Social Media's Impact on Education by Ekaterini

Social Media's Impact on Education by Ekaterini - March 2022 Scholarship Essay

Through self-directed learning, social media has enabled me to seek answers to questions that arise as I study on my own, in the classroom, or as a result of my own curiosity. Cross-Cultural Online Learning in Higher Education by Szufang Chuang defines self-directed learning as a learning strategy which “allows learners to take charge of their own learning process - diagnose learning needs, identify learning goals, select learning strategies, and evaluate learning performances and outcome”.

I remember during the summer of 2020, following the first outbreak of COVID-19 in March, the important role social media had on what I learned, not only about current events, such as Black Lives Matter protests being held nationwide, but the advancement of the modern feminist and body positive movements.

Social media plays a key role in the learning experience of adolescents and young adults. This it does by exposing them to various news accounts and educational posts, as well by enabling them to follow or “friend” scientists, political pundits, mathematicians, or other educational figures. The users of social media may explore subjects they otherwise would not be able to. Subjects that go beyond rote textbook learning and memorizing. Thus, it allows curious minds to delve deeper into the meaning behind interesting questions and issues.

However, when misused or following and friending the “wrong crowd”, social media can have a disadvantageous influence on education. Despite its large variety of resources students have access to, social media can also be a significant source of misinformation. In the summer of 2020 alone, there were 1.8 billion fake news related posts on Facebook. Furthermore, over 52% of Americans say they regularly come across fake news online, and 67% of Americans claim they have encountered fake news on social media.

A 2018 Pew Research Center survey of 13 to 17 year olds found that 45% are online almost regularly and 97% use a social media platform, such as YouTube, Facebook, Instagram or Snapchat. Due to social media acting as a distraction, studies have discovered, students who spend excessive time on social media sites are more likely to demonstrate poor academic performance as well as a higher risk of depression and anxiety.

Despite its drawbacks, social media is important because it gives students the opportunity to experience different perspectives outside of their classroom and community, that they would otherwise be unable to. Social media impacts the way students today learn, evolve, and interact with their society and the world at large.