# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
"Honestly, I sometimes truly wish that 'tools' such as the iPhone (or any smartphone), laptops, iPads, tablets, etc. hadn't been invented. Sure, they're great, incredibly useful, and fun time-killers. But the way teenagers abuse them, and turn them into mini social control rooms is frankly awful."

At first glance, you might think this quote came from a parent or grandparent lamenting on the disadvantages of social networking and how social media has doomed today's children. But it was written by a Seattle-area tenth grader as part of an assignment to answer the question, "How has online social networking influenced your relationships with friends and family?"

This student goes on to write, "The teenage way of life has completely changed from what it was only twenty years ago. Now, there is a dramatic decrease in face-to-face communication, which reduces our generation's ability to interact with others on a speaking level."

Not coincidentally, this same message was echoed by the young people interviewed in Tomorrow's Change Makers: Reclaiming the Power of Citizenship for a New Generation. Youth engaged in their communities claim that face-to-face interactions is what motivates them to make a difference in the world.

This is a two-part article gleaned from reviewing the essays of a class of tenth graders, with their permission, of course. It is meant to generate additional discussion on the benefits and disadvantages of social networking and its effect on healthy youth development.

Below are the most discussed disadvantages of social networking according to these tenth graders, including quotes from their essays. In a similar format, you can also read reflections on the benefits of social networking in my column at Psychology Today.

10 Disadvantages of Social Networking

1. Lacks Emotional Connection

"A couple weeks ago, one of my friends and I got into a fight and she told me all of her feelings as to why she ignored me for two weeks. Assuming it would have been really hard to say it to my face, she sent me a text message. The negative side was I didn't know if she truly felt sorry because I didn't hear it from her. The quality of a conversation using social media is awful because you cannot sense the emotion or enthusiasm from the other person. It makes you wonder if they actually mean what they say."

2. Gives People a License to be Hurtful

"I do think it has gotten to an extreme point where you can say things you can't say or get away with in person."

"I'm disappointed whenever I hear about social media being used as a way to hurt people. I wonder if this happens when the writers forget that there are real people behind the screen."

3. Decreases Face-to-Face Communication Skills

"Computer reliance could hurt a person's ability to have a face to face conversation by making it awkward and unusual to hear something and respond with a thoughtful message through the spoken word because of one's dependence on a keyboard to convey a message."

4. Conveys Inauthentic Expression of Feelings

"Social media conversations today are filled with "haha", "LOL", and other exclamations that are meant to represent laughter. This shorthand has become second nature and is often used when the sender is not even smiling, much less laughing, in real life. On the occasion that our "roflcopter" is actually put to use at a funny moment, we are replacing actual laughter with, in this case, a simple ten-letter acronym. According to Robin Dunbar, an evolutionary psychologist at Oxford, the actual physical act of laughter, and not the abstract idea of something being funny, is what makes laughing feel so good. If we are so willing to replace the act that, honestly, we all love, with an artificial, typed representation that doesn't even bring the same joy, what else would we be, potentially subconsciously, willing to exchange?"

5. Diminishes Understanding and Thoughtfulness

"Since the inception of social networking, the quality of conversations has dropped. I believe that people are spending so much time online that they don't always understand the feeling, emotion and/or character of the person they are talking to. When you talk to someone through a message or even a voice, you can't always fully understand them."

"Social networking has ruined the thoughtfulness in basically saying hello in person. For instance, you could say hello to your friend in Germany with Facebook, chat in seconds; but what if there was no way to communicate via social networking? Well you would have to write them a letter and that is something very thoughtful."

6. Causes Face-to-Face Interactions to Feel Disconnected

"When I see my friends on their phones and I am around them, I feel disconnected even though we are only two feet apart..... Unfortunately, sometimes friends use their phones so much that it is difficult to have an actual conversation with them. Sometimes friends can get so socially attached to something such as a blog or gaming console that they lose touch with friends, creating small gaps and holes in close friendships/relationships."

7. Facilitates Laziness

"The new socially active era causes laziness because instead of running to your friends you can message them. Or instead of walking upstairs to notify the family of dinner, I can blog it. Social networking makes life so convenient that it creates laziness. In my opinion staying fit is important, but it is difficult to go beyond the newly developed status quo."

"It's really easy to spend hours doing nothing....It's a fantastic way to waste time."

8. Creates a Skewed Self-Image

"We tell ourselves lies about ourselves and develop something we are not. We post pictures of us looking perfect and share the good news. We never post pictures of ourselves when our dog dies, when someone we love leaves, and when we lose a job. We never share the bad news that always clouds our lives. We all develop this perfect image of ourselves and some of us actually try to rely on this imaginative thought we have of ourselves instead of staying true to who we are."

9. Reduces Family Closeness

"Texting, Facebook, Twitter, and Gmail alienate us from our families more than we actually think it does.... When my family is spending family time together and watching a movie, in reality my brother and I are on our phones rather than actually watching the movie with our parents."

10. Causes Distractions

"When I have my phone out, it makes me feel like nothing else is going on around me. I use social media as a way to feel popular, important, and also just to fit in. My friends and I always compare ourselves to each other, wondering who has more Facebook friends or Twitter followers. But what really ends up happening is I begin to talk less and end up relying on text for a conversation. Ever since I got a smartphone I have been distracted from everything. I watch television less, do homework less, and even spend less time with my friends and family."

