Guest Editorial
by Van Holstad
Social Studies teacher
Central High School
Many of us reminisce about our high school days and how carefree we were, but we need to realize that the world and high schools of today are very different, and that it is pretty difficult to be a high school student now. Students have been reporting high levels of anxiety related to high-stakes testing and social media, among other things. They face significant distractions and manipulation from media.
In the last 2 or 3 decades, our world has become smaller and smaller with ever evolving smartphone technology. We have seen the expansion of media match the introduction of new technologies to the point that we have significantly more media than ever. The most significant media affecting our students is social media -- outlets like Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, etc.
Even though the jury is still out on the impact of social media in the 2016 presidential election, we can recognize that social media can, has, and will continue to manipulate people. That manipulation has the most impact on our students who are still trying to find themselves. In a recent study conducted by San Diego State University, researchers found that increased time on smartphones by teens not only increased anxiety levels, but also made teens feel more socially isolated leading to increased toughs of suicide from our teens.
Have we seen the limits of the amount of media in today’s world? Is there a threshold of social media, or will we continue to see new forms of social media pop up? I did an informal survey of my students and they reported that they use two or three different forms of social media throughout the day. Students also said that they would not use more than 2 or 3 and that if new social media was introduced, they would get rid of others that have become unpopular. To me, this is a good sign that students recognize that there is a limit to the different types of social media and they are starting to manage the information introduced to them, but there is still work to be done.
One of the things we try to instill in our students is to be careful with their contributions to social media. In other words, what they post on social media will have consequences. Many students say things to others on social media that they would never say face to face. Mean posts with the shield of technology are, unfortunately, commonplace and contribute to the isolation and thoughts of suicide that we see increasing today. We also help students realize that once a picture is sent to social media, it is out there and will spread, and you can’t “un-send” it. Employers are now accessing social media and using information to hire and or fire prospective employees adding to the importance of monitoring contributions to social media.
So…what is the solution? To what extent do we protect our young adults? Do we get rid of smartphones? Do we outlaw social media? Not a chance. Smart phone technology will not be going away, in fact, I think this technology has and will continue to be a major tool in the workforce. Think about it. Most of the jobs that today’s high school students will have 5 years from now do not exist yet and will be based on the ability to develop, use and manipulate smart technology. Our constitution will not allow the elimination of social media as an avenue of our 1st amendment right to free speech, so we must adapt.
We have to make sure that people are responsible in their interactions with media, especially social media.
With student anxiety at an all-time high, students still face some the same issues long associated with high school , however. As they get closer and closer to graduation, many catch the disease of “Senioritus” (lack of motivation and drive and the desire to “get out of here”). As the symptoms of “Senioritus” start to impact the seniors in high schools around the country, teachers will constantly remind them that they will need to stay focused and finish high school strong.
As graduating students enter the next stage of their lives, it is my hope that their education has given them the tools they need to be responsible consumers of media – to recognize the fact that they are bombarded with media all day every day and that all media is connected to some type of agenda. I also hope that, as my former students wade through the media, that they consider multiple of issues and realize that the messages that they contribute have an effect on others as well. Lastly, it is my hope that, as responsible consumers of media, they also can recognize when they just need to put their phone down and go outside and play as we did when we were kids.
by Van Holstad
Social Studies teacher
Central High School
Many of us reminisce about our high school days and how carefree we were, but we need to realize that the world and high schools of today are very different, and that it is pretty difficult to be a high school student now. Students have been reporting high levels of anxiety related to high-stakes testing and social media, among other things. They face significant distractions and manipulation from media.
In the last 2 or 3 decades, our world has become smaller and smaller with ever evolving smartphone technology. We have seen the expansion of media match the introduction of new technologies to the point that we have significantly more media than ever. The most significant media affecting our students is social media -- outlets like Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, etc.
Even though the jury is still out on the impact of social media in the 2016 presidential election, we can recognize that social media can, has, and will continue to manipulate people. That manipulation has the most impact on our students who are still trying to find themselves. In a recent study conducted by San Diego State University, researchers found that increased time on smartphones by teens not only increased anxiety levels, but also made teens feel more socially isolated leading to increased toughs of suicide from our teens.
Have we seen the limits of the amount of media in today’s world? Is there a threshold of social media, or will we continue to see new forms of social media pop up? I did an informal survey of my students and they reported that they use two or three different forms of social media throughout the day. Students also said that they would not use more than 2 or 3 and that if new social media was introduced, they would get rid of others that have become unpopular. To me, this is a good sign that students recognize that there is a limit to the different types of social media and they are starting to manage the information introduced to them, but there is still work to be done.
One of the things we try to instill in our students is to be careful with their contributions to social media. In other words, what they post on social media will have consequences. Many students say things to others on social media that they would never say face to face. Mean posts with the shield of technology are, unfortunately, commonplace and contribute to the isolation and thoughts of suicide that we see increasing today. We also help students realize that once a picture is sent to social media, it is out there and will spread, and you can’t “un-send” it. Employers are now accessing social media and using information to hire and or fire prospective employees adding to the importance of monitoring contributions to social media.
So…what is the solution? To what extent do we protect our young adults? Do we get rid of smartphones? Do we outlaw social media? Not a chance. Smart phone technology will not be going away, in fact, I think this technology has and will continue to be a major tool in the workforce. Think about it. Most of the jobs that today’s high school students will have 5 years from now do not exist yet and will be based on the ability to develop, use and manipulate smart technology. Our constitution will not allow the elimination of social media as an avenue of our 1st amendment right to free speech, so we must adapt.
We have to make sure that people are responsible in their interactions with media, especially social media.
With student anxiety at an all-time high, students still face some the same issues long associated with high school , however. As they get closer and closer to graduation, many catch the disease of “Senioritus” (lack of motivation and drive and the desire to “get out of here”). As the symptoms of “Senioritus” start to impact the seniors in high schools around the country, teachers will constantly remind them that they will need to stay focused and finish high school strong.
As graduating students enter the next stage of their lives, it is my hope that their education has given them the tools they need to be responsible consumers of media – to recognize the fact that they are bombarded with media all day every day and that all media is connected to some type of agenda. I also hope that, as my former students wade through the media, that they consider multiple of issues and realize that the messages that they contribute have an effect on others as well. Lastly, it is my hope that, as responsible consumers of media, they also can recognize when they just need to put their phone down and go outside and play as we did when we were kids.
RSS Feed