By: Kate Balser
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (UATV) – Excessive social media use has been associated with lower attention spans.
Social media is one of the biggest contributors to many people’s phone screen times, especially among younger generations. This includes students at college.
Despite the fact that social media platforms provide a fun and interesting experience, there are worries about how social media may affect kids’ academic performance.
Freshman student Summer Hawk said that she has noticed how social media has affected her education.
“Yeah I know I definitely get on my phone a lot. And I get distracted and I don’t pay attention and I miss like half the class and I’m like ‘oh shoot,’” Hawk said.
According to a 2020 study in the Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, excessive social media use is linked to shorter attention spans and more distractions. According to the study, individuals’ attention spans decreased the more time they spent on social media.
Short-form videos and posts dominate social media. This normalizes instant gratification. TikTok is one of the most popular short-form social media apps.
Although the University of Arkansas attempted to ban TikTok, students can still access it by simply turning off their campus WIFI.
According to data by The Healthy Journal, adolescents aged 18-29 spend an average of more than five hours on social media daily. The overall screen time has increased 17% between 2019-2021, which is more than the four years before.
Most college professors and faculty deal with students using their phones during class daily.
Morgan Denzer, an instructor in the department of food science, said that teachers can try to help students re-engage, however, it is also the students responsibility.
“There’s only so much we can do because it’s freedom of choice on the student whether the student wants to be present, and be present as in not looking at their phone,” Denzer said.
Freshman student Summer Hawk said that she deleted TikTok because it took up too much time.
“When I’m trying to focus on something outside of school outside of class trying to do work if I don’t want to do it I’m just gonna procrastinate and spend time on TikTok.” Hawk said.