Addressing the Disadvantages of Social Networking

The disadvantages of social networking and social media will be studied for decades to come. The 10th-grade essays used for this article are five years old now but they could easily have been written today.

In the last five years, social media has proven to be a significant source of concern among privacy advocates, particularly with concerns over how Cambridge Analytica used Facebook data. Parents have become increasingly worried about their children's safety online and how to protect their personal data.

But clearly, the disadvantages of social networking go much deeper than privacy and safety. These high school students described some of the serious drawbacks to relationships and mental health - foundations of human development.

In the past several years, more studies have linked social media to poor mental health. According to a recent Forbes article, several studies have not only shown a correlation but also a causation. Findings suggest that people who limit social media to 30 minutes daily feel significantly better than those who use social media for longer periods of time. By reducing time spent, people were able to reduce depression, anxiety, and loneliness.

Recent statistics from the Pew Research Center show that social networking usage has remained unchanged in the past four years. This may suggest a saturation point has been reached. It may also be a hopeful sign that people are learning to manage social media in healthier ways; or at least they don't show an insatiable appetite for more. In addition, most people don't trust news from social networking sites-only 5% of U.S. adults have a lot of trust in this information.

Among Americans from 12-34 years old, Facebook usage declined from 79% in 2017 to 62% today. The only social network growing among U.S. youth is Instagram, up from 64% to 66% in the past two years.

Researchers suggest that helping children and teens learn to manage social networking is paramount to their healthy development. Most experts agree that parents must lead the way by setting a good example of what healthy computer usage looks like. Family meetings are a great venue to discuss social networking and computer usage with the whole family and get buy-in for solutions.

Listed below are some helpful articles that can spark conversations in your family:

--A special thanks to the students who contributed their voices to this article.
(This article was originally published June 16, 2014. It was updated with new research and information and republished Sept. 6, 2019.)
Published: September 6, 2019

Tags: character strengths, cyberbullying, empathy, happiness, learning, media, moral development, parenting, positive youth development, technology

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Teens Discuss Disadvantages of Social Networking

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
"Honestly, I sometimes truly wish that 'tools' such as the iPhone (or any smartphone), laptops, iPads, tablets, etc. hadn't been invented. Sure, they're great, incredibly useful, and fun time-killers. But the way teenagers abuse them, and turn them into mini social control rooms is frankly awful."

# data[].attributes.headline
ADVANTAGES OF USING SOCIAL MEDIA IN LEARNING

# data[].attributes.subject
ADVANTAGES OF USING SOCIAL MEDIA IN LEARNING

# data[].attributes.body
https://www.academiaapps.com/advantages-social-media-education/

Social Media can increase student collaboration. Students become friends with their classmates on social media and are more likely to collaborate on projects. This can lead to higher retention rates as students become more connected to the institution.   Faculty can use social media as a way to get students to participate. Many students are naturally shy in person, and many may not speak up in a classroom, but that may not be the case on social media. Today’s students grew up on social media, and for many, it is the natural way to interact. Faculty can ask questions on social media such as Twitter and students can answer those questions, by including a specific hashtag. This not only allows the faculty to find the student answers but also allows other students to see what others are answering and create a dialog. Many learning management systems incorporate a discussion board to accomplish this same educational pedagogy but are just as useful if not more by using a social media platform in Education.   Social Media can be useful for team projects. Many colleges stress the importance of the soft skill of working in groups. Social Media sites can be helpful to increase this ability as the students can hold meetings in real time and work on their projects. This enhances the likelihood that they will also spend time together working on projects and may not have to make time to meet in person all the time as the project progresses. Having teams work together using social media only strengthens advantage one and two of your educational activities.   Social media can provide a richer experience for resources. Videos, resource websites, and tutorials can be shared very easily with the entire classroom at the click of the button. This eliminates the need for students to copy website links from a handout and have the risk of mistyping. It is much easier just to click a link than to type it.   Video Conferencing in the Classroom is also a significant benefit. Using social networking sites such as Google Plus will allow the use of Google Hangouts. These sort of resources can be used to setup class sessions where everyone can collaborate through video in real time. Google Hangouts can also be saved for future reference, in case one of the students has a conflict and can not make the meeting. These are just a few of the many advantages of using social media in education, but like anything else, where there is an advantage there are also disadvantages of social media in education

# data[].attributes.body
https://www.rootsofaction.com/disadvantages-of-social-networking/

1. Lacks Emotional Connection

“A couple weeks ago, one of my friends and I got into a fight and she told me all of her feelings as to why she ignored me for two weeks. Assuming it would have been really hard to say it to my face, she sent me a text message. The negative side was I didn’t know if she truly felt sorry because I didn’t hear it from her. The quality of a conversation using social media is awful because you cannot sense the emotion or enthusiasm from the other person. It makes you wonder if they actually mean what they say.”

2. Gives People a License to be Hurtful

“I do think it has gotten to an extreme point where you can say things you can’t say or get away with in person.”

“I’m disappointed whenever I hear about social media being used as a way to hurt people. I wonder if this happens when the writers forget that there are real people behind the screen.”

3. Decreases Face-to-Face Communication Skills

“Computer reliance could hurt a person’s ability to have a face to face conversation by making it awkward and unusual to hear something and respond with a thoughtful message through the spoken word because of one’s dependence on a keyboard to convey a message.”

