Pros and Cons of Social Media in Schools

According to Pew Research, 95% of American teens use at least one social media platform (Vogels et al.).  85% of teens use YouTube, while 72% use Instagram, 69% use Snapchat, 51% use Facebook, and 69% use TikTok. In 2023, the average American teen spent about 4.8 hours on social media daily. With these high usage rates comes controversy among adults across the country. Many worry that social media will cause harm to teens in the long run, especially to their mental health.

Educators in particular are concerned about how social media can negatively impact students’ performances in schools. In recent years, an increase in social media usage has caused a rise in online bullying and cyber threats. Some students have threatened violent action against the school itself, posing extreme danger to the student population and faculty. Social media can be distracting for students, prying them away from their academics into endless cycles of scrolling and stimulation. 

However, some educators fail to see how social media can be a learning tool instead of a distraction. Various schools have implemented using social media as educational material, and they have been very successful. 70% of K-12 teachers use social media for academic purposes, with 40% reporting that it has positively affected their students (Khaled). Social media platforms can be used to present content in ways that make sense to students. It can increase engagement and open new information sites to deepen their learning in independent ways.

 

Pros of Social Media in Schools

As mentioned, social media can be a force for good if used in the right way. Some ways social media can be a benefit in schools include:

Innovative Lesson Plans

Most U.S. public school educators stick to standard lesson plans and classroom structures. These may include long daily lectures, exams, written papers,  worksheets, and more. However, in today’s digital age, educators should adopt more progressive ways to increase students’ desire to learn. Social media platforms can help with this by being implemented into lesson plans.

For example, most American teens know about and use TikTok. Teachers can use this social media platform to their advantage. When learning about the 1st Continental Congress, for example, students can re-enact the scene using TikTok. This allows them to use their creativity to show how people in the past must have felt and acted. Pairing lectures or “formal instruction” with social media activities can help students feel more engaged and better absorb the content.

Social media as a learning tool is not limited to one platform or subject. Twitter (now X) can be used in government or social studies classes to provide real-life examples of misinformation in politics. It can also allow students to engage in hypothetical debates with their peers on various subjects. For example, in science class, students can debate whether or not there is life on Mars. In math class, there can be debates about two approaches to solving certain algebraic problems. Furthermore, Instagram can be used in history class by having students pretend to be a historical figure they’re studying; they can then create posts on Instagram documenting the person’s life. Overall, there is so much educators can do in the classroom through the use of social media.

→  Access to More Information:

Students can gain access to a plethora of information from a simple Google search. Similarly, almost all social media platforms can provide the same resource. YouTube, for example, is beneficial as it provides detailed videos on almost any subject, other teachers create. The variety in the ways content is presented can be useful for students, allowing them to better understand the material, especially when it comes from various perspectives.

Other social media platforms like Instagram and Twitter can be beneficial as well. When studying politics, for example, students can learn by reading what elected representatives are posting online. That way, they can gain insightful “real-world” knowledge rather than just reading or hearing their teacher talk about it. They can see and learn how political leaders attract certain audiences or make their messages heard. 

Emphasis on Self-Learning

Teachers may not always be able to control students’ use of social media in the classroom. While this can seem frightening, it can allow students to feel a greater sense of accomplishment through self-learning. They will have to determine what is fake or real content, which creators are credible, etc. This is important as students navigate the digital world where practically all aspects of life are online. Social media in the classroom can provide students with the exposure they need for higher education and even careers. 

Of course, it is important that educators take the time to teach their students digital literacy. This skill is crucial for learning how to safely and appropriately navigate the online world.

→ Improved Classroom Engagement

When teachers implement social media-based lessons in their classrooms, it can lead to more engagement. Since most students are familiar with social media platforms, they can confidently explain what they learned from related assignments. In addition, using social media within their assignments and sharing familiar trends with classmates allows for a deeper sense of connection and a greater sense of community.

3D Like icon with notifications, isolated on yellow background. 3D social media notification, like heart icon design. Vector illustration.
3D “like” icon with notifications, isolated on a yellow background. 3D social media notifications, like heart icon design. Vector illustration. Image: Adobe Stock.

Cons of Social Media in Schools

Although social media has its benefits, it is still a controversial issue; thus there are drawbacks to consider.

Distractions and Decreased Productivity

A top concern of teachers and educators is that social media in classrooms will decrease productivity rates and increase distractions. Scrolling through social media is more appealing for students than doing assignments and schoolwork they don’t enjoy. Social media can provide constant stimulation through color effects, graphics, and more, drawing teens to its platforms and keeping them addicted. It is also easily accessible, allowing users to gain access to highly stimulating content with a mere few clicks and taps. Many schools have adopted “no-phone” policies to combat this; however, students may still be able to access social media platforms on their laptops or other devices.

→ Bullying and Threats

Another more pressing consequence of social media usage in schools is an increase in cyberbullying. This is more difficult to contain because schools can be held responsible, whether it takes place in the classroom or not. Students often take to online bullying because it is “easier” than confrontation. Moreover, they can voice extreme opinions without direct consequences. They know that teachers can’t always monitor what they say on social media. To them, only their peers can see their content, thus they feel empowered to attack whoever they want.

In addition to bullying, online threats from students have also been on the rise. As widely known, school shootings are a disturbing yet common occurrence in the U.S., and are often conducted by students themselves. Before carrying out the shooting, some students may threaten to do so on social media. Educators may not see this content because, in most areas, they are not allowed to interact with students online; therefore they have no way of preventing an attack from happening. Though some students may see it, they may not communicate that with trusted adults because they don’t feel comfortable doing so. This creates a dangerous position for students in schools at risk of a shooting. Similar to online bullying, even if students post this kind of content outside of school, the school can be held responsible.

 

In conclusion, social media usage in schools has both benefits and drawbacks. While it can increase classroom engagement and enhance students’ creativity and self-learning skills, there is still worry about its safety. Either way, it is up to educators to decide whether to embrace social media or stray away from it.

 

Read more articles discussing similar topics relevant to social media and youth empowerment on our Zealousness blog Youth Series – iN Education Inc. (ineducationonline.org).

 

Sources:

  1. Dworkin, Jodi. “Teens Online and Social Media Use.” Extension.umn.edu, 2021, extension.umn.edu/parenting-and-caregiving/teens-online-and-social-media-use#:~:text=In%20the%20United%20States%2C%20YouTube.
  2. Khaled, Miranne. “Social Media and Education: Exploring the Pros and Cons with Surprising Statistics in 2023 | ProfileTree.” Profile Tree, 23 Aug. 2023, profiletree.com/social-media-and-education-exploring-statistics/.
  3. U.S. Government Accountability Office. “K-12 Education: Characteristics of School Shootings.” Www.gao.gov, 9 June 2020, www.gao.gov/products/gao-20-455.
  4. “U.S. Teens Daily Time Spent on Social Media 2023.” Statista, 2023, www.statista.com/statistics/1451257/us-teens-hours-spent-social-networks-per-day/#:~:text=U.S.%20teens%20average%20time%20spent%20on%20social%20networks%20per%20day%202023&text=According%20to%20a%202023%20survey.
  5. University of San Diego. “What Is Digital Literacy? A Complete Guide for Educators.” University of San Diego – Professional & Continuing Education, 19 Dec. 2022, pce.sandiego.edu/digital-literacy/.
  6. Vogels, Emily A., et al. “Teens, Social Media and Technology 2022.” Pew Research Center, Pew Research Center, 10 Aug. 2022, www.pewresearch.org/internet/2022/08/10/teens-social-media-and-technology-2022/.

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