In the current era, social media has delved deep into every nook and corner of our lives. Social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram surround us all. Social media has touched areas like business, healthcare, politics, and the list goes on! So, one must wonder how social media has also influenced education. The answer is a big YES!! The way students deal with their education has undergone a dynamic change. Let’s have a look at the diverse opportunities and challenges in a “modern-day education.”
Gone are the days when students were deeply dependent on textbooks. CONCEPT CLARITY is the boon social media has gifted us, and thereby you don’t have to worry about your missed classes. With just a few clicks on YouTube, you can dig out valuable, quality answers for both your tests and examinations. A student can also choose the topics of her/his choice and can make sound decisions for their future. Websites such as Coursera and Udemy have taught courses to millions of people sitting thousands of kilometers away. These certified courses are genuine and useful, dealing with even the most abstract topics such as philosophy, etc. Also, with COVID-19, online learning embraced its entirely new significance. With WhatsApp Groups, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams, the bulk of educational information is circulated here and there. The interactive environment of social media platforms harnessed the moral quality of teamwork and empathy in students. Both the quality of effective communication and collaboration are shaped properly. Successful group Projects and assignments were great examples of better and improved student engagement.
As a coin has two faces, social media also poses serious challenges. With the bulk of information everywhere, social media has over time created serious issues like misinterpretation, misinformation, and fake news. With personal opinions on delicate topics like politics and religion, students often fall prey to contradictory beliefs and debates. Therefore, the focus on education keeps changing again and again. One of the biggest demerits of social media in education is distraction affecting mental health. Every single notification, joke, and video shared over WhatsApp and Facebook keeps students away from the educational content being shared in the classes. Therefore, the focus on education keeps changing again and again. Heavy information shared over social media platforms poses a great danger to the privacy of a person and an organization. Nowadays, fraud, theft, and spam data are being shared on social media with increasing frequency. Students fall prey to cyberbullying.
It is worth noting that on one hand, while social media has opened many doors, its misuse also needs to be navigated carefully. For a student, social media is important to her/his knowledge, but its misuse will affect personal development. As every coin has two sides, both the opportunities and the challenges of social media need to be taken under the laws and regulations.