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A lot of criticism has been leveled at social media and the effect it has on the way students process and retain information, as well as how distracting it can be.

However, social media offers plenty of opportunities for learning and interactivity, and if you take a moment to think about it, it's not too hard to see how students benefit from using social media. As younger generations use such technology in the classroom, they remake the educational landscape.

Students are experiencing the world through more than just books and assignments; they are learning and adapting to the world using a relatively new form of communication. In a world where connections are important, graduates are coming into the workplace with a lot to offer.

But what exactly are they learning? Read on to find out.

Connections

Social media networks are designed for the purpose of communal connections. Today's students are accessing Facebook, Twitterand even Instagram to connect and share with those around them. One of the most interesting things about social media is that users can interact and engage with each other solely through a Web presence, perhaps never even meeting in person.

Web engagement

Whether they are sharing personal pictures, links to other sites or even commenting on someone's post, students engage, stretching beyond social interaction purposes alone. Students use social media day in and day out to interact with their peers and even teachers about class-related subjects. In a world where online engagement is important for businesses, these students are becoming experts at developing a sense of Internet presence. Not only do they know how to interact with others on the internet, they know how to use basic and even complex functions in order to do so.

Knowledge

Social media users share among themselves day in and day out, giving and receiving information at rapid speeds. This information is more than funny cat videos; they share views and opinions; tips, tricks, and even DIY projects; and, among students, helpful information for classes. Their ability to assess, analyze, retain and share information is skyrocketing and they often don't even realize they're developing these skills. Only people born before the Internet was invented are likely to understand the magnitude of this new style of communication.

Social Media Marketing

The advent and dominance of social media has created a new breed of marketing, which has required professionals to build and further the field. As social media users join the workforce, they bring their skills to their careers. Social media prepares young workers to become great marketers. It has become essential for major businesses to include a social media marketing strategy and students today are the people filling these positions.

While older generations might not completely understand or agree with the amount of social media activity by today's student population, they will quickly benefit from it. As technology advances, so does the way the world works with it. Members of the young workforce are keeping up to speed with many forms of social media. Once you get a proper social media marketing strategy locked in, you'll be grateful for the recent graduate you've hired to carry out the details.

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How Students Benefit From Using Social Media

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A lot of criticism has been leveled at social media and the effect it has on the way students process and retain information, as well as how distracting it can be. However, social media offers plenty of opportunities for learning and interactivity, and if you take a moment to think about it, it's not too hard to see how students benefit from using social media.

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How social media creates a better world: Jan Rezab at TEDxSSE

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Social Media Consultant | Social Media Agency | Social Marketing

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Social media is great for businesses. We know that - it's what we're all about here at Social Caffeine. With social media, you get to talk directly to your customers and find out exactly what they want.

But is that all there is to it? Of course not! We all know that social networks help us stay in touch with friends.

And it's good for society, too. Here are five reasons why.

1. Social Media Helps People Make New Friends (All Around the World)

While there's no substitute for making new friends face-to-face, social media makes it easier than ever to connect with like-minded people.

It can even forge unlikely friendships.

In a new initiative, elderly folk in Chicago (who'd love to have someone to talk to) are being hooked up with teenagers in Brazil who want to learn English. They hang out using video chat.

It's a win-win, and a beautiful story.

2. Social Media Makes Learning Easier

Over half of professors now use social media to connect with students and to share their research.

A recent study found that academics believe "the interactive nature of online and mobile technologies create better learning environments."

With sites such as DuoLingo and the Khan Academy blending social tools with learning experiences, online education is becoming part of our daily lives.

When you're challenging your friends on who can put in the most study time, it speeds up learning.

3. Social Media Helps Raise $$$ Millions for Good Causes

Nonprofits are increasingly turning to social media to tell the stories of the good work they're doing.

And when these stories get out there, people give.

DonorsChoose.org, which helps teachers raise money for pioneering school projects, last year reported that it has raised over $1 million through Facebook alone.

4. Social Media Is Good for Democracy

As the changing political landscape of the Middle East shows, social media gives powerless people a voice.

While it's impossible to predict the final outcome of the current power ruptures going on, people having a voice can only be good for democracy.

5. Social Media Helps Us Find Common Ground

Until very recently, our friends were the people who lived closest to us. Geography was the most important factor in who we'd hang out with.

Social media hasn't completely changed that, but it does mean it's easier to find people with common interests. When people get together around something they're passionate about, a community of shared interest is created.

