These days, social media has become an irrefutable force of life. It fuels a lot of things such as information flow, connections, and how we represent ourselves in front of the world. However, if you are a student, it can work as a double-edged sword. In addition to increasing the opportunities for interaction and engagement, it can hamper academic performance and overall well-being. So, let’s discuss the negative impact of social media on a student’s growth. It will be easier for you to address the issue in the future.
Unreliable information:
Social media is stuffed with information, but not all is reliable. Most of the information pieces on social media are not always checked for facts, unlike academic sources. Thus, you can understand that it will become hard for the students to differentiate between real and fake information. The problem is that some fake information pieces sound so good that it feels real. It could be a huge problem for research projects and papers, where using wrong information can create a decline in their grades.
Distraction:
A student’s life is quite busy and social media is pretty addictive. Sometimes, it feels like an irresistible friend that constantly asks for attention. It encompasses a lot of things such as funny videos, updates, and posts by friends. All these things are capable of making a lot of distraction and that pulls away the students away from their studies. It becomes challenging for them to focus in the class. It can lead to a lot of things such as foggy thinking, and missed deadlines, and ultimately it will hurt their academic performance.
Wears away critical thinking:
Now, it is one of the most significant things to take note of. Students must think critically to stay focused in their lives. However social media platforms create a constraint in critical thinking. Well, you can consider it to be a fast food centre for information- you will get all your answers quickly without giving much effort. It becomes hard for the students to develop their skills when it comes to analysing the data. Due to social media, students find it hard to develop new ideas and think for themselves.
It blurs academic and personal boundaries:
These days, you will find social media everywhere. Be it your personal life or your student’s life, it creates a huge impact. This mixing will make it hard for the students to comprehend when to relax and when to give time for schoolwork. It can lead to a lot of things such as wasting time, procrastination, and not getting done with the school stuff. Therefore, try to acknowledge this issue and work according to that. It will help you make your career stronger.
Harmful for mental health:
When it comes to a student’s mental health, it could be a real downer. When students constantly compare themselves with others online and worry about missing out, it will make them anxious, stressed, and depressed. It will make it hard for them to focus on their studies and perform their best. Besides, it will create a huge blow to their future. They can never accomplish the desired results. So, keep this point in mind if you don’t want social media to become a hurdle in your career.
Decreases real-world interaction:
Social media is an excellent way to connect with people. However, your school or your college is the place where you will get the chance to interact with people in person. If you spend too much time online, there is a possibility that you will miss the chance to meet new people. Also, it will be hard for you to develop social skills, and build friendships that will stay by your side for a long time, beyond your school or college.
It will cause sleep deprivation and fatigue:
We have already mentioned that students are already busy. So, if they become addicted to social media, it can steal their sleep. To be precise, there is a possibility that you will not get enough time to sleep. If you scroll too much on social media during the night, it will ruin your sleep schedule. It will make you feel tired, foggy-headed, and unable to focus on your studies. So, to retain your sleeping schedule try to regulate your social media timing.
Security and privacy concerns:
Students tend to share a lot of things online. Well, it could be a risky move because there is a possibility that some will try to take advantage of that information. Also, they may steal that information from you and use it in a bad way. Also, social media is quite a vulnerable place where people can harass or bully other people. Therefore, make sure to keep this point in mind. Otherwise, it will hamper your academic performance in the future.
Dependency and addiction:
Dependency and addiction are among the worst effects of social media. The problem is that even if you understand that it is consuming a lot of time, you will come back for more and more. Also, it will cut down your time for other activities that are responsible for keeping your mental health in good condition. So, if you feel that you are getting addicted to social media, you must take action as soon as possible. It will help you make the right decision.
Tips to avoid social media distractions while studying:
Limit the use of your smartphone:
It is the primary step that you need to keep in mind. If you can limit the use of your smartphone, it will be easier for you to stay focused on your studies. Well, one of the best things that you can do is to deactivate the notifications while studying.
Close the social media apps:
You must close all the apps that distract you from your studies, apart from the apps that you need for your studies. It is even more preferable to place the phone in another room and airplane mode to limit the constant temptation of having to look at your phone.
Craft a social media schedule:
Crafting a social media schedule will help you regulate your time. It is like permitting you to check social media. It will not only help you to stay disciplined, but it will also help you stay away from the addiction of social media.
Research your flow of time and use reminders:
You can use a screen time measuring app. It could be quite useful. With the help of this app, you can write down the things where you need to put your limit. Therefore, set all your hesitations apart and try using this app. So, these are all the things that you need to keep in mind. If you are looking for a place that can help you and guide you through this process, you can get in touch with Kalibre Education. They will help you to stay focused on your studies without wasting much time on social media.
