 Uses of social media in education, positive and negative impacts on student’s

learning.

 INTRODUCTION :

Social media is a vital part of most people's daily lives specially in the 21st century. Over

past few years, the growth of social media has changed in various ways. Social media

influences our live, our work, and now more than ever, our learning. It has different uses in

the classroom and it promotes schools and universities. Using of social media is not limited to

professionals or elders. Moreover, it is been widely used in educational sectors by the

students. By the integration of the use of social media and technology into the classroom,

student's learning process accelerates.

The importance and influence of social media in the field of education is clearly evident.

Each social media platform offers many different ways to be used in the classroom, live

lectures, and so much more. It provides a smoother, effective and more direct communication

media between students, teachers and parents. Social media has influenced all spheres of life

by advancing social, political, economic and educational sectors.

Social media not only enhances learning opportunities for students but also creates wider

scope for 24x7 interactions of students with teachers. Even Bangladesh govt. is taking

initiatives to launch its own educational social network by taking many projects. That's why

It is so important to understand the impact of social media in education sector. Traditional

learning method provides few opportunities for learners to develop their own learning

activities whereas social media learning platforms place the control of learning into the hands

of learners themselves.
  LEARNING WITH SOCIAL MEDIA :

Nowadays, most learners and teachers have smartphones and computers, they also have used

social media in education. Apps and web tools offer much opportunities of learning in an

educational context. Today, huge number of computer labs, television sets, online libraries

have become a part of our curriculum in most educational institutions. Use of social media is

on the rise in higher education classrooms by using various software tools and free web

applications throughout the process of learning, communication, and engagement.

Using social media tools as a part of traditional learning, attracts students and can motivate

their participation in the learning process. It also plays an important role in improving the

strategies of teaching and learning process. Social networking sites are been developed

aiming at enhancing both collaborative study and social interaction among learners and

trainers. However, Social networks have added interactive side with a student, and made the

participation of the students in the educational process. Thus, it leads to an increase to attract

them toward e-learning and clarifies the reason behind the attraction and effectivity about

social network sites. Different kinds of software applications allow users to converse and

interact with each other; to create, edit and share new forms of textual, visual and audio

content easily. Learners can access information and provide information very conveniently

through social media.

1. Communication And Collaboration

Better communication is the biggest advantage of social media. A student can connect with

anyone at any point by using smartphone, tablet or computer. Thus, learners can exchange

questions, make phone calls or video calls and share documents easily. If a student is stuck

with their homework, they can communicate with their friends or tutors to solve it. Mainly it

is not necessary to wait and meet the teacher physically.

2. Finding Concrete Information Online

The educational benefits of social networking sites that it helps the students in preparing

important lessons and learn certain concepts with great efficacy. Various websites and social

media networks are providing plenty of information and latest updates that can be helpful to

students. Students can find informational and relevant websites they want to follow via social

media news feeds depending on their interests.

3. Parental Involvement

Social media help the parents stay involved and up to date in the child’s learning. Parents can

be updated about school-related activities, projects, and events that are happening in school

via their websites. The school teachers can get in touch with the parents in case they want to

share the child's study progress discuss about it.

4. Improving Literacy, Communication, And Reading Skills

more inclined to read. Students can find answers to their questions and latest data on various

school subjects. Online messages, text, comments, news, articles, and books provide an

endless list of information for reading. Therefore, such online activities contribute to the

child's general learning and eventually develop stronger reading habits and writing abilities.

5. Opportunities of Distance Learning

Distance learning opportunities gives a chance to many disadvantaged students who are not

able to acquire formal education by attending regular classes in an educational institution. It

also allows students who live in remote areas of the world to access education. With the help

of various online tools, modern educators are able to teach students through distance learning

programs.

6. Improve Creative Skills

Social Media helps to recognize or realize a student’s hidden talent. It not only boosts

creative skills in students but also permit them to learn and then execute the same by doing it

themselves. Many students have interesting hobbies that they post online via videos and

photographs, such as dance, singing, cooking, writing or creative art which helps them realize

their potential for making it a career.

