Exercising Safety on Social Media
Romeo M. Gonzales
In the era of constant online involvement, students exist in the presence of potential risks. The use of social media is already a normalized activity in this century. Social media is a form of technology that supports social interaction in different aspects. Nearly every student is involved with the use of it. As an educator, how can we ensure that our students are safe from the risks of it?
Social media is obviously beneficial in creating connections with others. However, it is not without fault. There are certain risks associated with the use of it. Online conflicts such as cyberbullying is a major issue in social media, and not all digital applications can stop this from happening. Students are at risk of receiving ridicule and negative postings from online strangers that hide behind a screen. There is also the issue of false information. Fake news is communicated and passed on so quickly that students are prone to misunderstand things happening around them.
Perhaps the major issue of social media is the lack of privacy. Although social media applications appear harmless, sharing too much information on these apps may lead to serious trouble. It is high time to teach social media safety to our students.
Teach students to verify their connections; communicate only with people they know in real life. Not every person they talk to on the internet has genuine intentions, which is why it is necessary to make students be mindful of the people they connect with. Also remind students to practice caution when sharing information on social media applications. Tell them to still keep their private lives away from these apps.
Taking the right security measures ensure a safe environment for our students to enjoy. Remind the students to be critical of what their social media can reach.
Reference:
Teach-Thought Publishing. 2020. 11 Social Media Safety Tips for Students. Retrieved from https://www.teachthought.com/technology/social-media-safety-tips-for-students/
--oOo-
The author is Master Teacher
I at Camachiles Elementary School