Whether it is Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram, the digital world has left its mark on high school students. The growing fad of social networking provides a place for students to share their thoughts and discover more about their peers. This craze remains the ideal medium for communication among adults and teens alike, but is it as “perfect” as it’s made out to be?
According to a 2012 survey report, teens spend an average of two hours a day on social networking sites. YouTube, Tumblr, and LinkedIn rank among the top market share visits of 2013. Although interest in other sites like Facebook and Twitter has decreased by approximately one percent in the last four years, they still remain popular among teenagers.
“The go-to apps on my phone are Tumblr and Pinterest,” senior Hailey Orton said. “I like looking at the different videos, quotes, and popular trends that my friends post. I prefer these over Facebook and Twitter because users share things that they like rather than negative status updates.”
While many students focus on the benefits of social networking, negative effects still exist. The Pew Research Center, a nonpartisan polling site that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping America,recently stated that 39% of all people using social networking sites will experience some form of cyber bullying, making social networking sites the most prevalent source of cyber bullying
“I haven’t witnessed any disagreements in the hallway, but that doesn’t mean fighting is non-existent behind a computer screen,” senior Maddie Smit said. “Every now and then people make fake Facebook profiles that degrade or joke about a person.”
The 2012 American Life Survey states that one million children endured harassment, threats or were subjected to other forms of cyber bullying on Facebook during the past year.
Cyber bullying has actually decreased over the past decade. Studies show its decline reaching 20% due to new added security measures to social networking sites. Facebook recently improved the site’s privacy policy and Instagram tweaked its security settings.
“I definitely won’t stop tweeting or accessing my Instagram account,” senior Katherine Fuentes said. “Everyone who belongs to a social media site understands the dangers they are exposed to. It is such a big part of our generation.”
Social networking has unquestionably imbedded itself in everyday society. Despite the negative attention it receives, these sites provide communication elements that are advantageous to students.
Blogs managed by the teacher but authored by the students open up a new world for leaning. Students often generate essays or assignments and publish their work online to the classroom blog. Local middle school teachers record class lessons on YouTube for students to watch them at home on their own time.
“I actually use Facebook to connect with friends from certain classes for help on homework,” Orton said. “Sometimes, when I am absent, I message my classmates and ask about the work that I missed that day.”
Due to its growing popularity, social networking remains a consummate method of communication. Despite its bad reputation, the problem lies in the responsibility of the users. Social media itself does not cyber bully. These networking sites are merely a tool provided for those who want to use it.
