This week, we’re getting into how social media affects the learning environment and the relationships students have with one another. Social media is a strong addiction for the youth, especially students in middle school and high school. Students spend hours of the day staring at screens, scrolling mindlessly through social media such as TikTok, Instagram, Twitter, etc. Some of this scrolling is done during school hours, without the proper education on online safety. The increased use of technology and social media in schools has overall proven to negatively affect the learning environment (Baya’a & Daher, 2010). Not to mention that social media also fosters a negative online experience for many, being an easy source of cyberbullying, hate comments, aggressive posts, controversial opinions, and many other negative aspects. These aspects leave a pessimistic effect on the mental health of students, as aggressors hide behind screens to say utterly vile things that affect others deeply.
Unsplash. (2022, August 27). Photo by Getty Images on Unsplash. Unsplash.com. https://unsplash.com/photos/sad-woman-sitting-on-the-couch-using-the-phone-upset-woman-waiting-for-a-phone-call-3QY1LBfPmOk
To dive deeper into the idea of how social media affects the mental health of students, let’s talk about a documentary we watched this week called “PLUGGED IN: The True Toxicity of Social Media Revealed (Mental Health Documentary)”. The documentary starts with news reports discussing how social media has created a rise in teen suicides, anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues. It then goes on to explain how captivating and addicting social media is for the youth, making it difficult to control or limit teen usage to get rid of these issues (Richard Grannon SpartanLifeCoach, 2019). Many would go as far as to compare different online platforms to be as addictive as hard drugs. There are countless stories from all over the United States where people have suffered from mental health issues due to the hatred, aggression, and awful pessimistic that social media has to offer. The boldness that people take on while hiding behind a screen is more impactful than many students may think. The idea that words are just as capable of harm as actions are is ignored far too easily and often when it comes to online interactions.
Now that we can admit that social media causes issues for students, let’s talk about some solutions we can take as educators, or future educators, to minimize the impact these hurtful platforms cause. Studies done on the invention of the internet and its impact on the youth suggest that mental health problems have skyrocketed since the ’90s. A way that certain districts are looking to combat this issue is by implementing no-phone policies, where students cannot use cellular devices at all when in the school building (Langreo, 2023). Although this may be a decent approach to putting an else to the impacts of social media, it does not account for the idea that students may need their phones for various reasons. For example, some students use their phones to monitor health problems they may have trackers or pods for, such as insulin levels, heart rate, and others. Another solution would be to allow parents to sit down with their children and allow them to warn them of the dangers of being online (Kamenetz, 2019). This can be paired with setting parental restrictions on their social media accounts until they feel they are mature enough to remove said restrictions. Thanks for tuning in again this week, and I hope this topic opened up your eyes to a struggle you might have as a possible future educator in your classroom.
References
Baya’a, N., & Daher, W. (2010). Middle School Students’ Learning of Mathematics Using Mobile Phones: Conditions and Consequences. Journal of Interactive Learning Research, 21(2), 165–185. https://www.learntechlib.org/p/29401/
Kamenetz, A. (2019, August 27). The Scientific Debate Over Teens, Screens And Mental Health. NPR. https://www.npr.org/2019/08/27/754362629/the-scientific-debate-over-teens-screens-and-mental-health?utm_source=npr_newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=20190901&utm_campaign=ed&utm_term=nprnews&utm_id=25646263
Langreo, L. (2023, October 16). Cellphone Bans Can Ease Students’ Stress and Anxiety, Educators Say. Education Week. https://www.edweek.org/leadership/cellphone-bans-can-ease-students-stress-and-anxiety-educators-say/2023/10
RICHARD GRANNON SPARTANLIFECOACH. (2019). PLUGGED IN : The True Toxicity of Social Media Revealed (Mental Health Documentary). In YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHzwMLx-rKc
Unsplash. (2022, August 27). Photo by Getty Images on Unsplash. Unsplash.com. https://unsplash.com/photos/sad-woman-sitting-on-the-couch-using-the-phone-upset-woman-waiting-for-a-phone-call-3QY1LBfPmOk
Good evening Alba,
I really enjoyed reading your blog post! You highlighted the impact and addictive nature of social media on students’ learning environments and mental health including issues such as cyberbullying and negative online experiences. I watched the same documentary as you and like how you stated how “the idea that words are just as capable of harm as actions are is ignored far too easily and often when it comes to online interactions.” Because technology is being used more and more, how can educators strike a balance between acknowledging the benefits of technology use, such as educational resources, while also keeping the negative impacts of social media in mind? We as future teachers must consider exploring alternative strategies for responsible social media use among our future students. For instance, integrating technology into the curriculum could empower students to navigate the internet safely. It could also be crucial to learn and understand more research on the benefits of incorporating technology into educational practices, such as utilizing social media platforms for collaboration and communication. This could benefit everyone in the education community to ensure the safety of all. Overall, your blog post raises important considerations about social media, technology, education, and mental health in a friendly manner. Nice job!!
Hi Alba. I liked it when you explained how social media can negatively impact students’ mental health. It’s important for everyone to understand the real consequences of spending too much time online, especially when it comes to cyberbullying and harmful comments. Recognizing these issues is the first step toward finding solutions. I wonder if there are other ways besides no-phone policies to help students manage their social media use while still having access to their phones for important things like health tracking. Maybe there could be designated times during the day when students can use their phones for a specific purpose, like checking their health apps or contacting their parents, but not for social media. I am confused by how some students might not realize the impact of their words online. It’s sad that people can be so mean when they’re hiding behind a screen. Maybe more education about online behavior and its effects on others could help students understand the importance of being kind online. Thank you for sharing, and I really enjoyed reading your blog!