Essay Sample on Impacts of Social Media on College and Career Goals

Introduction

Technology advancements have not left out the communication industry. Communication in the modern age has significantly revolutionized marked by the current dramatic growth of social media use as a tool of information conveyance. Social media is a ubiquitous communication tool that has gained success over the years. Different online platforms make up social media and serve different needs. For instance, the applications used for social networking include Google+ and Facebook. Online platforms used for microblogging include twitter, Dailybooth, and Tumblr among others. Instagram and Snapchat are applications primarily used for photo sharing while YouTube and Vimeo are used for sharing videos. In this regard, social media is embedded in the lives of students who are inclined to utilize online platforms in various ways (Dahlstrom and Bichsel 4). Additionally, students are more likely to have favorable attitudes toward the use of social media due to their young ages. As a result, an analysis of the impacts of social media on students is crucial in determining its benefits and limitations towards achieving career goals.

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The proliferation of devices among college students in educational institutions has made learning accessible at anytime and anywhere. For instance, students who enroll in online classes access tutorials on platforms such as YouTube or have online conversations with their instructors. Contrary, in physical learning environments, students utilize both face-to-face lectures and online works through social networking (Selvaraj 640). Students benefit from instantaneous feedbacks on questions or clarifications posted to instructors or professors. Therefore, social media has made communication easier and timely since the teaching staff does not need to meet with students to address minor issues. The social media through collaborative platforms enables the college staff to upload videos, pictures and share any needed information regardless of their location.

Additionally, social media platforms expose students to technology use; as a result, equipping them with the necessary skills required in the business world. The impact of technological progress extends to organizations which have adopted its use in various operations as a means of saving on time, cost, and other types of resources. For instance, the marketing department of many firms uses social media to expand its customer base and realize high revenue. Therefore, students who spend adequate time on social media platforms are exposed to a learning environment regarding the use of different technologies which molds their future career (Selvaraj 636). The technological skills gained are long lasting since they are useful until a new technology is invented and embraced by different institutions.

The social media builds students' knowledge base regardless of the uniqueness of one's course through student engagement (Mastrodisca and Metellus 26). The development of social media has a ripple effect on the availability of resources within the internet. Students with devices that enable them to use social media have an opportunity of joining forums that are course or study related. As a result, these study groups found on online platforms such as Twitter and Facebook connect students with similar interests and provide needed information to them. On that note, students who use different online platforms have the highest probability of accessing dozens of websites that provide the required information.

Currently, different people interested in a particular field take to social media platforms to share their ideas. As a result, students can significantly benefit from social media by gathering important information and constantly learning from others. However, before a student shares any information on the online platforms, it is important to consider the laid down protocols and etiquette requirements for the chosen site. The online platforms through digital footprints can damage one's identity if its guidelines are not adhered to resulting in the improper use of the site (Gilpin 1). The two main factors the students focus on include the accuracy of the intended information to be shared and the relevance of the interactive information sharing site.

According to Dahlstrom and Bichsel (12), the use of Google and YouTube among college students has significantly risen to 71%. The two online platforms are the most commonly used online resources for research works assigned in class. Access to information is an essential factor towards achieving high academic performance. Therefore, a healthier use of online platforms yields positive returns since activities such as searching and engaging with influencers is crucial in profile creation. The information accessed from the influencers could also serve as a motivation to work harder. As a result, social media is considered a learning and growing forum.

YouTube tutorials make students idealize their values which boosts the quality of presented assignments and increases their chance of achieving success in their academic works. Students clarify their goals before utilizing the different social media platforms since it is a means towards achieving the end. Therefore, access to accurate information requires an evaluation of various aspects such as the purpose of the research by considering the details, reasons, and information sources. The details question enables the student to identify the targeted research item clearly. On the other hand, the reasons address the benefits of accessing the information which is an important motivation. Lastly, the information sources define the reliability of the resources used to gain information.

By a different token, social media has been used for identity development, a crucial element in a career search. Students use postings and profiles on social media platforms to develop their identity (Mastrodisca and Metellus 25). The postings and status updates reveal the student's ideal identity virtually. The posting of positive information tailors one's career path since platforms such as LinkedIn give students an opportunity to engage with potential employers. Moreover, industry conversations on social media platforms are used by students to demonstrate their intense interest in a particular field of study. Proper illustration of a student's passion for the field builds his or her credibility vital for the job industry.

Additionally, students expand their networks through online participation on the social media sites. The networks built could be of great help to a student during job searches and when looking for professional advice. As a result, students positively utilize social media to increase their chances of achieving their career goals (Gilpin 1). Therefore, social media can serve as a mentor to students who thrive to be experts in their study field by equipping them with necessary skills at an early stage. Participation in positive critical activities in the social media sites builds the reputation of the online platform user, an initial stage towards gaining full expertise in a particular study field.

The use of social media for academic purposes has positively contributed to the digital learning environment. However, the potential for distraction is alarming to all stakeholders including the faculty, parents, and the students. It is unfortunate that students waste a lot of time on social media sites that do not give anything in return other than entertainment. To exemplify, a study conducted on Human Development College students revealed that every 1-3 hours in a day, the students use Facebook. As a result, the researchers proposed a reduction of time used on social media to improve academic performance (Ghareb and Sharif 818). Multitasking is not an option for addressing the issue of excessive social media use since the student's concentration still reduces resulting in negative academic performances. Additionally, the students might not realize the impact of their postings on online platforms until they begin looking for employment. The past has the potential of haunting the present-day career decisions of students who used social media platforms negatively. Therefore, the students are provided with an impetus to discontinue any addictive detrimental use of social media platforms.

Conclusion

In conclusion, social media platforms are crucial skill developers especially for skills that are not taught in class. The various online platforms give students an opportunity to conduct in-depth research and gain insights into additional information that was not available in class sessions. Additionally, design skills are acquired from the use of social media when the students are customizing their social networking profiles. These designs are a vital element of the online portfolio through the construction of resumes. Development of such skills would help any entrepreneur and marketing aspiring student in their future career path. Moreover, all students can benefit from the skills since in the design of an online portfolio required to market oneself in the job industry. Therefore, social media helps students realize their career goals by molding them when in school and upon completion.

References

Dahlstrom, Eden, and Bichsel, Jacqueline. ECAR study of undergraduate students and information technology. Louisville: EDUCAUSE Center for analysis and research. 2014.

Ghareb, Mazen, and Sharif, Hawar. Facebook Effect on Academic Performance and Social Life for Undergraduate Students of University of Human Developments. International Journal of Multidisciplinary and Current Research, 3, (2015): 811- 820.

Gilpin, Caroline. Will Social Media Help or Hurt Your College and Career Goals? New York Times. 2017. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/24/learning/will-social-media-help-or-hurt-your-college-and-career-goals.html

Mastrodicasa, Jeanna, and Metellus, Paul. The impact of social media on college students. Journal of College & Character, 14.1 (2013): 21-29.

Selvaraj, Sara. Impact of Social Media on Student's Academic Performance. International Journal of Logistics & Supply Chain Management Perspectives 2.4, (2013): 636 -640.