Benefits of Social Media

In the contemporary world, social media platforms such as in the case of Facebook, Twitter, Snap Chat, WhatsApp, YouTube, and Instagram exist as not only an integral but also indispensable part of most individual’s day to day lives particularly teenagers. There are numerous benefits directly associated with modern-day application/use of different social media platforms among both teenagers and young adults, concerning this, some of social media’s positive impacts include.

Creation of a more educational Environment

Over the years, the rising popularity of social media platforms among not only students but also practitioners has encouraged educators especially marketing educators to find different ways in which social media can be incorporated effectively into their classrooms[1]. Concerning this, social media to a great extent has transformed the landscape information access as well as dissemination online. Due to the fact that these platforms have a wide range of communication channels, this aids students in collaborative learning where students actively engage in meaning academic discussions online, informational attainment, and exchange of ideas among students from different parts of the world.

With regard to informational attainment, social media platforms provide students with links to numerous academic resources and experts in various fields, in addition they also aid students interested in international learning opportunities acquire critical information such as on students programs, grants, and the overall cost of living which is mainly acquired from students in these learning institutions. Several research have found a positive correlation between incorporating some of the popular social media platforms such as Twitter and students’ motivation, engagement/participation, as well as immersion into their school work, moreover, are also create a sense of collaboration among; hence, these social platforms are beneficial to classroom teachers[2].

Social Media & Social Identity.

Another major benefit of modern-day social media platform is that they play an important role in adolescent development tasks among them identity development, peer engagement, as well as aspirational development[3]. In relation to this, social media platforms have to a great extent has opened as new channel of communication which generally allows teenager to grow both emotionally and socially from other people on a global scale primarily through information exchange[4].

Research also indicates that social platforms aid adolescents in gaining self-esteem, encourage self-identity exploration, provides increased opportunities for self-disclosure and ultimately promote safe identity processes which are deemed as critical for both healthy growth and identity development[5]. In the teenage development stage, peer support is important and one of the benefits of social sites is that they support these needs. Moreover, social platforms are also highly beneficial to adolescents with struggling with things such as their sexual identity as they are likely to find adolescents facing similar problems or event support consequently aiding them feeling more confident and ultimately less lonely.

Communication

Conclusively, another major benefit of social platform is the fact that they act as a great source of news. Concerning this, through interactions with people from various part of the global people are able to stay informed of things happening across the globe. Moreover, they also provide an opportunities for people to not only voice out their personal opinions; hence, aiding in creating both social and political movements to enable their voices to be heard[6].

Bibliography

Alexandra K. Abney, Laurel A. Cook, Alexa K. Fox, and Jennifer Stevens. “Intercollegiate Social Media Education Ecosystem”. Journal of Marketing Education, (2018):16.

Ellison, N., Uhls,Y. & Subrahmanyam. K. “Benefits and Costs of Social Media in Adolescence”. American Academy of Pediatrics, http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/140/Supplement_2/S67

Taylor, S., Hunter, G. & Melton, H. “Student Engagement and Marketing Classes”. Journal of Marketing Education”, 33(1), (2011): 73-92, https://doi.org/10.1177/0273475310392542

White, Rob and Wyn, Johanna. Youth in a digital age. In Youth and Society: Exploring the Social Dynamics of Youth Experience. 2nd Ed, Melbourne, Australia. Oxford University Press, (2008). 210-222.     

[1] Alexandra K. Abney, Laurel A. Cook, Alexa K. Fox, and Jennifer Stevens. “Intercollegiate Social Media Education Ecosystem”. Journal of Marketing Education, (2018):1

[2] Taylor, S., Hunter, G. & Melton, H. “Student Engagement and Marketing Classes”. Journal of Marketing Education”, 33(1), (2011): 22.

[3] Ellison, N., Uhls,Y. & Subrahmanyam. K. “Benefits and Costs of Social Media in Adolescence”. American Academy of Pediatrics.

[4] White, Rob and Wyn, Johanna. Youth in a digital age. In Youth and Society: Exploring the Social Dynamics of Youth Experience. 2nd Ed, Melbourne, Australia. Oxford University Press, (2008): 48

[5]Ellison, N., Uhls,Y. & Subrahmanyam. K. “Benefits and Costs of Social Media in Adolescence”. American Academy of Pediatrics.

[6] White, Rob and Wyn, Johanna. Youth in a digital age. In Youth and Society: Exploring the Social Dynamics of Youth Experience. 2nd Ed, Melbourne, Australia. Oxford University Press, (2008): 52