4. Conveys Inauthentic Expression of Feelings

“Social media conversations today are filled with “haha”, “LOL”, and other exclamations that are meant to represent laughter. This shorthand has become second nature and is often used when the sender is not even smiling, much less laughing, in real life. On the occasion that our “roflcopter” is actually put to use at a funny moment, we are replacing actual laughter with, in this case, a simple ten-letter acronym. According to Robin Dunbar, an evolutionary psychologist at Oxford, the actual physical act of laughter, and not the abstract idea of something being funny, is what makes laughing feel so good. If we are so willing to replace the act that, honestly, we all love, with an artificial, typed representation that doesn’t even bring the same joy, what else would we be, potentially subconsciously, willing to exchange?”

5. Diminishes Understanding and Thoughtfulness

“Since the inception of social networking, the quality of conversations has dropped. I believe that people are spending so much time online that they don’t always understand the feeling, emotion and/or character of the person they are talking to. When you talk to someone through a message or even a voice, you can’t always fully understand them.”

“Social networking has ruined the thoughtfulness in basically saying hello in person. For instance, you could say hello to your friend in Germany with Facebook, chat in seconds; but what if there was no way to communicate via social networking? Well you would have to write them a letter and that is something very thoughtful.”

6. Causes Face-to-Face Interactions to Feel Disconnected

“When I see my friends on their phones and I am around them, I feel disconnected even though we are only two feet apart….. Unfortunately, sometimes friends use their phones so much that it is difficult to have an actual conversation with them. Sometimes friends can get so socially attached to something such as a blog or gaming console that they lose touch with friends, creating small gaps and holes in close friendships/relationships.”

7. Facilitates Laziness

“The new socially active era causes laziness because instead of running to your friends you can message them. Or instead of walking upstairs to notify the family of dinner, I can blog it. Social networking makes life so convenient that it creates laziness. In my opinion staying fit is important, but it is difficult to go beyond the newly developed status quo.”

“It’s really easy to spend hours doing nothing….It’s a fantastic way to waste time.”

8. Creates a Skewed Self-Image

“We tell ourselves lies about ourselves and develop something we are not. We post pictures of us looking perfect and share the good news. We never post pictures of ourselves when our dog dies, when someone we love leaves, and when we lose a job. We never share the bad news that always clouds our lives. We all develop this perfect image of ourselves and some of us actually try to rely on this imaginative thought we have of ourselves instead of staying true to who we are.”

9. Reduces Family Closeness

“Texting, Facebook, Twitter, and Gmail alienate us from our families more than we actually think it does…. When my family is spending family time together and watching a movie, in reality my brother and I are on our phones rather than actually watching the movie with our parents.”

10. Causes Distractions

“When I have my phone out, it makes me feel like nothing else is going on around me. I use social media as a way to feel popular, important, and also just to fit in. My friends and I always compare ourselves to each other, wondering who has more Facebook friends or Twitter followers. But what really ends up happening is I begin to talk less and end up relying on text for a conversation. Ever since I got a smartphone I have been distracted from everything. I watch television less, do homework less, and even spend less time with my friends and family.”

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
"Honestly, I sometimes truly wish that 'tools' such as the iPhone (or any smartphone), laptops, iPads, tablets, etc. hadn't been invented. Sure, they're great, incredibly useful, and fun time-killers. But the way teenagers abuse them, and turn them into mini social control rooms is frankly awful."

At first glance, you might think this quote came from a parent or grandparent lamenting on the disadvantages of social networking and how social media has doomed today's children. But it was written by a Seattle-area tenth grader as part of an assignment to answer the question, "How has online social networking influenced your relationships with friends and family?"

This student goes on to write, "The teenage way of life has completely changed from what it was only twenty years ago. Now, there is a dramatic decrease in face-to-face communication, which reduces our generation's ability to interact with others on a speaking level."

Not coincidentally, this same message was echoed by the young people interviewed in Tomorrow's Change Makers: Reclaiming the Power of Citizenship for a New Generation. Youth engaged in their communities claim that face-to-face interactions is what motivates them to make a difference in the world.

This is a two-part article gleaned from reviewing the essays of a class of tenth graders, with their permission, of course. It is meant to generate additional discussion on the benefits and disadvantages of social networking and its effect on healthy youth development.

Below are the most discussed disadvantages of social networking according to these tenth graders, including quotes from their essays. In a similar format, you can also read reflections on the benefits of social networking in my column at Psychology Today.

10 Disadvantages of Social Networking

1. Lacks Emotional Connection

"A couple weeks ago, one of my friends and I got into a fight and she told me all of her feelings as to why she ignored me for two weeks. Assuming it would have been really hard to say it to my face, she sent me a text message. The negative side was I didn't know if she truly felt sorry because I didn't hear it from her. The quality of a conversation using social media is awful because you cannot sense the emotion or enthusiasm from the other person. It makes you wonder if they actually mean what they say."

2. Gives People a License to be Hurtful

"I do think it has gotten to an extreme point where you can say things you can't say or get away with in person."

"I'm disappointed whenever I hear about social media being used as a way to hurt people. I wonder if this happens when the writers forget that there are real people behind the screen."

3. Decreases Face-to-Face Communication Skills

"Computer reliance could hurt a person's ability to have a face to face conversation by making it awkward and unusual to hear something and respond with a thoughtful message through the spoken word because of one's dependence on a keyboard to convey a message."

