The Need for Social Media Education

Having social media introduced among the courses in our high school is what I personally would be a game changer that'll and can go on to shape responsible digital citizens in a world where we've seen many become a menace in the social space. Having this added to school curriculum would also be an amazing addition, especially given the fact that many have complained about how most of the current school courses don't have any real-life relevance. Social media definitely does, as it has been deeply woven into our daily lives.

Like I said, having social media introduced to our high school would be a great addition, and the reason why I think so isn't far-fetched, one of which is because it'll serve as an avenue for students to learn valuable lessons regarding the benefits of social media, such as digital marketing, information sharing, networking, and the like. while also being fully taught to be aware of the dangers social media can pose, such as cyberbullying, privacy risk online, and misinformation, not forgetting the toll such can leave on one's mental health, and I for one have a strong belief that these courses would help the next generation have a healthier relationship with social media, to a point where it's reshaped from being a toxic environment to a safe haven to do all sorts of things that positively improve us.

Some of the traditional courses we've presently in our high schools and even in the university are said to have little to no significant relevance or impact on real life, and neither do they have a real-world application. But with social media, the same isn't the case, as it's been a strong part of our lives and can even serve as a valuable skill acquisition that students can grow up to delve into after developing their skills in some of the related practical skills associated with social media, skills such as digital literacy and social media marketing, amongst many others.

I, for one, am among those who regularly complain about how our social media space has become toxic and a zone that isn't safe, but introducing it in our schools and having a dedicated teacher who's an expert in the field teach students would go a long way in impacting the lives of these young ones and as well shaping their social media mindset and interaction, because they'll learn practical and valuable skills such as the ethical uses of social media, online safety and privacy, mental health awareness, social media for career growth and business promotion, digital literacy, and many others. And that's why I said in the first paragraph that it's going to be a game changer.

With the huge amount of time young people spend online, the best way forward is to equip them with skills that'll have a significant benefit to them in the real world, and that's why it should be added because its benefits would definitely be more effective and beneficial to both our youth and the world at large, especially regarding social interactions.

But then talking about the downside of having social media introduced to our high schools, I don't think there are many, but then the few I can think about are maybe there might be concern that having social media introduced to our schools might in a way encourage more screen time rather than reduce it, or it interfering with other traditional school subjects, but then I personally don't think that'll be a big deal; teachers just need to manage each class well and make their teaching styles tie in enough for students to want to learn and look forward to their period.

All photos are mine, and the last image is a screenshot of my phone apps.