Negative Impact of Social media on Education - Article Example

Social Media In the current society, there has been increased rise of social media. Some of the social media includes Facebook and Twitter. The social media have transformed the social interaction, dialogue, exchange and collaboration (International Telecommunication Union (ITU) 1). The sites have enabled users to exchange ideas, post updates, make comments, and participate in activities and events (ITU 1). The form interaction usually occurs between people sharing wider interests such as friends and groups in places like schools. In fact, most of these sites traces their roots in colleges and were meant to ensure effective interaction among students. Moreover, the rise of sites has ensured that they work in countless ways such as chatting, breaking news, following events such as elections, and expressing different forms of humor. Moreover, the media have also helped people keep up with friends or colleagues and contribution to online debates (ITU 1). On the other hand, the sites have led to transformation of online user’s behavior. In fact, most of people have been spending their time in these sites usually Facebook and Twitter. Consequently, it has led to the exposure of many people private lives, and this is seen as an acceptable behavior and etiquette for the users (ITU 1). The number of users is expected to increase significantly in the near future. In 2009, there were close to a billion users of social networks worldwide (ITU 1). Consequently, these sites continue to impact on society positively and negatively. The use of social media such as Facebook should be controlled as it affects the student’s performance, leads to cyber bullying in schools, escalation of violence behavior, poor health and concentration in class, and poor social life. Negative Impact of Social media on Education Education is vital for the success of any individual especially the teenagers. Currently, the number of teenagers using social sites such as Facebook has been on the rise. Moreover, teenagers show most in interest for using social sites. As a result, learning is affected in a significant way. A research that was done showed that over 90% of college students use social sites (Tariq, Mehboob, Khan and Ullah 409). On the other hand, technology has shown much progress especially with the development of devices that have made it possible for most people to access social sites anytime and anywhere. Some of these devices include smart phones, computers, laptops, and simple mobile phones (Tariq et al 490). Consequently, students have been able to access the social sites while still in school. However, technology can be an excellent innovation, but it is dangerous when it provides ease of accessing social sites for social network addict. In fact, easy access to social sites provides many opportunities for development of addiction especially for students that suffer from social isolation (Tariq et al 409). First, social media such as Facebook diverts the attention of students. The effects are that concentration of students is diverted to non-productive activities such as chatting, time killing by random searching and failure to fulfill schools undertaking (Tariq et al 409). The distraction occurs due to various programs available in social sites. Some of these programs include gaming and advertisements. As a result, it leads to endless venture of the students in the sites, as programs available in social sites never satisfy (Tariq et al 409). The addicts become delinquent parents, friends, and other associated people as they lack a sense of upcoming future and competition in their careers (Tariq et al 409). A study carried out showed that high school and college students kept on checking Facebook after every fifteen minutes (American Psychological Association (APA) 1). The outcome was an achievement of inferior rank in the class. Moreover, social sites use different features that divert the attention of the students as they multitask. This occurs due to an increasing number of applications incorporated in the social sites. Most of the applications include games, chatting sites, and online television (Tariq et al 409). Most of the application are accessed free of charge, and most of the addicts can use them. Moreover, the promotion of small devices such as phones has ensured use of various applications without installation and can even be able to access them during lesson time (409). The free pressure distracts students from their core values of education, and they do not give their education utmost attention that is required. A research carried out showed that students that multitask between social networking sites and homework are likely to have 20% lower level as compared to those who do not have access to social sites (Mehmood and Taswir 113). In fact, it showed that the background effect of the sites affects students while learning. This is because the majority of the students have Facebook and other social sites running in the environment as they carry out other tasks related to school (Mehmood and Taswir 113). The effects are poor grade specifically for the major addicts of the sites. On the other hand, the use of social media can affect student health in various ways. For example, most of the social sites are now accessed through the 3D technology. As a result, watching online games for longtime leads to the development of anxiety and high blood pressure among students, and this is dangerous for education and health (Cabral 3). A survey carried out showed that most of the students using these sites do not take their meals on time and fails to sleep leading to abandonment of education values (Tariq et al 409). In fact, after most of the students develop addiction they only need to be associated with social sites. These sites ensure that they are continuously connected with one another. Consequently, they manage to contact their seniors for help even in a trivial stuff such as to finish their task and homework (Connolly 1). In addition, social sites such as Facebook lead to the development of virtual life among students. For example, students that do not like interacting with each other could find freedom in virtual life. As the student use social sites, they feel comfortable, but the tendency kills their inner self-confidence (Tariq et al 490). In fact, addicts of these sites many feel like he or she has many friends while in a real sense are just virtual contacts. Most of the addicts disassociate themselves from friends, family, teachers and other associations, and this is harmful for their life and education (Tariq et al 409). Most of the character deems these sites as a form of fantasies. Consequently, the thought of such people are affected significantly and lack focus on education as they are destructed by activities of the social sites. In fact, most of the addicts hate education and some end up dropping out of school. Moreover, most of these people spend most of their time spying profiles, pictures, comments, and actions of their friends (Tariq et al 409). Consequently, this leads to a lot of time wastage by the students. Moreover, social