4. Conveys Inauthentic Expression of Feelings

"Social media conversations today are filled with "haha", "LOL", and other exclamations that are meant to represent laughter. This shorthand has become second nature and is often used when the sender is not even smiling, much less laughing, in real life. On the occasion that our "roflcopter" is actually put to use at a funny moment, we are replacing actual laughter with, in this case, a simple ten-letter acronym. According to Robin Dunbar, an evolutionary psychologist at Oxford, the actual physical act of laughter, and not the abstract idea of something being funny, is what makes laughing feel so good. If we are so willing to replace the act that, honestly, we all love, with an artificial, typed representation that doesn't even bring the same joy, what else would we be, potentially subconsciously, willing to exchange?"

5. Diminishes Understanding and Thoughtfulness

"Since the inception of social networking, the quality of conversations has dropped. I believe that people are spending so much time online that they don't always understand the feeling, emotion and/or character of the person they are talking to. When you talk to someone through a message or even a voice, you can't always fully understand them."

"Social networking has ruined the thoughtfulness in basically saying hello in person. For instance, you could say hello to your friend in Germany with Facebook, chat in seconds; but what if there was no way to communicate via social networking? Well you would have to write them a letter and that is something very thoughtful."

6. Causes Face-to-Face Interactions to Feel Disconnected

"When I see my friends on their phones and I am around them, I feel disconnected even though we are only two feet apart..... Unfortunately, sometimes friends use their phones so much that it is difficult to have an actual conversation with them. Sometimes friends can get so socially attached to something such as a blog or gaming console that they lose touch with friends, creating small gaps and holes in close friendships/relationships."

7. Facilitates Laziness

"The new socially active era causes laziness because instead of running to your friends you can message them. Or instead of walking upstairs to notify the family of dinner, I can blog it. Social networking makes life so convenient that it creates laziness. In my opinion staying fit is important, but it is difficult to go beyond the newly developed status quo."

"It's really easy to spend hours doing nothing....It's a fantastic way to waste time."

8. Creates a Skewed Self-Image

"We tell ourselves lies about ourselves and develop something we are not. We post pictures of us looking perfect and share the good news. We never post pictures of ourselves when our dog dies, when someone we love leaves, and when we lose a job. We never share the bad news that always clouds our lives. We all develop this perfect image of ourselves and some of us actually try to rely on this imaginative thought we have of ourselves instead of staying true to who we are."

9. Reduces Family Closeness

"Texting, Facebook, Twitter, and Gmail alienate us from our families more than we actually think it does.... When my family is spending family time together and watching a movie, in reality my brother and I are on our phones rather than actually watching the movie with our parents."

10. Causes Distractions

"When I have my phone out, it makes me feel like nothing else is going on around me. I use social media as a way to feel popular, important, and also just to fit in. My friends and I always compare ourselves to each other, wondering who has more Facebook friends or Twitter followers. But what really ends up happening is I begin to talk less and end up relying on text for a conversation. Ever since I got a smartphone I have been distracted from everything. I watch television less, do homework less, and even spend less time with my friends and family."

Addressing the Disadvantages of Social Networking

The disadvantages of social networking and social media will be studied for decades to come. The 10th-grade essays used for this article are five years old now but they could easily have been written today.

In the last five years, social media has proven to be a significant source of concern among privacy advocates, particularly with concerns over how Cambridge Analytica used Facebook data. Parents have become increasingly worried about their children's safety online and how to protect their personal data.

But clearly, the disadvantages of social networking go much deeper than privacy and safety. These high school students described some of the serious drawbacks to relationships and mental health - foundations of human development.

In the past several years, more studies have linked social media to poor mental health. According to a recent Forbes article, several studies have not only shown a correlation but also a causation. Findings suggest that people who limit social media to 30 minutes daily feel significantly better than those who use social media for longer periods of time. By reducing time spent, people were able to reduce depression, anxiety, and loneliness.

Recent statistics from the Pew Research Center show that social networking usage has remained unchanged in the past four years. This may suggest a saturation point has been reached. It may also be a hopeful sign that people are learning to manage social media in healthier ways; or at least they don't show an insatiable appetite for more. In addition, most people don't trust news from social networking sites-only 5% of U.S. adults have a lot of trust in this information.

Among Americans from 12-34 years old, Facebook usage declined from 79% in 2017 to 62% today. The only social network growing among U.S. youth is Instagram, up from 64% to 66% in the past two years.

Researchers suggest that helping children and teens learn to manage social networking is paramount to their healthy development. Most experts agree that parents must lead the way by setting a good example of what healthy computer usage looks like. Family meetings are a great venue to discuss social networking and computer usage with the whole family and get buy-in for solutions.

Listed below are some helpful articles that can spark conversations in your family:

--A special thanks to the students who contributed their voices to this article.
(This article was originally published June 16, 2014. It was updated with new research and information and republished Sept. 6, 2019.)
Published: September 6, 2019

Tags: character strengths, cyberbullying, empathy, happiness, learning, media, moral development, parenting, positive youth development, technology

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Teens Discuss Disadvantages of Social Networking

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
"Honestly, I sometimes truly wish that 'tools' such as the iPhone (or any smartphone), laptops, iPads, tablets, etc. hadn't been invented. Sure, they're great, incredibly useful, and fun time-killers. But the way teenagers abuse them, and turn them into mini social control rooms is frankly awful."

