Should there be an age-limit on accessing and using social media? Many educators, parents and government sectors have strong opinions on the destructive nature of social media access to students.
Although there has been, and will continue to be, tremendous amount of debate surrounding the issue, I think it necessary to acknowledge that social media can and has provided both constructive and destructive value to the general populace. When brought into an educators’ medium, it poses additional threats, and offers tempting opportunities for collaboration. It is then, unsurprising, that this topic has undergone so much debate.
The primary constructive benefit of emerging media is the tantalizing possibilities it offers in connecting students within schools, and even between schools. Intra and Inter-school engagement between students can engage students with their academics in a truly revolutionary way, providing educators with a more aware, and open-minded student set.
The destructive benefit is far more threatening though. Exposing students in schools to engage with social media is opening a new portal for wayward behavior – it can and probably already has resulted in the sharing of non-educational material. Since there is no content filter on Twitter, Facebook or Youtube, this can result in far more leniency and destructive behavior amongst students if allowed.
Proponents of social media in schools as well as critics have valid arguments. Perhaps the solution lies (as it often does) in balancing between the two extremes. Like Facebook when it first started, perhaps a new social media portal restricted to a student pool would provide most value. Developing applications intended to encourage discussion, debate and knowledge sharing can lead students to educate each other, thus enhancing their educational experience. Does such an application exist? If not, what are the constraints to developing such an application? It will allows students to mingle socially, but has a primarily educational purpose – has something like this been tried?
After the success of educating through traditional media (Sesame Street, Blues Clues etc.), digital media probably can provide great value if the destructive threats are eliminated through a filtered content and streamlined application.
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