Since its inception, the Internet has become an intricate part of life in which people depend on its access for daily activities such as shopping, social media, education, banking, home security, and other related activities. Among them, social media, which seems to be the main attraction on the internet, can be seen as both a blessing and a curse. In particular, in education, social networks are considered a positive indicator of progress in education and its practices. However, we cannot deny the negative influences that can accompany it, which seems to be distracting for many students today.
Students frequently become familiar with computers while browsing these social networks. They acquire valuable skills in an instrument that has become indispensable in the world in which they reside as students and in which they will enter upon completion of their studies. Additionally, it encourages networking with a variety of people, which can be seen as a necessary skill in the business environment. This is also the case for teachers and administrators. With the existence of social blogs, Twitter and Facebook, teachers can share and record across various media, instructional methods, as well as teaching theories and practices in real time. Additionally, many are able to extend learning techniques and also constantly interact with students outside of the classroom.
On the contrary, the increase in social networks and advances in other interactive communication technologies have produced negative impacts inside and outside the classroom. While social media can be seen as a positive tool for education, this tool has the potential to hamper student performance, social growth, and communication skills. Similarly, it can affect the overall efficiency of a master in a number of ways. What is the reason for the decrease in academic performance as a consequence of its impact? What are the social ramifications of social media? What factors are directly responsible for the inability to educate students effectively? How are teachers affected by social media both inside and outside the classroom?
For most, Internet access for educational purposes would be seen as a great information resource; however, for students, the Internet presents many problematic factors in academic achievement. In general, children who spend more time online have a harder time concentrating, resulting in shorter attention spans. Students who rely solely on social media for information rather than seeking other resources are likely to experience difficulties concentrating on learning and withholding information. It significantly affects study habits as students try to multitask and end up being easily distracted because they are too busy tweeting and / or posting messages on Facebook instead of completing assignments.
Advances and excessive access to technology are direct factors in how social media has affected the student inside and outside the classroom. Today, students spend most of their time on these networks via mobile devices. However, some schools prohibit the use of these devices; many of them sneak them into school. They use these devices to record videos; taking photos of themselves and others, searching the internet, tweeting, and logging into Facebook, making it difficult to focus during instructional time. These activities also seek to inhibit effective instruction. In addition to this, many of these activities have led to many problems in the school and the community, for example, fights, harassment, lawsuits, etc. Therefore, excessive and unproductive time spent on social media can be very unhealthy and have a negative effect on teens and children. So we can argue that teaching / learning is in direct competition with social networks, when they should be partners in the education of students.
The use of social media has also significantly decreased the use of proper grammar and syntax in writing. Students have found it difficult to differentiate between the appropriate use of language as a result of abbreviated writing and abbreviated forms of word formulation. Many jargon terms have become common in written class assignments. These terms IDK (I don’t know), SMH (shaking head), BTW (by the way), YW (you’re welcome), TNX (thanks), IMO / IMHO (in my opinion / in my humble opinion)) just to name some have infiltrated students who write so much that they are unable to understand the differences between correct and incorrect spelling. Teachers see the decline in proper capitalization, punctuation, and subject-verb agreements, to name a few. Students are so immersed in poor use of grammar while online that they rely heavily on computer devices to self-correct their mistakes, resulting in their mastery over the use of the English language declining. Later creating a conflict in the use of grammar.
Another key point that should not be overlooked is the effect of social media on face-to-face communication. Clearly, if students spend more time on social media, we can agree that they spend less time socializing in person. The lack of face-to-face interpersonal interactions may be directly related to the lack of social skills and etiquette. We learn important behaviors and emotional cues from close personal contact that cannot be learned online. As a result, some students never learn to read body cues and other non-verbal cues, such as tone and inflection. Social media sites should not be viewed as a replacement for personal contact, but rather as a valuable addition that a balanced and socially adjusted person can create.
Today, many students have become less social with each other and prefer to interact online and live a virtual world based on fake people that can be easily accessed through social media sites. Of course, this can have a lasting effect on the family unit, where effective face-to-face communication is essential to maintaining healthy relationships. Can we then blame some of the current social ills and break the family structure on social media? Often we go to restaurants or other public spaces and everyone is busy with a device so there is very little face-to-face communication. The question is how can we create a balance? How do we compete with this valuable tool we call the Internet while maintaining healthy relationships?
Social media / networks affect both students and teachers. For example, cyber bullying can be seen as the main negative advocate for social media. Many times the violence in schools has started through a social networking site. Teachers are also affected by cyberbullying. The perpetrators are sometimes students and / or parents. This abuse can be very damaging to a teacher as it lowers overall efficiency and confidence in the classroom. Teachers experience increasing levels of emotion from being sad to getting angry about bullying online. The experience can be humiliating and embarrassing. Libel of character is quite common in the cyber world and continues to affect teachers and students alike.
Social media obviously affects us all in one way or another, either positively or negatively. Technology will continue to evolve, therefore; It is imperative that parents, teacher administrators, and students come together to encourage positive, productive, effective, safe, and responsible use of this valuable tool. The long-term effects of misuse can be very dangerous for progress in education and social development.
