The social media dichotomy

In a recent My Zone survey, university students shed light on the multifaceted impact of social media on their well-being and relationships. The findings reveal a nuanced perspective, balancing positive opportunities and challenges.

Positive sentiments emerged as students highlighted social media's role in academic efficiency. “Social media efficiently transmits information, allowing access to necessary resources uploaded by lecturers," Shane Watson, a student at Varsity College in Johannesburg, South Africa, said. He further emphasised its positive influence on collaborative learning.

However, this efficiency is counterbalanced by concerns about distractions.

“It affects my thinking process during lectures. Social media distracts me," Watson added. He underlined the challenge of maintaining focus during academic activities.

"WhatsApp and Discord have become crucial for sharing resources and collaborating on projects," he admitted, but listed "constant exposure to idealised images" as a negative effect of social media that can "lead to feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt".

Yanique Zimmer, a student from the University of Namibia (Unam), agreed with Watson’s statement, adding: "My attention span has lowered due to a forming dependency on social media, making it more challenging to stay focused on academic tasks".

He tries to balance the content exposure on social media to maintain a safe environment, he said.

“If I scroll past something that makes me angry or sad, I try to ignore it.”



Forming meaningful connections

Many students from Unam's School of Medicine said social media's role in maintaining friendships is important as it helps them form meaningful connections.

During this online survey, most students agreed that it would be best to educate the youth on the positives and especially the negatives of social media. They suggested approaching the topic in "a very grounded way that students can relate to" as well as encouraging students to seek counselling so that they can identify when social media is negatively affecting their well being. This can be done through seminars on campus or through guidance counsellors, they said.

Moreover, university students who navigate the dichotomy of social media should use a balanced and proactive approach, the survey participants noted.