# data[].attributes.body
https://my.cumbria.ac.uk/Student-Life/it-media/Social-Media-Guidance/Why-use-social-media/

1- Instant online discussions

Social media is the go to medium for people to interact. Current staff and students, prospective staff and students, alumni, stakeholders and the wider community can all communicate with like-minded individuals and have their questions answered, make friends and network.

2- Relationships

The University, and its staff, can use social media to connect to students, prospective students, researchers and other organisations, but at its heart, social media is about creating relationships with people like you.

Students can connect to:

Students on your course (in your cohort or years above/below)

Students studying in the same field at other institutions

Experts in your field

3- Knowledge Sharing

Social media provides a platform where you can share your knowledge and gain credibility in your chosen field(s) or specialism(s). Within an online community, you can also acquire information and insights from others who have already been where you are now or have completed similar research.

4- Low cost

It can be very cost effective communication medium and is usually free for the end-user. Not only can you use it to communicate, but it is also an excellent promotional tool for things like events, new courses and research advances.

5 - Connect at any time

Social networking never sleeps. You might not get an instant reply from someone local at 3am GMT, but most social networking sites are not restricted by geography and there is often someone to chat to from the international community. Or you can post a question and wait until daylight.

6- Branding

Many people are increasingly spending a great deal of time on social networking sites. Social media should be seen as a wide-reaching tool to reach a huge audience and so getting your name, the university’s name out there on the web, in the way we choose, is incredibly important.

It can also be used as a tool to see what people are saying about us! See Protect Yourself Online

7- Social media content is now integrated with search results

Search engines like Google and Bing are increasingly indexing and ranking information from social networks. The more presence we have on social media sites, the higher our ratings become in online search results. This makes it increasingly important that we present ourselves in a positive light.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Good reasons to use social media

Social media sites have become invaluable tools in education, marketing and communication, for the University of Cumbria, your personal brand and your future employer(s).

Social media plays an important role in every student's life. It is often easier and more convenient to access information, provide information and communicate via social media. Tutors and students can be connected to each other and can make good use of these platforms for the benefit of their learning and teaching.
Instant online discussions
Social media is the go to medium for people to interact. Current staff and students, prospective staff and students, alumni, stakeholders and the wider community can all communicate with like-minded individuals and have their questions answered, make friends and network.
Relationships
The University, and its staff, can use social media to connect to students, prospective students, researchers and other organisations, but at its heart, social media is about creating relationships with people like you.

Students can connect to:

Students on your course (in your cohort or years above/below)

Students studying in the same field at other institutions

Experts in your field

Knowledge Sharing
Social media provides a platform where you can share your knowledge and gain credibility in your chosen field(s) or specialism(s). Within an online community, you can also acquire information and insights from others who have already been where you are now or have completed similar research.
Low cost
It can be very cost effective communication medium and is usually free for the end-user. Not only can you use it to communicate, but it is also an excellent promotional tool for things like events, new courses and research advances.
Connect at any time
Social networking never sleeps. You might not get an instant reply from someone local at 3am GMT, but most social networking sites are not restricted by geography and there is often someone to chat to from the international community. Or you can post a question and wait until daylight.
Branding
Many people are increasingly spending a great deal of time on social networking sites. Social media should be seen as a wide-reaching tool to reach a huge audience and so getting your name, the university's name out there on the web, in the way we choose, is incredibly important.

It can also be used as a tool to see what people are saying about us! See Protect Yourself Online
Social media content is now integrated with search results
Search engines like Google and Bing are increasingly indexing and ranking information from social networks. The more presence we have on social media sites, the higher our ratings become in online search results. This makes it increasingly important that we present ourselves in a positive light.

See Top Tips for Using Social Media

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Social media sites have become invaluable tools in education, marketing and communication, for the University of Cumbria, your personal brand and your future employer(s). Social media plays an important role in every student's life. It is often easier and more convenient to access information, provide information and communicate via social media.

# data[].attributes.body
https://www.lcibs.co.uk/the-role-of-social-media-in-education/

1- Connecting with experts on topics via social media

2- Institutions communicate with students via YouTube and Facebook

3- It helps in Research process

4-Enhanced Learning management systems

5- Learners can build social credibility

# data[].attributes.body
https://www.teachthought.com/technology/6-pros-cons-social-media-classroom/

PROs
1. Engaged students are more successful
2. Social media teaches important life lessons
3. It’s ‘real world’

CONs
1. The Internet is a new medium for bullying
2. Social media can be a time suck
3. The Internet is a dangerous place

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
The Pros And Cons Of Student Social Media Use | TeachThought

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Social media can significantly distract students, leading to procrastination and reduced focus on academic tasks.

# data[].attributes.body
https://blog.hootsuite.com/types-of-social-media/

Here’s our list of 10 types of social media and what they’re used for:

Social networks—Connect with people

Media sharing networks—Share photos, videos, and other media

Discussion forums—Share news and ideas

Bookmarking and content curation networks—Discover, save, and share new content

Consumer review networks—Find and review businesses

Blogging and publishing networks—Publish content online

Interest-based networks—Share interests and hobbies

Social shopping networks—Shop online

Sharing economy networks—Trade goods and services

Anonymous social networks—Communicate anonymously

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Social Media Marketing & Management Dashboard

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
When you're thinking about creating a social media strategy for your business, a few leading platforms probably come to mind right away: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and maybe YouTube or Pinterest, depending on your industry.

