Learning via the social media

Social media platforms are getting more and more popular nowadays and are even viewed as the "IN" things among our youngsters today. As such, one cannot help wondering how these social media platforms can affect us in the way we learn and socialise in our community.



Do these social media platforms help to widen our social circle? Definitely. Nowadays, practically everyone is talking about facebook and sharing their experiences on facebook up to the stage that you really look like a nerd if you are not on facebook. Communication between our youngsters also tagged on social media chat lines so much so that some critics start to wonder whether human verbal interactions will one day be replaced by the social media. In fact, the widespread use of the various social media platforms do make me realise the power of sharing through a common medium.

In the olden days, people used to communicate with one another in writing via letters, telegrams, postcards which take days or even weeks to reach the receiving party. Subsequently, urgent communication were taken over via telephone calls. However, with the widespread usage of the internet, more and more people are communicating online initially via emails and now via the various social media platforms. One very big advantage of online communication is the 'speed' at which information is transmitted, a message can be disseminated within a split second simply by the click of a mouse or a tap on the keyboard! The greatest contribution to the learning era is the introduction of 'e-learning', online electronic billboards and the birth of online journals like this blog!

In my opinion, the greatest 'challenge' posed to social media users is the management of "information explosion'' created due to the speed at which information is transmitted through the world wide web. With this comes the sharing of information which are previously not easily available and even forbidden such as pornography and very specialised and technical information such as 'how to make a bomb'. These information, if fallen into wrong hands can be detrimental to society at large.

Hence, while it is good for people to continually learn and improve ourselves through technological advancements and innovations,  a corresponding set of guidelines have to be developed alongside the same advancements to counteract the side effects that come with it.

Always remember that we are living in an imperfect world and any new innovation is sure to bring along some undesirable side effects which we have to tackle before these disadvantages over-shadowed its advantages.

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