Social media in education[1] refers to the practice of using social media[3] platforms as tools to enhance learning and teaching processes. It’s a dynamic phenomenon that has evolved rapidly alongside technological advancements. It includes utilizing platforms like Facebook[4], YouTube[5], and various learning management systems to connect students with educational resources and organizations. This practice has been adopted globally, with different countries like the US and Canada implementing policies to support its integration into classrooms. Though it has numerous benefits such as facilitating information distribution, enhancing interaction, and extending learning beyond classrooms, it also presents challenges. These include potential distractions, risks of inappropriate content, cyberbullying[2], and possible negative impacts on mental health. The use of social media in education is a topic of ongoing research and debate, exploring its opportunities and difficulties.
Social media in education is the use of social media to enhance education. Social media is "a group of Internet-based applications...that allow the creation and exchange of user-generated content". It is also known as the read/write web. As time went on and technology evolved, social media has been an integral part of people's lives, including students, scholars, and teachers in the form of social media. However, social media is controversial because in addition to providing new means of connection, critics claim that it damages self-esteem, shortens attention spans, and increases mental health issues.
A 2016 dissertation presented surveys that focused on the impact of social media. It reported that 54.6% of students believed that social media affected their studies positively (38% agree, 16.6% strongly agree). About 40% disagreed, and 4.7% of students strongly disagreed. 53% of female students reported that social media negatively impacted their studies. Among male students, 40% agreed that social media had a negative impact on studies, while 59% disagreed.