Social media is a commodity in the lives of students today. Advancements in technology have raised concerns about the impact on attention spans and classroom learning. However, it is important to consider the positive changes that have come with technological advancements.
A few teachers at West Ranch have observed that students’ learning styles have changed since the integration of social media habits. “We’ve all kind of lost the ability to have a bigger attention span, so we focus on a lot of little things instead of one big thing,” AP Government Teacher Timothy Von Busch explained. “Sometimes in teaching that’s actually a positive as long as you use the little things to build up to something big.”
Social media is a hub for information exchange, giving educators access to information on the most recent events, including various social media platforms. “[Social Media]gives me access to timely information quickly,” Government Teacher Mr. Von Busch explained “Just today, I was trying to figure out how to describe the government shutdown. I was able to go online and immediately find a clip to use in class today that was recorded four hours ago.” Social Media has, in this way, greatly changed the way teachers can educate their students. Traditionally, education relied heavily on textbooks and other sources written long after an event occurred. However, now teachers can bring new information to the classroom, which, according to Mr. Von Busch, “also meets the expectation of students that they want to see things that are current because current usually means more relevant.”
A common complaint among students in the past was that their education was outdated; however, social media provides teachers with the resources they need to report on the latest developments. Senior Elijah Kopp, a student in Mr. Von Busch’s AP Government class, echoes this opinion: “Having the latest information really helps me stay engaged and gives me a good idea of how what I’m learning in class is impacting the world.”
Social media also allows access to professionals such as politicians, scientists, mathematicians or researchers. “I’m constantly looking at social media accounts, and it gives you more direct access to elected officials instead of a filtered version that comes through the mainstream media” Mr. Von Busch shared.
The main reason social media is framed as harmful to learning is that platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube reduce students’ attention spans, a phenomenon noticed almost universally by teachers. Geometry Teacher Mrs. Preach explained. “Students’ attention span has probably been affected with the use of social media, with scrolling TikTok.”
Senior Eric Campos also shares this belief, mentioning how “access to social media at a young age can cause varying levels of developmental damage.”
However, teachers are adapting and overcoming challenges this new generation of students may face. “The length of directions might need to be shortened so that they can retain everything that I’m asking them to do in class” Mrs. Preach said. “Shorter directions help them more.”
In the end, while social media are linked to shorter attention spans and similar issues, teachers have been able to adapt through modern challenges to make learning better. From integrating current, real-world examples to teaching through key details, technology has reshaped learning for the new generation.
