Impact of Social Media on Students

1.                  Introduction

The world has been changed from global village to a global lounge. One of the contributing factors that made it possible is Social Media Websites. Social Media has become a major source of communication for students. It wouldn’t be wrong if we say that Social Media has bridged the gap that existed in communication. It has become a major source of sharing information and data regardless of time and distance. Be that Facebook or Twitter or any other social website, it has been termed as savior for countless students; because the availability of mammoth data and information on these websites have helped students in various ways. However, there is another side of the coin. It has also contributed in the destruction of many students. As the saying goes, excessive use of anything is wrong; so is the use of Social Media. In this blog I will assess the positive and negative impacts of Social Media websites on students. In the end I will derive an elemental conclusion.

2.         Reasons responsible for Students activeness on Social Media:

Before weighing pros and cons of Social Media, let us have an idea of why students spend much of their time on Social Media.

2.1       First, Students do not see any bottleneck in their way while they are using Social Media. The freedom that Social Media provides to the students has no second.  They are free to do anything they like.

2.2       Second, students turn to Social Media to fill the pot of their identity crisis. On Social Media websites students are free to create such identities for which they will be mocked in real world. However, in the process they tend to reflect their identities in a degrading way (a boy creates an account with a girl’s name and vice versa).

2.3       Third, another reason that is responsible for increased number of students on Social Media is that they want to depict their life or actions digitally. Sometimes, a student’s future goal is somewhat superficial, and its realization in real life needs more hard work as compared to in Social Media; and which a student cannot afford to do so.

2.4       Fourth, a student is easily fascinated. And, Social Media is a hub of fascinators. So, when a student comes to know about any fascinating story on so and so social web page from his colleague, he will definitely look for it as well. Thus, a story of his fascinating encounters begins on Social Media; which is unlikely to end any sooner.

The list does not end here. There are countless other reasons which will induce students to have a taste of Social Media and to repeat it for the rest of their lives.

3.                  3.         Positive Impact of Social Media On Students:

If you are a student and you don’t take help from Social Media in the completion of your assignment, then you have much to miss.  You will not experience convenience, flexibility, and functionality that can be found on Social Media. It is, however, just a glimpse. With the assistance of Social Media you can access countless sources that are important to derive knowledge that is impressive as well as indulging. Let’s have a look of advantages that the use of Social Media gives to the students.

3.1       One of the most gifted advantages of Social Media to students is that it is a platform for free sharing of thoughts.  No religion, culture and nationality can deter them from expressing what is right to them. In addition, on Social Media a student can meet people from other cultural background. It will help in learning new cultural ideas. So, students will be able to study and understand other people lives.

3.2       Another advantage of Social Media is that it helps in developing collaborative activities. A student feels comfortable in the company of people who can understand him. And, finding such like-minded people on Social Media is easy. Therefore, it will help a student polish his skills and co-operate with others in a proficient way. In other words, Social Media is a savior for introvert students. Such students have not much to say and are seen quiet and shy in the class. However, when there are ideas floating in their minds then it will be easy for them to express these ideas.

3.3       Moreover, today’s student is a “Millennial Social Animal”. Unlike his ancestors, today’s students have advanced social needs; needs that are diverse and sophisticated. And, only Social Media can understand and fulfill these needs. He can communicate such needs with groups that interest him. Additionally, this approach has increased productivity in students; and has polished group activities and their ability to work collectively. Psychologists, like Abraham Maslow and others, say that social interaction is the first human need after physical needs. Thus, today’s student can satisfy his diverse social need with the use of and help from Social Media.

3.4       Social Media provides a student with practical knowledge of his environment. He can see for himself new business trends, current news and maneuvering new technology. These things will help a student in the future. When he enters his professional life, he’ll be doing so with better homework and preparation.

3.5       Yet another advantage of Social Media, specifically related to student’s academic life, is that he can access online groups for instant learning. He can find impressive data on a topic at hand. In addition to this, he can find professionals’ assistance for his studies on Social Media easily. Moreover, at higher education level complex assignments oblige students to look at Social Media as an influential way of learning new knowledge.

4.         Negative Impact of Social Media on students:

People say excessive use of anything leads to destruction; so is the excessive use of Social Media. Social Media is a good platform to comfort and experience something relaxing and joyous. However, there are some repercussions to this. When a student, or anyone, begins his endeavors on Social Media, and continues to give preference to these activities without taking care of his time, he will end up being addicted to Social Media. Moreover, the worst part is that turning back from this addiction will be a herculean task. This section will pinpoint a number of negative effects of Social Media on students.

4.1       The first disadvantage of Social Media is that it curses a student with a personality with fluctuated moods. You will see an excessive user of Social Media with a changing mood every time. For instance, he is good and jolly for a moment, but the next moment he will be totally opposite of it.

4.2       Yet another disadvantage of Social Media is that it has made students attention seekers. At Social Media students see people who have strong statuses and influential personalities. These students do not know the reality. What if that person who has taken a picture with brand new Rolls Royce or Lamborghini is telling a lie; just to make others believe that s/he is rich? Moreover, the desire for being at the center of attention has encouraged students to do actions without caring for its ethical and moral implications. Students hardly know that virtual way of relationship is fake and untrustworthy; it will result in destruction, depression and anxiety.

4.3       Moreover, Social Media has urged students to indulge in fake cosmetic activities. His focus will be more on picture editors than on his grades. He’s got homework to do, but he will be busy in checking countless filters and picture editors to find out which one will suit his picture. It has resulted in students ending up as fake personalities. Thus, these fake picture editors are affecting their grades as well as extracurricular activities. Likewise, a student will waste his time on searching and collecting irrelevant information which is of no use to him, or adds no value to his life.

4.4       Additionally, due to Social Media students have lost sense of time and its importance. Students spend greater part of his/her day active on these websites instead of doing homework. And the result is students look for shortcuts to complete their assignments. It will affect their hardworking skills because students will do selective learning only. Moreover, such an approach has resulted in degradation of research skills in students. Today’s student has no interest in libraries, research articles and literary books etc.

4.5       Besides, one of the most reported negative impact of Social Media on students, and which is directly related to their studies, is that it is negatively affecting students’ writing skills. A student who excessively uses Social Media does not care what he is writing or how he is writing. It has been reported that today’s students do blunders and not mistakes in grammar and language. Moreover, auto-correct and spell check has further contributed to students’ indolence.

5.         Conclusion:

Social Media has pros and cons, for sure. There are countless reasons which attract students to have a nosh of Social Media once in their lives. Thus, there will be positive impact of Social Media on students if they use it for productive purposes. On the other hand, it is not difficult to quash a student’s career if Social Media is used for counter-productive purposes.

However, the creation of self-made rules will help students to balance the distraction which may be caused due to excessive use of Social Media. Students must decide how much time they should give to Social Media and how much time to their studies. If cautiously used, Social Media is the most effective tool of socialization, unless it hampers school grades of students.

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