The Social Media Dilemma in Education

Recently I got a call from my friend asking my thoughts on the #Netflix documentary “The Social Medial Dilemma”

Being a part of education technology and international education domain for a decade now, I feel social media platform have empowered students with knowledge and access to plethora of career options, transparency in choosing the right course, institution or country, connecting with alumni’s/learners to get unbiased review about product/ service, also operationally connecting future classmates in advance to plan accommodation, travel etc., and get access to highest quality consulting advice or tutoring from any geography. The social media has also created revolution in terms of access to quality service providers for students at no cost with likes of Khan Academy, Online MOOCS etc and thereby democratised the availability of education to learners from all demographies and country. The list of benifits can go on...

But from the lens of education service providers and their promotions and marketing point of view definitely there are concerns at time since social media creates that illusion which might sometimes be far from reality. The usage of Social Media Marketing by education institutions and companies globally and content consumptions by students like #Youtube Videos, Quora Q&A, Blogs, #Facebook #Instagram Ads feeds and Google Reviews at time do lead to a biased behavioral decision making which at times need not be in their best interest. The physical campuses of institutions are not as exuberant and glorified as their social media accounts or websites.The Youtube Videos created by promotional teams might not have both the pros and cons of deciding on a career, institutions, educational product or services. The reviews posted on social media platform might not be from real users but bots of their digital marketing team.

Social Media is amazing tool but like everything in life there has to be check and balance. Its responsibility of Education Institutions and government bodies regulating them to ensure guidelines are developed which would have student’s interest and business ethics at its core. Like what kind of ad contents to be created or videos / blogs to be published. Recently one of education technology company teaching coding to school kids used Worlds Biggest Tech companies CEO's photos on all their adverts, asking parents do they want their child to become him? So the social media adverts are also harnessing unrealised dreams of parents and burden is shouldered on their young kids.

Also students need to be diligent and make sure the decision making process for their careers doesn’t only involve social media, but professional career coaches, parents, mentors and their teachers who know students well beyond their social media identity. Parents also need to be understanding the needs and choices of the current generation and work out a win win deal where "the screen time" on digital media devices of their children need to be monitored just like the regular homework, assignments or physical health check up

What are your thoughts on the same?

We can't change Big Tech overnight but here's what we can do.

Some read as food for thought

https://www.thequint.com/neon/hot-take/10-things-im-going-to-do-after-watching-the-social-dilemma-on-netflix

https://www.eu-startups.com/2020/09/the-social-dilemma-netflixs-documentary-and-what-it-means-for-startups/

https://contentmarketinginstitute.com/2018/09/influencer-marketing-fraud/

https://csic.georgetown.edu/magazine/social-media-reshaping-todays-education-system/

https://slejournal.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s40561-020-00118-7

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