important role for students as it makes it easier for them to access and share information, get answers and connect with teachers. Students and teachers can connect and share content through social media platforms, using these platforms well.