How Social Media Is Changing The Concept Of Education And Learning

Growing up, social media was seen as a demon for hogging study time. 

“Your mind will go numb from all the scrolling”, “you will waste time on social media”, “you will start believing in fake information,” most people have heard these statements at least once in their lifetime. To some extent, these comments have some truth to them. 

In the last few years, social media has become a powerful tool that not only supports the education system but also transforms the way people study and gain information. 

This became possible due to the widespread availability of affordable residential internet brands like Mediacom Internet, which were fast enough to load everything within seconds.

Even now, people are exploring the endless possibilities of using social media and the internet to help their kids stay entertained and learn in the process. 

If you have kids, you are in the learning phase, or are someone working within the education system, keep reading. This write will help you explore some of the best ways social media is changing education and learning.

Top 5 Ways Social Media Is Changing the Concept of Education and Learning

• Micro Learning 

We have all heard about the shrinking attention span, right?

Well, it seems that social media has finally provided a reliable solution to this issue in the form of micro learning. 

So, what is micro learning?

Micro learning utilizes the principles of short and viral content and implements it into the education system. It mainly focuses on short, bite-sized lessons that take just a few minutes. These lessons are to-the-point, simple, and filled with colorful video animations to help students stay engaged. Since short-form content is on the rise, it literally fits into all lifestyles, so learning has now become effortless. 

These kinds of video-based tutorials mainly focus on Quick science facts, language and vocabulary, Biological systems, Study techniques, and Productivity tips. Moreover, these micro learning videos are easily available, making sure everyone can enjoy a learning break regardless of time, age, or interests. 

• Online Communities 

As students, we all need the support of our peers and friends. However, we also hate the idea of group study because we always end up wasting time. 

Well, imagine a virtual place where you have the consistent support of other students and peers, yet you can disconnect anytime you feel like you are getting distracted. 

What a win-win situation, right?

 Social media platforms are making this possible. Most of the sites now have group options where you can share reading materials, help others with studying, and even get to learn from your peers. Moreover, there are study groups where you can stay online via video, audio, or just have access to your peers on request. 

These study groups are ideal for helping students with tests, offering them study tips, or getting them ready for some global education competitions. 

• Global Knowledge Sharing 

For the longest time, education was seen as something that reinforced differences between classes of people.

Now, I know you might think that’s a lie, considering education is known to be the “great equalizer”. The reality is that quality education, just like the one offered at the Ivy League, is not cheap. This means that only the rich and chosen few have access to this, right?

Well, not anymore. 

Thanks to the global accessibility of affordable internet, education has become a global phenomenon. Today, there are global knowledge-sharing platforms where anyone, regardless of their social class, age, or background, can learn about any subject or topic. 

You can get a personalized learning experience. You can pick any topic, university, or language and get the knowledge you need. Even major Ivy League universities have social media channels where they share lectures and courses as well. 

• Professional Courses and Lectures 

Once you exit student life, education doesn’t stop. In fact, in this era of AI, smart learning, and rapidly changing tech, you continue to learn and grow even in your professional life.

However, enrolling in a proper class just to stay updated is not possible. 

This is where professional courses and lectures come in. There are so many different channels available on social media platforms where professionals in different fields share their knowledge about the new developments in their field. 

These channels might not offer formal education, but they keep you updated, which will eventually help you with career development and landing a promotion as well. 

• Quick Research and Brainstorming  

Assignments are the bane of every student’s existence. Growing up, I never loathed anything more than assignments. In fact, I realized that most questions within the assignments were so challenging that they actually required more time than attending lectures.

This is why most students rely on details brainstorming sessions with peers and seniors.

But what if you have no one to rely on?

Well, this is where you need social media. Most social media platforms have different channels and groups that offer quick research and brainstorming sessions for free. You can ask for help about any topic, and students from different parts of the world will help you resolve your query in no time. 

Social media is usually portrayed as a villain, but in the current scenario, it is changing the way people seek education. Above mentioned are some of the best ways you can utilize social media for learning new things.