7. Boost Academic Performance

Boosting student academic performance and increasing their knowledge through data and

information gathering are another significant role of social media. When students are

assigned projects their institutions, they go through several online platforms to collect
information to complete the assignment. They are also able to add many attractive animations

also.

8. Become an Expert in the use of Innovative Technologies

Today it is impossible to find a good job if you’re unfamiliar with computer technologies as

it has become a necessity in every field. By using social media for communication, students

can also learn more about electronic devices and gain the basic skills of computer and other

technologies.

 NEGATIVE IMPACT OF SOCIAL MEDIA :

1. Facebook Depression

Facebook depression is an emotional disturbance associated with social media usage mostly

faced by the teenagers. Sometimes It is made to feel inferior to their social media

counterparts and the need to stand out, fit in, or be accepted by their Facebook friends drives

teenagers towards depression.

2. Anxiety

The curiosity of knowing what other people are doing rather than spending time for ourselves

is more evident in may social media platforms. Spending more time on social media leads

people to fall victims to depression and anxiety.

3. Cyber stalking

Nowadays, Teenagers are used to updating their status, share what they’re watching, listening

to, reading, and where they check-ins and sharing locations in social platforms. This habit not

only becomes an addiction but also makes them hyperactive because they always look for
new updates from their friends, these things refer to cyber stalking. And now it is become an

issue of concern.

4. Cyberbullying

Cyberbullying refers to the use of social media to communicate false, embarrassing, or

hostile information to specific users. It has become such an atypical today that the victims of

prolonged cyberbullying often end up with many psychosocial problems like depression,

isolation, loneliness, stress, anxiety, low self-esteem, and some even become suicidal.

5. Sleep Deprivation

In this era, teenagers and young people are constantly worried about what their friends are

posting and sharing. Adolescents can stay active on social for long durations if not prompted

to stop this addiction of social media. And if they do these, especially during sleep time or

just before sleep leading towards sleeping deprivation.

6. Lower Self-esteem

After spending time on social media, most of the teenagers start comparing themselves with

celebrities and want to look like them and try to copy of follow their lifestyle. This blind

imitation can negatively affect their self-respect and dignity. Those teens who spend more

time on social media to portray themselves like celebrities are isolated from friend circles.

7. Social Isolation

The addiction of social media leads to social isolation. Most of the time, teenage children

believe they are connecting to different persons and knowing them using social media. But

actually, they are unaware about the fact that they are out of the present moment and their

lives. Spending too much time in social media Isolates a person from his family, friends and

society.
8. Poor Concentration

Nowadays students are being addicted to social media that hampers their concentration on

studies where schoolwork, classwork, or homework, require more concentration to deal with.

Excessive use of social media creates constant interruption that has an adverse effect on

attention and reduces a student's learning and performance.

9. Internet Addiction

Uncontrolled social media usage among teenagers most of the time leads to internet

addiction. Although kids spending on social media, the more become exposed to new stories

and ideas but eventually turns into an addiction if it is not handled properly. Teenagers who

use social media too much, do not spend enough time on the activities that definitely increase

mental abilities, skills, and physical movement. Thus, it affects their school performance,

mental health, and even personal development.

10. Suicide and Self-harm Content

Social media is addictive, also it can lead someone to suicide and self-harm. When young

people and teenager see someone is getting attention by doing self-harm activity, they copy it

to show their bravery because of poor mental health. The situation worsens when they start

sharing suicide methods and encourage others to engage in suicidal behavior for attention.

Moreover, if a person notices the suicide attempt or death, it stimulates that person’s risk of

suicidal thoughts and attempts.

 Reference:

1.https://www.theasianschool.net/blog/positive-negative-effect-of-social-media-on-education/

2.https://www.netsweeper.com/filter/education-web-filtering/the-positive-and-negative-

impact-of-social-media-on-students/35845
3. https://www.techprevue.com/negative-social-media-adolescents/

4. https://fenced.ai/blogs/positive-effects-of-social-media/