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5 Ways Social Media Makes Good Things Happen

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Social media is great for businesses. We know that - it's what we're all about here at Social Caffeine. With social media, you get to talk directly to your customers and find out exactly what they want. But is that all there is to it? Of course not!

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Social networking has changed the way we communicate, do business, get our daily news fix and so much more. But is it really all it's cracked up to be?

That depends on who you talk to and how you're using it. A site like Facebook could serve as an opportunistic launching pad for a new business owner, or it could be an inescapable source of negative peer pressure for a young teen. There are pros and cons to everything in life-and that includes our social networking habits.

The Pros of Social Networking

There are a lot of upsides to social networking. Ask yourself how you can take more advantage of the following whenever you decide to check out your favorite social networks.

Connect to Other People All Over the World

One of the most obvious pros of using social networks is the ability to instantly reach people from anywhere. Use Facebook to stay in touch with your old high school friends who've relocated all over the country, use Google Meet to connect with relatives who live halfway around the world, or meet brand new people on social media from cities or regions you've never even heard of before.

Easy and Instant Communication

Now that we're connected wherever we go, we don't have to rely on our landlines, answering machines or snail mail to contact somebody. We can simply open up our laptops or pick up our smartphones and immediately start communicating with anyone on social media or one of the many social messaging apps available.

Real-Time News and Information Discovery

Gone are the days of waiting around for the six o'clock news to come on TV or for the delivery boy to bring the newspaper in the morning. If you want to know what's going on in the world, all you need to do is jump on social media. An added bonus is that you can customize your news and information discovery experiences by choosing to follow exactly what you want.

Great Opportunities for Business Owners

Business owners and other types of professional organizations can connect with current customers, sell their products and expand their reach using social media. There are actually lots of entrepreneurs and businesses out there that thrive almost entirely on social networks and wouldn't even be able to operate without it.

General Fun and Enjoyment

You have to admit that social networking is just plain fun sometimes. A lot of people turn to it when they catch a break at work or just want to relax at home. Since people are naturally social creatures, it's often quite satisfying to see comments and likes show up on our own posts, and it's convenient to be able to see exactly what our friends are up to without having to ask them directly.

The Cons of Social Networking

It's no secret that there's also a dark side to social networking. You may want to ask yourself how you can minimize the following cons of social networking as much and as often as possible.

If social media is your primary source for news and other information, you could end up in a filter bubble, which is when you've isolated yourself from new information and engaging with people who have different perspectives. If you've managed to stay in a bubble of harmful misinformation, it can damage relationships and even be dangerous.

Information Overload and Overwhelm

With so many people now on social media tweeting links and posting selfies and sharing YouTube videos, it sure can get pretty noisy. Becoming overwhelmed by too many Facebook friends to keep up with or too many Instagram photos to browse through isn't all that uncommon. Over time, we tend to rack up a lot of friends and followers, and that can lead to lots of bloated news feeds with too much content we're not all that interested in.

Privacy Issues

So much is shared online these days that issues over privacy are becoming an increasingly big concern. Whether it's a question of social sites owning your content after it's posted, becoming a target after sharing your location online, or even getting in trouble at work after tweeting something inappropriate - sharing too much with the public can open up all sorts of problems that sometimes can't ever be undone.

Social Peer Pressure and Cyber Bullying

For people struggling to fit in with their peers - especially teens and young adults - the pressure to do certain things or act a certain way can be even worse on social media than it is at school or any other offline setting. In some extreme cases, the overwhelming pressure to fit in with everyone posting on social media or becoming the target of a cyberbullying attack can lead to serious stress, anxiety and even depression.

Increased Feelings of Social Isolation

Since people are now connected all the time and you can pull up a friend's social profile with a click of your mouse or a tap of your smartphone, it's a lot easier to use online interaction as a substitute for face-to-face interaction. Some people argue that social media actually promotes antisocial human behavior.

Distraction and Procrastination

How often do you see someone look at their phone? People get distracted by all the social apps and news and messages they receive, leading to all sorts of problems like distracted driving or the lack of gaining someone's full attention during a conversation. Browsing social media can also feed procrastination habits and become something people turn to in order to avoid certain tasks or responsibilities.

Sedentary Lifestyle Habits and Sleep Disruption

Lastly, since social networking is all done on some sort of computer or mobile device, it can sometimes promote too much sitting down in one spot for too long. Likewise, staring into the artificial light from a computer or phone screen at night can negatively affect your ability to get a proper night's sleep.

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There are both good and bad aspects of staying connected to people on social media. Here are a few of the most common pros and cons.

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Social media can be used to help you with school and figure out homework.