media serve as an agent of cyber bullying. The bullying takes place as various types of people without any form of control access most of the sites. For example, failure to control these sites leads sometimes to name-calling on sites such as Facebook and leads to fights in schools (Davis 1). On the other hand, some of the students are being bullied online in Facebook without the knowledge of their parents. In fact, this has led to some schools implementing anti-bullying policies in United States. For example, a new Maryland law adds cyber bullying to the legal definition of bullying and requires schools to ensure its full implementation by having school boards write anti-bullying policies (Davis 1). Many people on Facebook find it easy to say things to people than they could do face to face (Davis 1). The situation is usually aggravated by having friends watching the bullying leading to increased incitement. In fact, cyber bullying leads to students committing suicide as they find themselves unacceptable in the society. For example, a 13-year-old Missouri girl, Megan Meier committed suicide due to cyber bullying in school (Davis 1). The reason of her committing suicide was due to a message posted by her boyfriend describing her as unpleasant person. The situation was made worse as many people shared her story on MySpace making her feel disassociated from the society. On the other hand, the rise of social media has led to increased violence among students. Some of the violence is attributed to easy access of games through the social site. In fact, the rise of mobile has ensured that students are able to access online games while still in school. Most of the games that occur through the social site are of violence in nature. On the other hand, majority of the students are attracted to violent games as they seek to satisfy their cues (Ontario 1). The constant exposure makes some of the students develops aggressive and criminal behavior (Ontario 1). Most of the games are accompanied with features that are attractive to the viewer. Consequently, this leads to the development of curiosity to view and sometimes is more than willing to test what appears on the screen. The exposure has led to increased violence in school as teenagers actualize what they watch on screen through the popular social sites such as Facebook (Ontario 1). A research carried out showed that teens that routinely use Facebook for a prolonged period develop narcissistic tendencies (APA 1). Additionally, social sites such as Facebook had led to poor grammar among students. Most of the comments and status update made on social sites are usually done using abbreviated word. As a result, this has led to the development of custom among students of using shortened words. Consequently, this habit is translated to class. On the other hand, students have acquired poor writing skills from social sites. Instead of majority of students improving their writing skills, it has deteriorated over time with use of social sites. For example, most of the students are doing worse in their spellings, grammar and communication skills due to the use of condensed words (Slideshare 1). Moreover, students have developed a habit of relying on the social sites to spell check. Most of the social sites have spell check features, and this reduces the ability of students to produce quality work without relying on features (Slideshare 1). Consequently, their academic performance is affected once the students are subjected to the situation without these features. However, there are those that argues that social media has transformed education in various ways. The proponent argues that the sites have helped in increasing student performance (Connolly 1). This occurs as students have increased in the rat of collaboration and this ensures they can share information more efficiently (APA 1). Moreover, the site helps the student in establishing connection and stay in touch with some industries for vocational training. Others believe that exposure of students to technologies has increased their level of innovation through uploading different things. Moreover, students are able to expand capacity for practical reasoning using the sites (Connolly 1). Conclusion Technological advancement has led to its adoption in different sectors. Moreover, the growth has led to the rise of social sites such as Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, and Email. Those in school regularly use these sites. Consequently, the social sites have affected students in various ways. First, the sites have diverted the attention of students from class. This has occurred through software found on social sites such as games and other forms of entertainment. There has also been the emergence of application suitable for students to use. Secondly, the sites have led to multitasking by the students. Consequently, there is reduced attention to the schoolwork, and this eventually leads to poor grade. Moreover, student health is affected as they develop anxiety over the use of the sites. On the other hand, the use of sites has led to increased violence and cyber bullying in schools. The reason behind this is that the social sites receive limited supervision from the provider. Consequently, this has made it possible for the perpetuation of crime without detection. On the other hand, the reliance on the social sites has led to poor grammar and conversation. This is because most of the user develops a habit of communicating using shortened words. Consequently, the practice is reflected in school performance. Moreover, the social sites have led to increased reliance on the use of features that correct student grammar and spelling. As a result, most of the students are not attentive to perfecting their grammar. Works Cited American Psychological Association. “Social Networking’s Good and Bad Impacts on Kids.” Apa.org. Web. 03 December 2013. . Cabral, Jaclyn. “Is Generation Y Addicted to Social Media?” The Elon Journal of Undergraduate Research in Communications 2.1(2011): 1-10. Print. Connolly, Mark. “Benefits and Drawbacks of Social Media in Education.” Wcer.wisc.edu. Web. 03 December 2013. . Davis, Michelle. “Friend or Foe? Balancing the Good and Bad of Social-Networking Sites.” Edweek.org. Web. 03 December 2013. . International Telecommunication Union (ITU). “The rise of social networking.” Itu.int/net. Web. 02 December 2013. . Mehmood, Saba and Taswir, Tarang. “The Effects of Social Networking Sites on the Academic Performance of Students in College of Applied Sciences, Nizwa, Oman.” International Journal of Arts and Commerce 2.1(2013): 111-125. Print Ontario. “Review of the Roots of Youth Violence.” Children.gov.on.ca. Web. 03 December 2013. < http://www.children.gov.on.ca/htdocs/English/topics/youthandthelaw/roots/volume5/chapter10_media_violence.aspx>. Slideshare. “Negative Impact of Social Media.” Slideshare.net. Web. 03 December 2013. . Tariq, Waqas, Mehboob, Madiha, Khan, Asfandyar and Ullah, Fasee. “The Impact of Social Media and Social Networks on Education and Students of Pakistan.” International Journal of Computer Science Issues Vol. 9 4.3 (2012): 407-411. Print Read More