It’s incredible! But true. Various surveys have reported that almost 95 percent of teens have access to a smartphone. And one of the surveys reveals that 45 percent of teens say they are online ‘almost constantly’ on popular online platforms such as YouTube, Instagram, and Snapchat. The significant percentage of children having access to social media and Internet is attributed to cheaper smartphones, faster networks, reach to rural India, digital payments, WhatsApp, E-commerce, etc.
The basic thing is that social media has changed the way we live, communicate, and interact in our day to day lives. If we take the output of various surveys into account, we find today’s children, precisely school-going children, using social media extensively for their use. In other words, the positive impact of social media on students is revolutionary because it provides access to world resources, enhancing students’ cooperation and overall digital competence.
Here it merits a mention about social media in education. In fact, the impact of social media on students is undeniable, as it affects learning both inside and outside the classroom. A significant impact can be measured on how students interact with the outside world, adapt, and communicate.
There is no denying the fact that we can see education institutions in the process of embracing social media platforms into their systems to keep pace with the changing timeswith an aim to modernise their operational efficiency and improve student life. It’s notable, the proper use of social media in education powers students, teachers and parents to lay hands on more useful information, to connect with learning networks and other educational systems that make education more appropriate.
We are already witnessing a huge surge in the number of students taking to social media platforms like YouTube to improve their learning capabilities through online tutorials and courses run by various reputed education institutions. Precisely, the seamless power of social media helps students to get networked with vast resources available globally with never-seen-before convenience.
Beyond classroom lessons, students have the opportunity to gain valuable knowledge through social media on various topics or issues for study purposes. For educational institutions, it is to be understood that they don’t have to exert any extra effort to drive their students to social media platforms as they are already using these platforms at a personal level. So, it’s imperative for the schools to capitalise on the power of social media to create better student training strategies.
One of the wonderful things about using social media in education is that one soon learns who the experts are in different fields and subjects. When one starts following these experts one learns more and gains useful content from them. This way,one gets empowered to produce great results. Precisely, social media has the ability to broaden the perspective of students on various subjects and illuminates with content that is new.
However, there are possible challenges like distractions, mental health concerns, and misinformation which require attention. By using social media responsibly, like following trusted accounts, setting time limits, and prioritising digital literacy, students can harness the influence of social media to excel academically.
In short, the use of social media in the school education system is inevitable. In this issue of the SHAECH, we have explored the use of social media in the school education system and its impact on the personality development of students. We have discussed its advantages and disadvantages on the system and the personalities who are its stakeholders – be it parents, teachers or students. We fervently hope, the readers will enjoy the read.-Sajjad Bazaz