It is easy to become addicted, and research shows that students who spend too much time on social media can suffer from poor sleep, eye fatigue, negative body image, depression, anxiety, cyberbullying, and more.
Students are more connected than ever before through social media, especially during these difficult times, when they are physically distanced from their family, friends, and peers. While social media provides many benefits, such as giving students the chance to express themselves creatively, learning opportunities, and the chance to connect with others, social media can also have a negative impact on students, both physically and mentally. It is easy to become addicted, and research shows that students who spend too much time on social media can suffer from poor sleep, eye fatigue, negative body image, depression, anxiety, cyberbullying, and more.
The positive impact of social media on students
Connect with peers
Having a social network, especially during these social distancing times, is incredibly important and has been shown to have a positive effect on mental health and well-being. It allows students to connect with likeminded peers, breaking limitations of distance and time. This can be particularly valuable for minority youth, who may have difficulty finding others like themselves.
Learning opportunities
In addition to the benefits of classroom learning social media provides through sites like YouTube, social media helps students access mental health and well-being information, which can be hard to do offline without stigma.
The negative impact of social media on students
Poor sleep, eye fatigue, and physical inactivity
Social media can be incredibly addictive — we all know what it feels like to tell ourselves we’ll only check our notifications, and before we know it, we’ve been mindlessly scrolling for hours. Using devices can have an especially detrimental effect if done near bedtime, as the blue light emanating from our devices tricks our bodies into thinking it’s still daylight outside, which upsets our natural rhythms. We also blink less when looking at devices, which, in combination with blue light, can lead to eye fatigue and strain.
Worsens mental health issues, such as anxiety and depression
Facebook has been studying the effect that Instagram has on its younger users and has uncovered some alarming findings, as revealed by the Wall Street Journal. Facebook’s full research slide decks are available through their newsroom.
Their research shows that:
To help promote better mental health, the company is testing hiding likes and has enabled the “all caught up” message to help limit scrolling by telling users they have seen all the content from the accounts they follow. Others have suggested further improvements, like calling attention to cosmetically altered photos.
Educators and parents need to be mindful of the effects social media can have on the children in their care. OnGuard, part of the Netsweeper platform, can filter and block harmful content on social media websites, and alerts educators to students who are engaging with harmful content online.
What are the 5 most popular types of digital marketing?
Digital marketing can be broadly broken into 8 main categories including: Search Engine Optimization, Pay-per-Click, Social Media Marketing,...
5 ways to tame your social media use Keep apps out of sight, so they're out of mind. ... Use apps to help you limit your time on social media. ... Spend an hour a week on at least one screen-free hobby. ... Enjoy a phone-free dinner. ... Leave your phone outside the bedroom.
3. Spend an hour a week on at least one screen-free hobby
There are plenty of hours in a day, and even more hours in a week! Pick a screen-free hobby and commit to spending an hour on it once a week. Join a yoga class, read a book, plant a herb garden or walk a friend’s dog – anything that will be a solid break from your screen. After you’ve found something you enjoy spending time on, you can amp up the hours, or branch out and add more activities. Get some ideas here.
During hobby time, switch your phone to Do Not Disturb mode (or turn it off completely) so you're not distracted.
Research has shown that people who engage in hobbies related to the arts (performing arts, visual arts, reading, etc.) for two or more hours a week report significantly better mental wellbeing that other levels of engagement.
Does recruiter know salary?
When recruiters are considering potential candidates for a position, they need to know the candidate's salary to see if they are a fit for the...
Social Media Means
Photo: EKATERINA BOLOVTSOVA
Promotion
Promotion