Hundreds of social media accounts are created daily on social platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, Twitter, Snapchat, and LinkedIn. According to a report by Pew Research, seven out of every ten Americans use social media platforms. Social media uptake has attracted students; almost every student has a social media presence today. Some even have several accounts on different platforms. Students accessing and using social media sites has sparked a debate on whether banning social media in schools would be a viable option. Before sealing this fate, institutions need to review the following.
Reasons Why Social Media Should be Banned in Schools
Social media attracts millions of users every day; some are students. Before the laws to ban social media in schools are passed or even enforced, one needs to understand the reasons guiding this narrative. Some of these reasons include the following:
Distractions in School and Class
Through algorithms, psychological analysis, and predictions, social media curates content based on a user’s history online. This ensures you stay glued to their screens, scrolling for hours, since they provide precisely what you’ve been looking for. Students receive notifications, messages, and updates in class, which can be distracting. With little to no time left to handle schoolwork, you might fall behind on deadlines. This leads to late submissions and you will likely end up with low grades when penalized. If you cannot avoid social media in the classroom, you are likely to use your phone in class. This reduces your ability to concentrate, comprehend, or even retain information. This affects your overall academic performance.
Addiction
Social media can be addictive, and some students are already victims. Many students spend hours on these sites, and some have given up their social life. Additionally, students spend little to no time nowadays completing physical activities. This has raised the alarm about their health and well-being. Time spent on these platforms reduces fundamental human interactions, leaving students with no social skills. Students should be prohibited from using social media while in school to encourage interactions with fellow students and teachers. Failure to interact has seen many students suffer from depression and social anxiety.
Cyberbullying
The internet attracts people from all walks of life, and bullies have not been left behind. They target students who are clueless about how the internet operates or how to block them from accessing their details. Suicide due to cyberbullying has become rampant among students, which is why social media should not be allowed in schools. Bullies use pseudo-accounts to stalk or even threaten students, leaving them scared. Many end up suffering from depression, anxiety, and even unexplained phobias. Additionally, others exploit their naivety and coerce them into doing inappropriate things.
Lack of Privacy
Many students do not know the unwritten laws when sharing content on social media, which exposes them to the public domain. Information shared can be used by people with dark motives, such as cyber bullies, hackers, or even thieves. Others end up sharing controversial content to create a buzz without knowing the repercussions. To help protect students from overexposure, social media should not be allowed in schools unsupervised. Such information can be used against them during interviews with institutions of higher learning or for potential job placement.
How Does Banning Social Media in Schools Affect Students
Social media has become a source of interaction, connections, and a platform to express yourself freely. For most students, this is their haven, and banning social media in schools means leaving such students with no platform to communicate or interact. Without it, many end up depressed, and their creativity is likely crippled.
Is There a Way to Integrate Social Media in Schools?
Making it a Study Platform
Institutions can integrate social media into education and allow students to learn through content and platforms they enjoy. Teachers can use these platforms to conduct discussions and reviews and assist with assignments. Students can also conduct research on social media or seek free guidance from companies and professional academic writers. You can also contact essay services such as CustomWritings through their social media platforms and get expert help on English papers. Social media connections can also direct you on where to find professional essay writing help when struggling with assignments. Other than academic purposes, institutions can leverage the power of social media and diverge information such as newsletters, campaigns, and news to students, parents, and other institutions.
Guided Interaction
Social media can help students develop social networking in school. Students can interact with other students through school pages, groups, and accounts on social media. They can also interact with mentors or industry moguls through their school’s platforms. This helps bring those with similar interests together in a controlled environment. Additionally, it allows them to create a network that comes in handy when handling projects, seeking employment, or developing a skill.
Integrating it into the Curriculum
Many students are irresponsible social media users and learn about this very late in life. Banning its use in school does not deter them from accessing these sites away from school. Teaching students appropriate ways to use social media in schools helps them avoid future cringe moments. It also prepares them for its positive or negative impact, guiding their usage. Social media has become a job-seeking avenue, and students can use it too.
How to Implement Social Media Bans in Schools
Full Ban
In some institutions, social media should be banned in schoolentirely. Young students who require supervision should only access it when their parents, guardians, or teachers can supervise them. The easiest way for schools to achieve this is to ban students from having phones within the school compound. Other institutions can regulate social media access for all students within the school compound. This can be done by barring phones and blocking social media sites access using laptops and other devices. The institutions must look for software or devices to achieve this.
Controlled Use
Colleges can adopt laws restricting students from using their phones when in class. Instead, students can use their phones, tablets, or laptops for social media during breaks. Some can even integrate lessons on social media as part of the Curriculum, and students can access their social sites then.
Social Media: The New Opiate of the Masses
Despite the benefits of social media for students, it has many adverse effects on students and should be banned from schools. However, a total ban is not enough as students still access it outside the school premises. Embracing social media and supervising its uses might help guide students better. A complete ban may not be as effective as controlled use as it would only push students to use social platforms secretly.