Social Media and Education

I agree with Kate on how social networking provides a measure of anonymity. I find that I'm more bold and willing to communicate my ideas or thoughts if there's a medium through which I can do so (like this blog). Part of the appeal of social media lies in the fact that you don't have to physically be present in order to, for instance, listen to a famous lecture or attend a music recital. The impact of the experience might be lessened somewhat but the option is there. Social networking makes it very convenient for me to connect with my family, friends and even the entire world, and if realized it can also serve as a good learning tool. Just yesterday in biology our professor encouraged us to go on Youtube to watch videos of how proteins are manufactured in cells in order to further our understanding of the material we read in our textbooks.

Social networking isn't necessarily bad but because it can be used for a variety of purposes, how it is utilized is up to the individual. I can choose to use it to compliment my learning in class, or I can use it to stalk people. It's hard to stay focused and use social media primarily for education because it also serves our entertainment needs. But as long as I keep a healthy balance of both...