The impact of social media
Social media permeates today’s society, with most of us engrossed in the latest happenings via apps such as Facebook, Twitter, WeChat, Snapchat and Instagram, to name but a few. At Nord Anglia Education, we embrace this modern-day phenomenon yet do so with caution and education. We know that our students are technologically literate and can share and receive information immediately, and we believe the benefits of this can far outweigh the negatives.
These benefits include opportunities for socialisation and communication, such as an enhanced sense of community and social responsibility. Online access also grants us access to unlimited information at our fingertips, which in turn provides students with increased global and cultural awareness and enhanced learning opportunities beyond the classroom. A great example of this is Nord Anglia’s online Global Campus, which connects 50,000 plus Nord Anglia students in 26 countries through online activities.
Whilst the internet and social media can be beneficial, their usage does come with notes of caution. For our students, internet or social media use can be a source of problems, such as addiction leading to depression. Students are susceptible to using social media to compare themselves to others, whether positive or negative, and this can sometimes lead to self-harm, substance misuse and generally negative behaviour. The reality is that some students also experience elements of cyberbullying.