Entertainment is defined as an activity meant to capture the audience’s attention with the intent to amuse or offer enjoyment. As such, with current technological advancements, sources of entertainment are all over. There is no doubt that entertainment is an essential source of amusement for most people today. Entertainment can be gained from television programs, social media, and instant messaging applications, among many others, based on each person’s preferences. Undoubtedly, education can be used to bring people together. Also, it is often used as a relaxation tool and a way of alleviating stress. However, the allure of entertainment has become deeply rooted in people’s lives to the extent that it is no longer beneficial. Therefore, it is relatable that entertainment would also present a vast array of challenges for the education industry. Entertainment affects students’ ability to learn and grasp new concepts in class.
The question that we should ask ourselves is whether the entertainment is beneficial or detrimental for learning. This article will focus on social media as a form of entertainment that has negatively affected the education industry. Among the most significant problems presented by social media is that it serves as a distraction for students. For instance, students would opt to ask online experts the question, “Can you write my paper?” to create more time to spend on social media.
Reasons Why Social Media Should Not Be Allowed Within School Networks
Social media platforms include Twitter, MySpace, Facebook, etc., that allow users to create, manipulate, and share information via the internet, i.e., social networking. Social media is becoming a popular concept among youth who are spending an excessive amount of time online. Thus, students are likely to lose focus on their education. Besides, students often rely on the ease of accessing and sharing information on social media platforms, reducing their ability to think critically and retain more information.
On the other hand, students would attempt to engage friends and family on social media while studying. This outcome is almost always a poor academic performance, mainly because their focus is divided between the two tasks. Another negative impact of seeking entertainment from social media is that many students spend too much time online and lose out on social interaction benefits. Below are a few more negative effects of social media on education. They include:
- Cyberbullying
Cyberbullying is the use of online means of communication to send intimidating and threatening messages. In adverse conditions, cyberbullying has been linked to anxiety, social isolation, depression, suicide, and other mental conditions. This is a common problem for students exposed to social media that can adversely affect their learning ability.
- Over-reliance on technology for basic tasks
Technology is often viewed as an answer to most of our problems by offering convenient and practical solutions. When students spend a lot of time online, they often rely on technology to solve various academic problems. For instance, students who are too engrossed in social media would opt to use search engines such as Bing and Google to conduct research rather than visiting the library. Another common reliance on technology is the use of calculators for basic arithmetic calculations.
- Unrealistic comparisons
Students often spend time viewing other people’s profiles and status updates. However, most of the images on social media are edited to portray a false view of their lives. For example, it is common practice for users to upload pictures in which he/she is having fun or looks attractive. Students are likely to strive to attain a life similar to the one viewed on social media. However, when they fail in their attempt, they suffer from low self-esteem and lack the motivation to learn.
- Peer pressure
Peer pressure is defined as the influence put on an individual by their peers to conform to their values, attitudes, and behaviors. Social media provides an avenue for students to exchange risky ideas and encourage them to engage in dangerous activities. Social media can be used to plan parties, which will involve excessive alcohol consumption, binge drinking, smoking, and drug abuse, among many others.
As you can see, there are several adverse effects of social media on students’ academic progression. Despite these negative aspects of social media, it also plays an essential part in helping students and teachers communicate in real-time. However, without proper moderation, it does more harm than good. Therefore, most people believe that limiting access to social media within the school network is the best solution.
Entertainment Education Featured Image Credit: Pixabay