In 2023, there already are 4.8 billion social media users across the globe. This makes up over half of the world’s population. So there is no doubt that platforms like Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and others now play an important role in our daily lives.
However, while most people use these sites solely for entertaining purposes, they hide a wealth of other benefits. Namely, they can be used for your good in college. And in this article, we will tell you everything about this!
Benefits of Social Media for Students
Today, there are plenty of helpful tools for students. There are places where you can say, “Please, do my assignment for cheap,” and delegate your homework, online tutors, online libraries, and much more. Such auxiliary tools can indeed make your life in college simpler. And despite a common misconception, social media is among these tools.
Platforms like Instagram or Facebook have long proven their handiness in communication, leisure, and even business. Yet, they also offer a wealth of benefits for learning.
Namely, such platforms can help college students to:
- Boost their digital literacy;
- Acquire new skills;
- Improve knowledge retention and understanding;
- Build an effective community;
- Improve writing, etc.
7 Tips to Leverage Social Media for Success in College
The benefits we mentioned earlier are real. And there are many others. All you need is to use different online platforms the right way. And here’s how:
Use Facebook for Alerts and News
These days, most schools are trying to build their online presence and use tools like Facebook for this purpose. First of all, they use it to stay in touch with their current and potential students. And you can use this to your benefit as well.
Follow your college’s and class’s pages on FB to stay updated on important news and announcements. This will let you always be aware of important things.
Stream Live Lectures
Although different social sites are filled with entertaining and pointless content, there is also a lot of educational content. For example, on Facebook, there are a lot of groups where you can find handy information on various topics and even stream live lectures. There are also many educational channels on YouTube and Instagram that you can follow to extend your knowledge.
Follow Industry Experts
One of the greatest things about social media is that it enables us to watch different people and their lives, including famous people. And if you want to use your time on such sites to your benefit, you can use this chance to watch people who are experts in your field.
For example, you can follow famous entrepreneurs, marketers, etc. Most of them will share a ton of handy information with their subscribers. So by following them, you can expand your knowledge in your field and keep up with the latest industry news and trends.
Network More
These days, networking is one of the most powerful tools for success in any field. Through networking, you can discover new academic opportunities, such as interesting projects or internships. Also, you can find volunteering opportunities. You can even find a job. After all, studies show that 85% of jobs are now filled through networking. And social media is an excellent tool for this.
Use sites like LinkedIn and others to start building your own chain of contacts while still studying. You will be surprised by how many great opportunities you can find if you simply connect and talk to people.
Follow Your Professors and Classmates
It’s always exciting to follow celebrities, businessmen, and other famous people. However, what you really should do to use platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and others for success is to connect with your professors and classmates.
This has several purposes. First of all, this will create more seamless communication with your class. That is, you will be able to stay updated on any news, events, and so on. Besides, if you connect with your teachers and fellow students online, you will be able to ask questions and get the needed help with your studies quickly and easily. So don’t neglect this tip.
Participate in Discussions
One great thing about discussions and debates is that they create a friendly competition, helping participants discover controversial topics from different points of view. Also, they can help participants strengthen different skills, such as critical thinking, leadership, persuasion, and more. Needless to say, taking part in discussions can really help you in your studies. And this is one more way to use social media to your benefit.
After you follow industry experts, professors, and groups relevant to your academic interest, get into discussions with other people! Joining interesting and respectful debates on the Internet can help you boost your knowledge of the subject and gain a new perspective.
Show Your Work!
Finally, this tip might not be as obvious as the others. But it can really help you a lot in college and in the future.
Apart from following others and watching their experience, knowledge, and work, you can showcase yourself on the web too! Use social media to demonstrate your research work or personal projects. Share interesting insights and findings. Demonstrate your talents, and so on.
This will give you a few perks. First of all, by showcasing your work and talent, you can build your confidence. And if you get lucky, you might also gain recognition, build your personal brand, and discover a variety of opportunities in your field!
Also read: 7 Ways You Can Benefit From Instagram As a Student
The Bottom Line
Today, when we spend so much time scrolling the feed on different platforms, it’s simply a crime if we don’t try to use social media for purposes other than fun and leisure.
As you now know, there are plenty of ways to leverage such platforms for your good in college. Just like the best dissertation writing services or online course platforms, social media can offer you plenty of handy study tools and resources. You just need to know how to use them right!
