Reasons College Students Use Social Media
In today’s college classrooms, much of the information that is sought by students is done via social media. Social media has increasingly consumed college students’ everyday lives. Social media networks are designed for the purpose of collective connections. Today’s students are accessing Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and even Google+ to connect and share with those around them.
One of the most interesting aspects about social media is that users can interact and engage with each other solely through a web presence, without perhaps ever meeting in person. With other generations, a lot of criticism has been targeted at social media and the effect it has on the way current college students process and retain information, as well as how distracting it might be. However, social media offers plenty of opportunities for learning and interactivity that is beneficial for students in college that will also assist them later in life.
When it comes to college education and social media, many students find that being connected to classmates and peers via the internet is most helpful. With the busy, scheduled lives of college students, it tends to be easier and more convenient for students to interact with each other through social media. Here is how we use them:
- Facebook – This is one of the best ways to share information, brainstorm new ideas and get feedback. One of the most helpful tactics about Facebook is the ability to create groups. Whether it’s a mass message or a private group organization page, Facebook allows for college students to come together for school purposes such as working together on a group project and exchanging contact information, assignments, study guides, and deadlines. College students utilize Facebook the most with school-related organizations as well. From my own personal experience, I find that Facebook is the fastest way to stay updated with what is going on inside my classrooms and campus organizations. My sorority, for example, has a private Facebook group where only those who hold an office position can post information. The content that is posted allows for everyone in the sorority to know any up-coming events, plans, and meeting time schedules. Without this Facebook group, the information needed would not be carried out as well.
- Twitter & Google+
- With Twitter, hashtags can allow for a quicker search, leading the students to the exact information, or contacts, they need.
- Google Plus is utilized most with university emails. College students are able to not only interact with classmates this way, but also professors and assistants. This access helps to broaden the university social media networking.
Being connected through social media websites allows for interaction which is needed for college students to communicate efficiently and effectively with classmates, peers, and even professors. In a world where online engagement is important for businesses, students are becoming experts at developing a sense of Internet presence. Not only do they know how to interact with others on the Internet, but they know how to use basic and even complex functions in order to do so.
How do/did you use social media with your college experience?
