How do we balance the need for technology in our classrooms
with the need to protect students from the negative impacts it can cause? This
is a question Charles Chambers Nadi explores in his article “A-G Warns OfSocial Media Impact.” I believe this is a question we should all consider when
exposing our children to technology and social media.
Nadi’s article explains in Fiji, the Minister for Education,
Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, recently gave a speech speaking of the importance of
understanding the impact of social media. He also discussed the way in which he
believes social media should be managed. The speech was delivered after a
number of teen suicides took place in relation to the teens’ involvement with
social media.
I believe this is a difficult topic to approach because I
can understand the opinions of both sides of the discussion. When used
responsibly, technology and social media can have a positive effect on the
student and can contribute to their success in school. On the other hand, there
have been far too many documented suicides linked to social media.
The teachers and adults tasked with protecting these kids
are the ones that encourage their growth by introducing new methods to best
help them, but they must also be the ones to judge whether these tactics should
be integrated. This is a belief Mr. Sayed-Khaiyum strongly encourages. It is
his opinion that teachers should reach out to those they believe to be the most
at risk of harm. They should seek out the student’s attention and foster a safe
usage of social media.
I understand why he believes this the safest route to having
children use social media, but I believe this policy should be in place for
every student using social media. Perhaps this is also the opinion of Mr.
Sayed-Khaiyum and was simply not explained in the article, but I do not think
it is possible for a teacher to have such a large responsibility of being the
one to pinpoint which students they believe to be the most affected by social
media. This could cause many students to be reached out to and have a great
impact, but it would also allow for many students to be left out. It is
impossible for any one person to have a perfect understanding of everyone they meet.
If a student were to be negatively influenced by social
media and make a decision as devastating as suicide and were not reach out to
by a teacher, could the teacher be at fault? I do not believe that should be
the case. Other teachers, students, and parents could blame the teacher. The teacher
could begin to believe it was their fault for not having as deep of an impact
on the student as they did for others. That is an unfair fault to be placed on a
person. There should be a large support system of people to foster the
effective uses of social media on students.
Cheyenne, I recently saw an article that discussed how children's brains act as if they are on a drug when using electronic devices. They can essentially develop an addiction to technology. So, I think it is important especially with younger children that the amount of time they spend on electronic devices be limited. This is not to say that they should not use them at all because the way the world is going an understanding of technology and the way it works is becoming a major key to success. I think that maybe if young children spent less time on devices and more time interacting with each other and playing with each other the way humans have for thousands of years up until this point, than maybe some of the mental health effects could be cut down. It is difficult to say what the best solution to the problem is because everyone shows the best parts of their life on social media. This can create a sense that your life isn't as good as everyone else's and I think that is a common misconception that people have.
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