However, there are many types of social media sites out there, with new platforms and formats popping up on the regular. Some of them are pretty niche, while others have the potential to become the next Instagram or TikTok.

One thing that's changed since the early days of social media is that many platforms used to focus on one function, such as social networking or image sharing. Now, most established social media platforms have expanded to incorporate live streaming, augmented reality, shopping, social audio, and more.

So, instead of giving you high level descriptions of Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn (you can find that anywhere!), we grouped a wide variety of platforms into nine general categories that focus on specific use cases and what businesses can accomplish by using them.

How to choose the best types of social media for your business

With the ever-growing number of social media platforms, it can be overwhelming to constantly wonder whether each of them is worth your time.

To avoid spending too much of your time learning the ropes of every new platform, let your social media marketing strategy guide your decisions, and only join the networks that support your goals.

Follow these three tips to build your own criteria that will help you evaluate any new social media platform, no matter what it is or how it works.

Social media managers hopping on to a short call to hear about a new platform we should be on pic.twitter.com/sagFLxpuiM

- WorkInSocialTheySaid (@WorkInSociaI) April 27, 2021

Know your audience

The first question you should ask before joining a new social media platform is: where is your audience?

It makes more sense to go where your audience is already hanging out than to join a new platform and attract your audience to it.

The second thing to understand is how your audience is using that platform. What type of content are they looking for? Which types of accounts do they follow? Are they passive consumers or content creators?

For detailed insights into how people use different social media platforms, dive into our State of Digital 2021 report.

Keep up to date with social media statistics

Whenever a new social media platform emerges, it's essential to know the difference between a shiny new object and a fast-growing platform that has the potential to stick.

Although no one can tell the future, one way to know if a platform has staying power is to compare its statistics to established social media platforms.

If you're not sure where to find recent stats, we've got you covered:

Align to your key business goals

Ask yourself: which platforms match my business goals best?

For example, if one of your goals is to increase awareness about a new product or service that could benefit from video tutorials, you should focus on video-only platforms (like YouTube and Vimeo) or video formats available on the sites you're already active on (like Instagram Stories and Reels, Facebook Live, etc.).

Social media prediction:

The 2020s will see an explosion of new platforms. Impossible for brands to have an active presence on all, they'll fully commit to just 2 or 3. The necessary marketing skills will be communication and creativity, as you can learn new platforms on the go.

- Matthew Kobach (@mkobach) February 18, 2021

Types of social media platforms and formats you should know in 2021

1. Social audio platforms and formats

Examples: Clubhouse, Twitter Spaces, Spotify

Used for: Listening to live conversations on specific topics.

How your business can use them: New social audio platforms (like Clubhouse) and formats (like Twitter Spaces) have thrived during COVID-19 lockdowns while people have been at home with more time to join live conversations.

The most significant advantage of audio social media platforms and formats is the high attention and engagement you're likely to get from opt-in listeners.

Lively, engaging conversations can help you build your image as a leader in your niche and introduce your business or products to valuable audiences already interested in topics related to your niche (otherwise, they wouldn't be tuning in).

Here are some thought starters for using audio social media platforms:

Host industry panels.

Broadcast news and big announcements.

Host interactive sessions (such as AMAs) with your audience.

Record interviews during a live Clubhouse/Twitter Spaces chat and upload them as a podcast (example: The Social Media Geekout show).

Build your business' thought leadership through a 30-60 minute show.

Matt Navarra does a great job of combining Twitter Spaces AND podcasts:

We got you covered. Checkout: @SpaceCastsPod

We record and upload our twitter spaces sessions to this podcast feed each week.

Todays edition will be up in the next day or so

- Matt Navarra (@MattNavarra) July 16, 2021

2. Video social media platforms and formats

Examples: YouTube, TikTok, Instagram Stories and Reels, Facebook Watch

Used for: Watching videos in short and long formats.

How your business can use them: Video social media platforms are great for capturing attention, driving brand awareness, and bringing products to life in a way that still photos can't.

Any video content that you publish should be designed to entertain, educate, and/or inspire your audience. Videos made purely to sell aren't going to engage viewers.

Some of the best examples of businesses using video social media platforms are:

3. Disappearing content formats

Examples: Snapchat, Instagram Stories, Facebook Stories, LinkedIn Stories

Used for: Sending ephemeral messages privately and publishing timely, in-the-moment content for all of your followers to view for up to 24 hours.

How your business can use them: Ephemeral formats like Stories are well-suited for posting timely content, such as announcements, limited edition items, or live events.

Most Stories and Snapchat content also feels more genuine and less polished due to the 24-hour shelf life. As such, it allows businesses to show a more human side.

Here are some ideas for how your business can use disappearing content:

Polls, voting (using interactive Stories stickers)

Teasers/countdowns to product launches

Behind-the-scenes content

Time-sensitive announcements

A great example is from one of my favorite local bakers, who posts their weekly specials on their Instagram Stories.

4. Discussion forums

Examples: Reddit, Quora

Used for: Asking and answering questions, networking, forming communities around niche- and interest-based topics.

How your business can use them: Be genuinely helpful to your customers by lending your business' subject matter expertise and answering questions related to your industry. Bonus points if you can share information about your brand and products in your answers, but that shouldn't be your primary goal of participating in discussion forums.

