Evolution Of Social Media Pros And Cons

As a “Millennial”, I have watched the evolution of technology over the span of my life. I can remember a time where cell phones companies charged for every text that was sent from the phone as well as the ones that were received. A time where laptops were not common and those that people owned were bulky and were only good for work. Now not only have laptops and cell phones changed, but the very topography of the internet has shifted. Coined in 1999 by Darcy DiNucci, Web 2.0 refers to the shift in how web pages were designed and how users interacted with them. Social networks grew out of this growing shift to include websites such as MySpace, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Social networks have grown at such a rapid pace that it also led

Web 2.0 and social media itself are not very old, meaning we have yet to see their effects on a large scale. I believe that both Connolly and Martinez-Alemán offer valid opinions. I really appreciated that Connolly brought both sides of the argument of social media in a university setting. Pointing out that there was a study that suggested there was no difference between heavy and light social media users and their grade point averages. Martinez-Alemán offers that online interdependence is increasing, creating a broader larger campus community. I believe that there are pros and cons of social media in student learning and development. Ultimately, I think that social networking ultimately can be a good tool for student learning and development as long as it used responsibly and in the correct method. There is one place that I feel both Connolly and Martinez-Alemán touched on briefly in which social networking excels in aiding student development; identity

Connolly and Martinez-Alemán do a fantastic job at discussing reasons why social networking impacts student negatively and positively. However, I feel that they gloss over how social networking can help students form their identities in new and exciting ways. The ability to use and collaborate via social media and other digital communication tools is a competency laid down by ACPA and NASPA, making it part of our jobs as student affairs professionals to not only be able to use social media but how it impacts our students. Only time will tell if social media will have positive or negative effects long-term effects on learning and development. The technology is only getting more advanced and social media does not seem to be going