The advent of social media networks like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter wouldn’t have been timelier than now. It is because we live in the age of information. People are exchanging messages at high speed via these platforms, something that is not only beneficial at the social level but also academically. If you have used social media for academic purposes, and even landed a top essay writing service such as acemypaper.com through Facebook, you would agree that social media is indispensable.
However, the use of social media for studying is not without challenges. While students from different parts of the world can socialize via Facebook and even share ideas, some downsides come with it. In this post, we explore the pros and cons of using social media for studying. Take a look.
Pros Of Social Media In Studying
The following are benefits of social media to students who use them to study:
. It Is A Powerful Educational Tool
Think about social networks like Facebook in the context of engagement between students. It enhances engagement when doing research and assignments, especially when students share ideas via WhatsApp.
. Avenue For Finding Help With Homework
When it comes to handling a difficult assignment, students can do so via social media. All one needs to do is post a question in social network groups to which he or she belongs. It would only take a few minutes to get answers from experts, teachers, and students.
. A Platform For Student Collaboration
When researching a topic, students can also use social media as platforms for collaborating on projects. Through WhatsApp, Twitter, and YouTube, shy students who fear to ask questions in the classroom become more expressive hence learn more from other students. The question is do social media make students more expressive and collaborative? The answer is yes, but only when strictly used for academic purposes.
Cons Of Using Social Media In Studying
On the contrary, social media is not entirely productive. Students who use Facebook or YouTube for studying battle different challenges such as the following:
. Access To Illicit Content
Social media are part of the larger internet. It means the risk of exposure to illicit content on these platforms is equally high. It is why; in some schools, teachers restrict access to social networks, especially during class hours. Given uncontrolled access to social media, the risk of accessing toxic content and consequent negative psychological effects of using social media to study are high.
. Social Networks Are Very Interruptive
Social networks like Facebook are part of interruptive technologies that are transforming the world. However, students who use social media to study are at risk of losing attention. It is especially worrying in cases where teachers permit access to these networks in the classroom. A debate on how social media negatively affect student productivity when doing homework also goes on.
. Degraded Essay Skills
The argument that social media degrades essay skills of students is debatable. In this context, think about how social media language impacts communication and writing skills. You would realize that overexposure to networks such as WhatsApp negatively affects the writing skills of learners because as they become used to writing words in short form and using emoticons, essay assignments suffer.
Final Thoughts
To students, social media is both a good and a bad thing. It negatively impacts the language skills of learners. The interactive aspect of these networks, however, triggers another debate. The big question is should a student use social media to study? We would say, access to these platforms should be controlled to guard against the risk of addiction.