One thing to note: On Reddit, it's highly frowned upon to insert any self-promotion into answers. If you're posting as a business, make sure to answer the original question and only add links to your products if they're genuinely helpful. Before posting in a subreddit, check the rules to verify if including links to your own business is allowed.

While Microsoft didn't create the /r/XboxOne subreddit, once they saw how popular it was, they started engaging with Redditors by hosting AMA sessions with game developers.

5. Shoppable social media platforms and features

Examples: Pinterest Product Pins, Facebook Shops, Instagram Shops, TikTok, Shopify, Douyin, Taobao

Used for: Researching and purchasing products from brands directly through social media platforms.

How your business can use them: Take advantage of built-in mobile-friendly features to allow your audience to purchase from you without having to leave a social media app.

Features like Pinterest Product Pins, Instagram Shops, and TikTok's in-app shopping allow you to connect your product catalog directly to your profile on each app.

Even if your followers don't like to make purchases on social media platforms or have longer buyer journeys, shopping features can allow you to tag products, add additional product info and drive traffic to your website.

Some great ways to use shopping social media platforms:

You can also host live shopping events on social media. Livestream shopping has become a huge market in China, encouraging platforms like Instagram to introduce Live Shopping.

6. Social media live streams

Examples: Twitch, YouTube, Instagram Live Rooms, Facebook Live, TikTok

Used for: Broadcasting live video to many viewers. Live video streams can range from one person showing themselves and what they're doing on their screen to professionally organized panels with multiple speakers.

How your business can use them: Livestreaming's popularity exploded during the pandemic when people were stuck at home during lockdowns with nothing to do.

However, you don't need a global pandemic to get viewers to watch your live streams. There are many ways to make tune-in-worthy streams, from interviewing well-known guests through doing exclusive product reveals to hosting AMA sessions with your business executives.

Livestreams also offer the opportunity for users to interact live with the hosts, so it's vital to monitor and engage with comments during the stream. Read more tips in our guide to social media live streaming.

When COVID-19 put Formula 1 races on hold during 2020, several drivers started streaming themselves playing driving simulators on Twitch, which became hugely popular with fans.

7. Business social media platforms

Examples: LinkedIn, Twitter

Used for: Connecting with professionals in your industry or potential clients.

How your business can use them: Business social media platforms offer many potential uses: recruiting and hiring talent, building B2B relationships, and connecting with professionals in your niche.

Platforms like LinkedIn are ideal for B2B purposes, because they allow brands to connect with new audiences, meeting them where they go to network and do business.

But LinkedIn is not the only business-forward social media site out there. Twitter offers businesses the chance to find relevant conversations, and add to them in meaningful ways. A great example of this is Adweek, which hosts a weekly chat for digital marketers called #AdweekChat.

There are also communities built around industry-specific hashtags on Twitter, like #MarketingTwitter and #FreelanceTwitter.

Pro tip: Set up a keyword-based column using your industry's hashtag in Hootsuite to monitor for appropriate conversations to participate in.

8. Closed/private community social media platforms

Examples: Discourse, Slack, Facebook Groups

Used for: Creating communities, with the possibility of requiring registration or other screening measures for new members.

How your business can use them: Businesses can use private groups to bring members of their community together to bond over shared challenges, help answer each other's questions, and feel a sense of professional belonging.

As the group admin, your business has the right to set rules about things like self-promotion. Many groups (especially on Facebook) require members to answer a few questions before joining to screen out spammers, but you can also use these fields to ask members to opt-in to your email marketing list.

A great example is the Instant Pot Facebook Group, started by the brand in 2015 and has grown to over 3 million members who love sharing recipes and product tips.

9. Inspirational social media platforms

Examples: Pinterest, YouTube, Instagram, blogs

Used for: Searching for information and finding inspiration for anything from cooking to travel to decorating to shopping and more.

How your business can use them: Curate visuals and inspire your target audience with content tailored to their preferences, and weave in your own products where relevant. Use collections, playlists, tags, and guides to group your content and create themes that match your audience's interests.

Inspirational social media platforms like Pinterest and YouTube are well-optimized for search, which means your posts should include keywords, hashtags, and images that align with what your audience usually searches for.

Travel bloggers often do a great job of optimizing their blog posts and YouTube videos for searches like "What to do in [Destination]" and "[Destination] Travel Guide."

Whether you're building a community or evaluating new platforms for your business to join, there are many types of social media you can use. Some are pretty much mandatory for any business, while others only make sense if they align with your specific niches or use cases.

Whatever your needs and goals, it's a safe bet you'll find a way to use social media to benefit your business.
Easily manage all your social media profiles using Hootsuite. From a single dashboard, you can schedule and publish posts, engage your followers, monitor relevant conversations, measure results, manage your ads, and much more. Get Started

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9 Types of Social Media and How Each Can Benefit Your Business

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When you're thinking about creating a social media strategy for your business, a few leading platforms probably come to mind right away: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and maybe YouTube or Pinterest, depending on your industry. However, there are many types of social media sites out there, with new platforms and formats popping up on the regular.

