Many young people use social media every day, but few can be described as educated on social media.
More than three years ago, the National Institute of Health issued a conceptual framework that called for greater writing social media writing between users of different platforms and networks.
“An educated social media person, therefore, must have knowledge not only of the sustainable and modifiable characteristics of different platforms, but also how their interactions with them form, modify and strengthen their perceptions of reality,” writes the authors.
Unfortunately, little or no progress has been made. The platforms seem incompetent, or perhaps even uninterested in doing anything to address the issue, even as most Americans rely on X, Facebook, Instagram and other networks such as their news source and information. That is why writing social media writing for students as part of the curriculum can be more important than ever.
“With increasing misinformation, internet harassment, data intimacy concerns, and psychological impact of social media, teaching students how to navigate these responsible platforms is more important than ever,” explained Ashley Nelson, Professor of practice at the Freeman School of the Tulane University of Business.
Nelson, who learned her first class on social media in 2011, suggested that social media be treated as a car. Few parents would allow their teenager to take the car for a rotation around the block without any instruction, or perhaps even driver training.
“You wouldn’t do this, so why let your children have free social media reset without any guidance in their first years,” Nelson asked. “When my children were young, I monitored their social resources and used those moments to teach them how to engage in charge online.”
In the years that Nelson first engaged with students on the subject more than a decade ago, the landscape has changed significantly. Students then did not grow up with social media and some did not understand the consequences. The matter has worsened in the years that followed, even though children are the first on the platforms until they enter the adolescence.
Tamara Buck, JD, a professor of mass media and chairman at the State University of Missouri, has also called for greater efforts to teach individuals that there are legitimate and other consequences that come with social media interactions. She has led social media writing workshops throughout the region for the past 15 years.
“I wanted to empower children to make informed decisions on how to use the technology they were entering. I also wanted to educate parents on the weak choices their children could make,” said Buck, who added that the workshops were expected Usually from regional churches and nonprofits, and the answer was always a request for more information.
Times have changed – the consequences do not have
One issue that comes in writing -social media reading is that platforms are evolving, and those who use them differently. X is very different from tiktok – and this is challenges. Buck said she has made it a practice to download new platforms, especially attractive ones for juveniles, and identify personal or legal risks, and then expose them to teach families on how to manage consumption of them online.
“Technology changes as fast as we can’t go on,” Buck warned. “That is why we have to teach people to create and engage with content carefully. We can’t catch everything, but of course we can teach people to be careful in what they comment or share.”
Although technology has evolved, many of the consequences remain the same. What someone posted years ago can present problems today or tomorrow.
“Essential teaching for my business students 21- and 22-year-old is simple: what you say internet-personally and professionally issues,” said Nelson who explains that part of the studies includes past media disaster analysis Social, breaking where things went wrong, and then discussing how companies or individuals could have dealt with the situation better.
Then it is moved to the next employment, where students can review their presence online and, if necessary, be included in the “cleaning” of their social accounts. However, there is still the issue of guilt from the association.
“What makes students in trouble is not always their posting,” Nelson continued. “It is often a dumb comment of a friend to post them and those comments are visible to anyone. It is about the time schools begin to address these social media issues. I can see this information that fits in other courses of life skills already learned. ”
How early should the writing of social media start?
Experts suggest that the best efforts be placed on younger users. While individuals must be at least 16 to get a driver’s license, the same is not true mainly with social media. Although states have introduced legislation that can curb use, young children can be exposed years ago.
“Social media literature has come a long time. However, its added awareness is not typically included in K-12 curricula,” explained Dr. Kelly Vaughn, the temporary dean of the school of education at the Notre Dame de Namur University.
“Will it address the problems? It may be. But I believe that a more effective approach will include integration of social media reading into existing curricula than treat it as an independent course,” continued Vaughn.
She suggested that social studies classes should examine, analyze and debate the political and social consequences of social media laws and help promote a more organic meaning of these topics.
“Empower the students by giving them a voice in these discussions,” Vaughn said. It will provide them with the agency to navigate the digital landscape critically and responsibly. “
However, education can be the beginning, but not a cure.
“As we grow old, we hope to learn from the mistakes of others and avoid making the same,” Nelson added. “Social media literature can give students the tools to think critically about online content and to navigate social interactions more responsibly, but its possession requires practice and time.”