Social media plays an essential role in the life of students today and it is considered one of the strongest medium of communication in the 21st century. In this post, INTI International College Penang students Santhara Shuriyan, Lynette Ho, and Joanne Lee share a little about the importance of social media and their experience.
Encourage Online Learning
Santhara Shuriyan A/L Santhara Segeran from INTI International College Penang’s School of Business said the world has become so reliant on social media that its absence can cause catastrophe.
Santhara Shuriyan A/L Santhara Segeran, a local student from School of Business (SOBIZ), shared that he spent at least six hours a day on his Instagram meme account and, most recently, a TikTok account to stay connected.
“My favourite social media platform would be Instagram because the restrictions are more lenient and the users are more active, which is good for me to grow my meme page. It is also a platform where I can get the most recent information about local and international happenings,” he shared.
In Santhara’s opinion, the social media network is where people socialise and peer pressure does drive the expansion of social networks. He said, “In this day and age, practically everyone has access to the internet, and a majority of them have access to at least one social network. No one likes to be left out.”
Besides that, social media also exposes students to a whole new way of learning. He continued, “Social media can be used to deliver a live lecture to students as well as to distribute announcements and undoubtedly be used for e-learning.
“Educational videos on YouTube, easy access to e-books, online notes, and learning via video calls are major aspects that contribute to educational development. At the same time, if students have questions about their academic work, they can easily post them on social media to get assistance from others.”
Social media can also assist students in developing social reputation. “It helps students in their interpersonal interactions and can be advantageous when students graduate and enter the job market, where companies are searching for people who meet the standards as well as have solid interpersonal skills,” he explained.
Santhara, who prefers not to return to a time before social media existed, said, “I can’t picture a world without social media, especially now that nearly everyone is involved in it. Recently, WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram all went down briefly, generating widespread fear. This incident demonstrates that the world has become so reliant on social media that its absence can cause catastrophe.
Easy Access to Information
Lynette Ho Zhi Ning uses social media sites as a way to spend her free time.
Meanwhile, Lynette Ho Zhi Ning, who is also a local student from SOBIZ, spends no more than ten hours a day on social media platforms. She uses Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, WhatsApp, and WeChat regularly, and she occasionally uploads photographs or stories to keep her followers updated on her life.
Lynette uses social media sites as a way to spend her free time. “When I have nothing to do, my social media platforms keep me company. It’s simple, convenient, and uncomplicated,” she said.
According to Lynette, humans are social animals and like to be part of a group and follow what it does. It is through social media networks that people can create new friendships, express their views and opinions, and get updates from friends they have not seen in years.
Besides that, social media is often easier and more convenient to access information, provide information and communicate. Lecturers and students can be connected and share updates on teaching and learning as well as campus events.
“Social media is also a platform where educational institutions share knowledge, messages or information. It’s a versatile tool for reaching a large audience. Students can use social media platforms to stay up-to-date on the latest developments in their profession,” Lynette said, adding that she frequently uses Messenger and WhatsApp to interact with lecturers.
Encourages Creativity
Joanne Lee believes that social media allows students to demonstrate, nurture, and hone their talent.
On another note, Joanne Lee, who is currently pursuing her Diploma in Mass Communication, shared that she spends at least six to seven hours every day on social media, both in her free time and at work. She makes money and built her career using Instagram and China TikTok (Douyin).
Unlike Santhara and Lynette, Joanne prefers TikTok as it offers a wide selection of short videos and hit music. However, if she had to choose to keep only one social media platform, she would also choose Instagram. The platform enables her to broaden her audience and seize opportunities to engage with certain businesses to collaborate and drive brand awareness.
According to Joanne, social media is a platform where students can express their creativity and even start a career. “Social media allows students to demonstrate, nurture, and hone their talent by sharing images, blogs, and videos. This can open up new avenues in an age where innovation is highly prized and can bring you far,” she said.
With the pandemic forcing some people to search for new ways to make money during these difficult times, social media provides a new form of business and new ways of learning. Social media can serve a much greater purpose than connecting long lost friends – it can drive sales and ensure that no student is left behind during lockdown. When used wisely, social media platforms are valuable tools for the changing times.