Social media in education is the use of social media to enhance education. Social media are "a group of Internet-based applications...that allow the creation and exchange of user-generated content".[1] It is also known as the read/write web.[2] As time went on and technology evolved, social media has been an integral part of people's lives, including students, scholars, and teachers.[3] However, social media are controversial because, in addition to providing new means of connection, critics claim that they damage self-esteem, shortens attention spans, and increase mental health issues.
A 2016 dissertation presented surveys that focused on the impact of social media. It reported that 54.6% of students believed that social media affected their studies positively (38% agree, 16.6% strongly agree). About 40% disagreed, and 4.7% of students strongly disagreed. 53% of female students reported that social media negatively impacted their studies. Among male students, 40% agreed that social media had a negative impact on studies, while 59% disagreed.[4]