When Covid-19 hit in the year of 2020, everything went online—classes, meetings, assignments, lessons, and everything. Teachers also used social media as the medium to aid instruction among the learners such as posting their outputs in their Facebook accounts to get like reactions, video making in TikTok as their performance tasks and the likes. However, does social media among learners become boon or bane?
Social media is a great help in the teaching-learning process during this time of pandemic. Its main goal is to connect people easier. Each classes made their group chats for easier communication. Outputs and performance tasks became more innovative by using social media applications. Distance learning were made possible because both the teachers and learners can share their views and express their opinions that were beneficial in co-development and social skills since social media can reach larger audiences. Teachers can also create short but concise lessons that can be shared in TikTok, Facebook and YouTube. The main motive of social media is good however, in other cases, it leads to the bad side. Excessive use of it may lead to unknowingly disclosure of personal information like learner’s name, grade and section, school, and the likes. In addition, the more time the learners spent on social media, the more it can lead to cyberbullying, social anxiety, depression, and exposure to content that is not age appropriate. This will also affect the values inculcated to the young minds of our learners and worst; it became addicting.
Social media can be a blessing or bane depending on how we utilize it. Still, guidance of parents or guardians is still a must especially to our young learners. And to the older ones, you should be responsible and wise enough when using it. With just one click and it can change a life of a person. It is intended to a great purpose so we should use it to produce great outcomes.
By: Pearl Grace A. Gaspar|Teacher I | Our Lady of Lourdes Elementary School| Balanga City, Bataan
