How I Allow Social Media to Impact My Way of Learning by Brenna

How I Allow Social Media to Impact My Way of Learning by Brenna - March 2022 Scholarship Essay

Today’s generation has become very comfortable with technology. With easy access to the world at our finger tips, it is hard to resist the distraction. Saying that, social media has impacted the way I learn in both positive and negative ways. Social media has impacted the way I learn by obtaining new habits.
Though social media and learning seem to not connect, together can have a positive impact on learning and education. Social media can be a source of a variety of information. I sometimes use this information for research papers or argumentative essays. Since I am comfortable with social media, I can understand it better than another source of information. I have classmates that do surveys for classes through social media. It is time efficient and can access information efficiently as well. Apps are also a source of comical memes and songs. But they can also hold educational sources. I have heard catchy songs and memes that get stuck inside my head often. Although the probability of an educational meme or song appearing on an app is low, it is still a possibility. Also, I can connect with my fellow peers and compare what I need through social media. Connecting with my peers allows me to form a habit of checking my work. Social media allows me to form a healthy learning habit of researching information and checking my work. Personally, I like to check my work and correct my mistakes so that I can improve next time. The mindset I have to learn from my mistakes creates a good learning habit. The advantages that social media has can improve learning and allow students to potentially pick up good habits.
Nonetheless, there are disadvantages social media has with education. Two of the main temptations for procrastination and laziness in education are social media. With young adults becoming comfortable with technology, they form bad habits. Social media can lead to cheating. Easy access to others on social media allows students to learn sneaky ways to cheat. Social media is an enormous temptation to skip the learning process. I as well have struggled with staying focused on a task in school. Technology can disrupt my learning process because I am curious about what is happening on my phone. However, I avoid this by shutting my phone off or putting it out of sight. I do not give in on the easy options because I have the mindset to do the best I can. The bad habits that I and others have formed can negatively affect the way of learning. Social media becomes a major distraction and simple escape.
As I grow older, I gain more habits to stay focused on the task at hand. Even though social media can negatively affect my focus and learning ability, I can communicate with my peers and keep a schedule to improve my learning. My mindset to set my priorities in order and willingness to learn creates positive impacts on my learning. Social media has both disadvantages and advantages, but depending on my mindset, I can use more advantages than disadvantages.