The world today is a universal estate of social animals. The new era of social networking has transformed into a dominant entity in this social world. You can be connected to anyone at any time and any place in this massive system generated by the Internet. Before, barriers like difference in geographical location limits the flow of communication but today, it bridges the gap between those differences. While social networking definitely portrays a dynamic role in widening social links and acquiring technological expertise, its hazards can’t also be ignored.
The question is how do social media affect the flow of our education system?
How do they influence the lives of students?
In my opinion, it has its positive impact on the world. I for one is all for the development of the society we live in, and the advancement of communication and information distribution all over the world. Social media has undoubtedly brought different parts of the world closer and made the life of students much easier. It has been a great help for students to acquire fast information for their homeworks and projects. The knowledege that anyone can get from the internet have greatly influenced people, especially teenagers in an effective way. The fast information distribution from the social media gives students the awareness of events that matter. They discuss these issues and develop a cognitive and objective skills upon discussing what matters more.
THE BRIGHT LIGHT
First and foremost, the easy communication. We can contact anyone around the world, at any time, with just clicks away. Many reasons exist as to why students spend their time in social media.
Social networks gives them the freedom to do whatever they want. Sharing partialmoments of their lives, through sharing photos of themselves islike experiencing another person’s journey despite thebarriersthat keeps you apart.There are also grounds and information between students which enables them to discuss issues that matter, widen their general knowledge and come across things they never knew before.
Students tend to create other personalities online that is restricted from the world of reality. The sheer freedom that it gives them just by facing any gadgetis enough to enchant them. It captivates theiryoung minds to build a digital and virtual image of themselves through an extemporaneous medium. Never have it been very interesting for teenagers to develop their creativity and social skills while it draws them into diving to various discoveries.
There is no doubt that there are many reasons to love social media but it also has its ugly side of the coin.
THE UGLY SIDE OF THE COIN
One of the biggest problems of social media invasion is the identity crisis produced by social networking sites. The algorithm of social networks and the actions web users take and the types of information they are including to their profiles are mirror images of their real identities that can be also used against them. The influence of social networking on students is very substantial as to teenagers are the heaviest users of social media and thisexposes them torealistic extortions such asdepression and cyberbullying.
There are also other issues such as internet addiction and sleep deprivation. Too much exposure on social media among teenagers could lead to loss of privacyand the withdrawal from reality. This digital and virtual zone of the system may bring unknown consequences in future personal and non-personalspheres of life.
The most important things in a student’s life are studying, learning good morals and obtaining knowledge to become a person with good values but the prime learning process is extremely put at risk by students entangled by the tactics of social networking.
Getting too involved in social media can lead to an addiction and sometimes leads you to the door you wished you have never opened, the deepest and darkest web of the internet.
THE DARKEST ZONE OF THE INTERNET
Have you ever heard of the deep web? If you haven’t, then consider yourself fortunate. That means you didn’t dive to the dangerous parts of the internet. It is said that only 4 percent of the internet is visible to normal users and the remaining 96 belongs to the dark web.
The deep web consists of hidden websites that you need a special browser and a direct link to access. It’s completely anonymous because some unspeakable stuff happens within it. Selling and buying drugs is the most harmless thing that can happen there.
I don’t want to share more information about the dangerous parts of the internet. I’m warning you! Don’t let curiosity get the best of you! Remember that “CURIOSITY KILLS THE CAT!” so don’t be a stupid cat! Keep in mind that too much internet can sometimes be the death of you.
Although I’m up for the upgrades of Internet communication and information distribution through the mediums of the web, I also think that it is crucial to have proper protocols on the too much use of the internet. Students must always remember that the Internet creates the digital worlds that massively varies from our world of reality. We must enhance our ability to decide how much time we should spend on social media. Because at the end of the line, the choice is up to us to what really matters and weighs more in life and in the future./ Frances Caryl E. Magallanes