The Pros and Cons of Social Media in the Classroom

The use of social media is rising, particularly among today’s youth and children. There is understandable anxiety about this since parents and instructors worry that their kids will become severely screen-dependent or, worse, subjected to cyberbullying. These worries are reasonable, but educators should be aware that social media use in the classroom has benefits like developing Education Skills and more.

Teachers and students can investigate the various educational advantages of current digital technologies by utilizing social media in the classroom. This is quite beneficial, and we think that teachers should teach children how to use technology for good rather than punishing them for checking their smartphones.

PROS of social media in the Classroom

1. Social networking is already widely used among students

Let’s face it: Children will use their gadgets in class. They’ll update their Instagram accounts and check Facebook. Instead of passing out past notes, they will text.

Students shouldn’t be punished for using the tools and services that are swiftly supplanting more traditional ones as necessities of life. They ought to be urged to utilize them responsibly and with respect instead. Teachers should encourage their pupils to use social media in novel ways that improve the learning environment.

2. Integration of social media reduces cyberbullying

Students and teachers can communicate more intimately online thanks to social media tools like Yammer. The scourge of cyberbullying has received widespread attention recently. The possibility of increasing opportunities for cyberbullying is a worry when integrating social media components into the classroom.

The digital classroom will be designed as a respectful space for students to communicate their views and ideas, though, because teachers can monitor interactions on Yammer. Although Yammer won’t stop cyberbullying, students will be more likely to treat one another with respect if they are aware that their social media activities are being watched.

3. Social media can promote smart conversation

Sometimes pupils will blurt out answers that aren’t entirely thought out under the stress of having to provide the correct solution quickly. Students can learn more about a topic in-depth by having the conversation go online and by allowing them time to deliberate before responding.

4. A sense of dependability and community is facilitated by social media

It can be difficult going to school. A little assistance may go a long way, especially with all the distractions that are part of daily life. Setting up study groups and impromptu brainstorming sessions can be facilitated greatly by having a digital classroom that includes one’s peers beyond just personal relationships. It can also serve as a forum for struggling students to express their dissatisfaction with the class and solicit assistance.

5. Social media promotes greater accountability and independence

Using social media in the classroom can motivate students to take more responsibility for their education. Additionally, it might highlight interpersonal connections that are centered on learning rather than enjoyment. As a college student, I’ve forged close bonds with my coworkers. We exchange concepts and constructive critiques with one another. I can attest from personal experience that promoting peer-to-peer learning in early education can aid pupils in tracking their development over time.

6. Social networking helps people learn valuable life lessons

Social media can teach (a sometimes exaggerated kind of) life lessons, even though the scale of the lessons can soon become out of control if not planned and regulated properly.

7. Getting Students Ready for Successful Careers

Social networking platforms can help students network and locate jobs as they enter the workforce. Students can use LinkedIn to create a professional online identity, upload a CV, investigate a desired organization or institution, and connect with other job seekers and employers. Twitter is being used by alumni organizations and college career centers to advertise internships and employment openings. Students who want to stay informed about career prospects and significant changes in their sector may follow firms or professional organizations on Facebook and Twitter.

8. In terms of Creative Expression

Students have a lovely platform to express themselves on social media. Many pupils will be afraid to speak their minds for fear of what might happen. Students benefit from being able to speak freely about their ideas. Students can express themselves on social media in a variety of ways, including by sharing images, blogs, individual articles, videos, audio snippets, etc. This encourages pupils to think creatively and discover their skills. These occasions will reveal the student’s talents and present them with possibilities to advance in life.

Communication with people is now much easier than it was in the past. Social media is the single thing that has made this possible. The traditional systems, when students had to wait for a chance to take part in an event and display their talents, have been replaced thanks to social media marketing company. Since the advent of social media, students have had a lovely stage on which to display their talents. Students can fund their original ideas by using mechanisms like crowdsourcing. Many students contribute videos to their own YouTube channels. They get compensated based on the number of views. Many of them even have their blogs where they may write and potentially make money.

CONS of social media in the classroom

1. Social media as a Big distraction: 

Social media may be an attention-grabber. Social media distraction in the classroom is a widespread gripe for teachers. These educators claim that social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter draw students’ attention away from what is being taught in the classroom and eventually interfere with learning. Teachers must ensure that social media technologies won’t be overused because they could serve as an inducement for children to act silly.

2. Cases of Cyberbullying:

Researchers Christine Macdonald and Bridget Roberts-Pittman from Indiana State University discovered that over 22% of college students report being bullied online. Of this group, 25% claim to have experienced bullying on a social networking site. When incorporating social media into their lesson plans, instructors should be aware of any risks and have a plan in place for how they will address any minor problems before they escalate. “By intervening in minor behaviors, we can stop more severe negative behaviors,” claimed Macdonald. “We must demand decorum and courtesy from everyone.”

2. Limiting face-to-face interaction:

Putting a Stop to Face-to-Face Communication While a real-time digital stream may provide a haven for children who are uncomfortable expressing themselves, other instructors worry that students are missing out on important lessons in social skills that are necessary for everyday life. When they need to command attention and present a cogent message during college admissions or job interviews, students may find themselves at a disadvantage. They must be able to connect with people and express themselves clearly in social situations and intimate interactions.

4. Through social media Students’ command of the language declines

The students tended to employ words in their simplest forms when utilizing social media platforms. They get dependent on the words they use on social media. It’s known as slang or a word’s abbreviated form.

The student’s capacity for good writing is impacted by this. They misuse slang terms in place of words with proper spellings because they have forgotten how the language is written.

5. Social media addiction among students

Addiction is a major factor in why social media is unhealthy for pupils. Students who use social media excessively are developing addictions. The students’ focus on their studies and their objectives is diverted by their addiction to social media. They want to use social media constantly. Using social media, exchanging images and videos, and conversing with friends and family come naturally to them. The introduction of social media caused the pupils to become diverted from their aims and objectives. Additionally, they are dependent on social media. They believe that their lives would be meaningless without social media. The worst aspect of social media for students is this.

6. Social Media Causes Productivity Decline

Social media decreased students’ productivity. During their study period, most students are using social media and their mobile devices. On social media, there is always someone who can send messages, share posts, and leave comments. That may cause the students to become less productive when they are studying. Social media is bad for students because of this.

7. Social media has negative effects on students’ health

We were unaware that social media even has an impact on our mental health. Students’ mental health has been negatively impacted by social media. The excessive use of social media is the main contributor to student depression. Also, social media causes physical health difficulties for students. The only activities that social media-addicted students want to perform on social media platforms are posting, viewing videos, looking at images, and chatting with friends. The students’ lack of desire to participate in games and activities outside led to a rise in their level of laziness.

Students’ eyes are also impacted by social media. Students’ eyesight is harmed by their excessive use of and focus on the screens of social media. Additionally, social media has an impact on pupils’ sleep patterns. Students who are addicted to social media constantly want to be online on their accounts and don’t want to go to bed, which leads to many health issues and diseases.

While social media has many advantages for kids, we also need to be aware of its drawbacks. TribeTopper suggests that we ought to use social media in moderation.