{"id":8,"date":"2025-07-15T22:42:11","date_gmt":"2025-07-15T22:42:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/onlineacademiccommunity.uvic.ca\/ssenthilkumaran\/?p=8"},"modified":"2025-11-02T04:47:17","modified_gmt":"2025-11-02T04:47:17","slug":"__trashed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/onlineacademiccommunity.uvic.ca\/ssenthilkumaran\/2025\/07\/15\/__trashed\/","title":{"rendered":"From Scrolling to Studying: Social Media\u2019s Impact on My Education"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"is-style-default\">Photo by&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/@priscilladupreez?utm_content=creditCopyText&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_source=unsplash\">Priscilla Du Preez \ud83c\udde8\ud83c\udde6<\/a>&nbsp;on&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/photos\/a-man-sitting-at-a-table-with-a-laptop-in-front-of-him-432_UfGLmTA?utm_content=creditCopyText&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_source=unsplash\">Unsplash<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/onlineacademiccommunity.uvic.ca\/ssenthilkumaran\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9598\/2025\/07\/priscilla-du-preez-432_UfGLmTA-unsplash-1-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-10\" srcset=\"https:\/\/onlineacademiccommunity.uvic.ca\/ssenthilkumaran\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9598\/2025\/07\/priscilla-du-preez-432_UfGLmTA-unsplash-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/onlineacademiccommunity.uvic.ca\/ssenthilkumaran\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9598\/2025\/07\/priscilla-du-preez-432_UfGLmTA-unsplash-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/onlineacademiccommunity.uvic.ca\/ssenthilkumaran\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9598\/2025\/07\/priscilla-du-preez-432_UfGLmTA-unsplash-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/onlineacademiccommunity.uvic.ca\/ssenthilkumaran\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9598\/2025\/07\/priscilla-du-preez-432_UfGLmTA-unsplash-1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/onlineacademiccommunity.uvic.ca\/ssenthilkumaran\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9598\/2025\/07\/priscilla-du-preez-432_UfGLmTA-unsplash-1-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>I\u2019m\u00a0Sai, a\u00a02nd year student\u00a0in the\u00a0Commerce\u00a0program at\u00a0UVic. Growing up in the digital age, I never imagined that platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube would become such powerful tools in my education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It started with educational creators on\u00a0<strong>Instagram<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<strong>TikTok<\/strong>\u00a0who break down complex subjects into bite\u2011sized, memorable videos. This trend is backed by studies showing social media boosts engagement when used intentionally in education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I also discovered the power of\u00a0<strong>Online study groups<\/strong>, where students from around the world share notes, ask questions, and collaborate. These communities have become a virtual classroom where peer support thrives. Meanwhile,\u00a0<strong>LinkedIn<\/strong> has helped me explore career paths, connect with mentors, and even find internship opportunities in my field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Benefits and Challenges of Social Media Learning<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>While social media has unlocked countless opportunities for me, it also comes with its share of challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On the positive side, platforms provide:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Free, high\u2011quality educational content<\/strong>, accessible 24\/7.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Opportunities to join\u00a0<strong>global learning communities<\/strong>\u00a0regardless of geography.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Engaging formats like infographics, explainer videos, and live Q&amp;A sessions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>But there are downsides too. For instance, <a href=\"https:\/\/arxiv.org\/abs\/2501.03611?utm_source=chatgpt.com\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/arxiv.org\/abs\/2501.03611?utm_source=chatgpt.com\">84.5% of students report <\/a>that social media can distract them and harm assignment completion rates. The rapid spread of\u00a0<strong>misinformation<\/strong>\u00a0is another major issue, requiring us to develop strong media literacy skills (<a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.teenvogue.com\/story\/media-literacy-schools-misinformation\">Teen Vogue<\/a>). Privacy concerns and screen addiction are risks I\u2019ve had to actively manage.To deal with these challenges, I\u2019ve started using \u201cstudy-only\u201d accounts and timer apps to keep my focus intact. Setting healthy boundaries has been key to turning social media into a productive learning tool.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why Digital Literacy Matters<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In today\u2019s world,&nbsp;<strong>digital literacy<\/strong>&nbsp;is as important as reading and writing. It\u2019s not just about knowing how to use apps\u2014it\u2019s about evaluating information critically, communicating responsibly, and protecting your digital footprint.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These skills help me:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Spot false or misleading information quickly.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Collaborate effectively in online projects.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Safeguard my personal data and privacy online.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Build a professional presence for future career growth.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Digital Literacy: Realizing the Promise of Technology | Shauna Begley | TEDxRoyalRoadsU\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/oGwSzp2xBU4?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>When I came across Shauna Begley\u2019s TEDx talk,&nbsp;<em><a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=oGwSzp2xBU4\">\u201cDigital Literacy: Realizing the Promise of Technology\u201d<\/a><\/em>, it felt like she was speaking directly to my experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In her talk, Shauna described how technology is only as powerful as the way we use it. That really resonated with me because there were times I used social media mindlessly\u2014scrolling for hours\u2014but I also realized that intentional use made all the difference. When Shauna said,&nbsp;<em>\u201cDigital literacy isn\u2019t about technical skills alone\u2014it\u2019s about curiosity, critical thinking, and confidence in digital spaces\u201d<\/em>, it made me reflect on how I could transform my relationship with technology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This TEDx talk inspired me to take small but impactful steps: curating my feed to include more educators, fact-checking information before sharing, and embracing apps that help me stay organized.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Conclusion: Turning Scrolling Into Purpose<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Looking back, I can see how social media has been both a distraction and a powerful learning ally in my academic journey. The difference came when I shifted from passive scrolling to intentional use\u2014choosing to engage with content that inspires growth instead of wasting hours in endless feeds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Shauna Begley\u2019s words reminded me that&nbsp;<strong>digital literacy isn\u2019t just about keeping up with technology\u2014it\u2019s about using it to shape our future responsibly and creatively<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As I move forward, I\u2019m committed to using social media in a way that supports my goals and personal development. And maybe that\u2019s the key lesson here: it\u2019s not about avoiding social media but about transforming how we interact with it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Photo by&nbsp;Priscilla Du Preez \ud83c\udde8\ud83c\udde6&nbsp;on&nbsp;Unsplash I\u2019m\u00a0Sai, a\u00a02nd year student\u00a0in the\u00a0Commerce\u00a0program at\u00a0UVic. Growing up in the digital age, I never imagined that platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube would become such powerful tools in my education. It started with educational creators on\u00a0Instagram\u00a0and\u00a0TikTok\u00a0who break down complex subjects into bite\u2011sized, memorable videos. This trend is backed by studies [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21687,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-edci-338"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/onlineacademiccommunity.uvic.ca\/ssenthilkumaran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/onlineacademiccommunity.uvic.ca\/ssenthilkumaran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/onlineacademiccommunity.uvic.ca\/ssenthilkumaran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/onlineacademiccommunity.uvic.ca\/ssenthilkumaran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/21687"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/onlineacademiccommunity.uvic.ca\/ssenthilkumaran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/onlineacademiccommunity.uvic.ca\/ssenthilkumaran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13,"href":"https:\/\/onlineacademiccommunity.uvic.ca\/ssenthilkumaran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8\/revisions\/13"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/onlineacademiccommunity.uvic.ca\/ssenthilkumaran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/onlineacademiccommunity.uvic.ca\/ssenthilkumaran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/onlineacademiccommunity.uvic.ca\/ssenthilkumaran\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}