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1-Facebook 2- Twitter 3- LinkedIn 4- WhatsApp 5-WeChat
6- Instagram 7- Youtube

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https://www.thebalancesmb.com/what-is-social-media-2890301

Social media refers to websites and applications that are designed to allow people to share content quickly, efficiently, and in real-time. Many people define social media as apps on their smartphone or tablet, but the truth is, this communication tool started with computers. This misconception stems from the fact that most social media users access their tools via app.
The ability to share photos, opinions, events, etc in real-time has transformed the way we live and, also, the way we do business. Retailers who use social media as an integral part of their marketing strategy usually see measurable results. But the key to successful social media is to not treat it as an extra appendage but to treat it with the same care, respect, and attention you do all of your marketing efforts.

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Social media refers to websites and applications that are designed to allow people to share content quickly, efficiently, and in real-time. While many people access social media through smartphone apps, this communication tool started with computers, and social media can refer to any internet communication tool that allows users to broadly share content and engage with the public.

The ability to share photos, opinions, and events in real-time has transformed the way we live and the way we do business. Here are the basics of understanding social media and how it can be used to help promote your business.

What Is Social Media?

Social media is any digital tool that allows users to quickly create and share content with the public. Social media encompasses a wide range of websites and apps. Some, like Twitter, specialize in sharing links and short written messages. Others, like Instagram and TikTok, are built to optimize the sharing of photos and videos.

What makes social media unique is that it is both broad and relatively uncensored. While many social media companies impose some limitations-such as taking down images that display violence or nudity-there are much fewer limitations on what someone can share than there with other means of mass communication like newspapers, radio stations, and television channels.

Anyone with internet access can sign up for a social media account. They can use that account to share whatever content they choose to, and the content they share reaches anyone who visits their page or profile.

How Social Media Works

Since social media covers so many different kinds of websites and applications, the function of these tools also varies. However, most social media sites start with a user creating a profile, usually by providing a name and an email address.

Once a profile has been created, users can create and share content. For instance, an Instagram user with a new account can take a picture and share it on their profile with a caption. In addition to creating content for their profile, social media users can find other users whose content they want to follow or comment on. Depending on the type of social media, a user may "follow" another user, add them as a "friend," or they may "subscribe" to another user's page.

Social media often uses "feeds" that allow users to scroll through content. Social media companies use algorithms, based on a user's profile data, to determine the content that appears and the order that it appears in. The feed will include content from "followed" users, as well as from entities that pay to promote their content.

Types of Social Media

There are many different types of social media, and many services could fit into multiple categories. Here are a few of the major types, along with some examples.

Social Networks

Social networks specialize in connecting and exchanging thoughts, ideas, and content with other users-often with users who share tastes and interests. Facebook and Twitter are examples of social networks. Though more professional than others, LinkedIn may be considered a social network, as well.

Media Networks

As opposed to social networks, which specialize in letting users share and exchange raw thoughts and ideas, media networks specialize in distributing content like photographs and videos. Instagram and YouTube are examples of this. A YouTube user, for example, will upload a video they've created, and other users can "like," "dislike," or comment on the video. If they enjoy the video enough, a user may choose to "subscribe" to the creator, so that new videos from that creator appear in their feed.

Discussion Networks

Discussion networks like Reddit are the ideal outlet for posts that can spark in-depth discussion among users. Users can leave detailed responses in the comment section, and other users can respond directly to those comments, allowing for conversations to grow and develop organically.

Review Networks

Review networks like Yelp and TripAdvisor add social media aspects to user reviews of products and services. Users can interact directly with those leaving reviews, as can the businesses being reviewed.

Businesses and Social Media

While any individual can sign up for social media, social media platforms have become an important part of marketing for businesses of all sizes. The key to successful social media is to not treat it like an extra appendage but to treat it with the same care, respect, and attention you do all of your marketing efforts. Here are some things businesses should keep in mind while using social media.

Social Media Marketing Is Fleeting

By its nature, social media is a short attention span media-you have to catch their attention as they're quickly scrolling through dozens of posts at a time. Ad headlines and copy are harder to fit into an attention-grabbing tweet than a traditional newspaper ad.

You Must Be Active on Social Media

One of the biggest mistakes retailers make is to open up accounts on every social media platform they think is relevant and then leave them alone with no activity. In fact, social media users may be turned off by the retailer who opens accounts and does not engage with clients or the public.

Focus on the Customer

Another big mistake retailers make is to use social media to talk about what is important to them rather than talking about what is important to the customer. Retailers who use social media, for instance, may think it is great to spread the word about a sale. In some ways, this would be true, but if that's the only reason you are getting involved in social media, it won't be beneficial. Your goal should be to provide content that is relevant to your customer and engage with them to the point that they want to share your post with others.

If you use social media, you need to engage with your customers, involve them in a dialogue, and ask them for their opinions. Post a picture of two items you are considering carrying in your store and ask customers which one they like best. This creates a dialogue that leads to shared posts and engaged followers. Plus, if you successfully engage with your customers, it will help you better identify their tastes and preferences.

Images Are Key

Another thing to consider is that the most commonly-shared content on social media is an image, so it's a good idea to include an image with your posts.﻿﻿ This will dramatically increase your chances that one of your followers will share the post with their network. While building up a large network of followers is great, a better measure of social media success is how often your followers share your content-no matter how many followers you have. This is the new form of "word of mouth."

Key Takeaways

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Social media refers to websites and applications that are designed to allow people to share content quickly, efficiently, and in real-time. While many people access social media through smartphone apps, this communication tool started with computers, and social media can refer to any internet communication tool that allows users to broadly share content and engage with the public.