Does social media impact learning? Let’s look at the positive and negative impact of social media on learning.
Positive impact for learning ~ digital communication skills that need to be mastered including texting, tweeting, and Instagramming can be strengthened. Students are more willing to complete assignments when they can use technology to research and share information, communicate or create ideas.
Using social media can foster collaborative community learning environments. Students have options for creating authentic, creative work through blogs, YouTube, or podcasts – just to name a few. It is yet to be seen whether or not social media can improve grades.
Negative impact for learning ~ Using social media can cause overstimulation and lack of focus, cyberbullying and plagiarism, distraction to the point of failure, poor decision-making leading to a negative digital footprint, and lack of adequate cyber security to protect students. In addition, students unable to navigate platforms and operating systems find themselves at a disadvantage.
When it comes to students using social media, the impact on learning can be both positive and negative.
