How Social Media Is impacting Students

Today’s world is a global village. Everyone is connected to one another in this vast network generated by the Internet. As said by Marshall McLuhan, a philosopher of communication theory, “The new electronic independence re-creates the world in the image of a global village.” This electronic independence is inherently dependent upon the Internet. It illuminates the lives of thousands of people by spreading knowledge internationally, thereby making us global citizens.

However, the darker side is that this has gained the attention of many parents, and eminent psychologists, all over the world. One of the biggest problems is the identity crisis constant social networking produces.

Students love to spend time socializing. Social network provides the freedom to upload what they want and talk to whom they want. The freedom it gives them to act just by sitting in front of a computer excites them, and they then demand for more freedom. Never before has it been so easy for young minds to create a digital image of their actions through such a spontaneous medium.

Students neglect their studies by spending time on social networking websites rather than studying or interacting with people in person. Actively and frequently participating in social networking can negatively affect their grades or hamper their journeys to their future careers.

Social media is quickly evolving in front of our eyes and it is almost impossible to reject and hide from this new form of media. Not only is it an important part of socialization within peer group but now it is used to market and motivate people to become a part of a buyer community. It is undeniably changing the way one communicates and how one finds and shares information. With new apps on smartphones and photography and video made digital, media can be created, edited and shared quickly.

Social media is not just an avenue for socializing kids and adolescents can be creative, interact and learn children and adolescents are capable of impacting their communities and even the world in amazing ways. Social media provides them a variety of ways to go about making positive change. Some examples are implementing fund raising campaigns and getting involved in “political events”.

Although there are many positive aspects of social media, the negative effects on children and adolescents are also numerous. Social media can affect the mental health of teens. Their level of contentment can decrease, and their likelihood of getting into trouble or being depressed can increase. Many forms of cyber bullying is also a problem and can lead to the victims experiencing depression and anxiety.

As with just about call things, social media should be used moderately to stay in touch with the times and trends. Trouble begins only with excessive indulgence.

By Mamta Joshi