I can’t remember exactly when I started using social media, but as far as I know, my aunt created my Facebook account when I was just an elementary student. However, I was not active on it because I didn’t have my own mobile phone. Also, technology was just a small thing during that time.
During high school, I started becoming active on social media. I began connecting with my friends, classmates, and family, posting on my feed and sending messages to them. I also learned some new things from it just by reading others’ posts.
It was just a way of entertainment and interaction before, but over time, it became more than that—it influenced my opinions and mental health. I felt that we missed something about it. I wondered, “Why was social media not taught to us? How can we use it responsibly?”
I feel that social media is now more than entertainment—it has become stressful and toxic. No one can deny this. It always starts issues among people, and it has become a major source of fake news.
On the other hand, it also has good sides. Businesses now use it to reach a wider audience and customers. Many people have become successful because of it. I would call it a new way of living.
Through social media, we innovate, discover, and learn. It has pros and cons, sure, but what if it were taught in school as a subject? Do you think we could create a “better internet” in this case?
Picture this: You have a subject in school about social media—a structured course and syllabus on how to use social media effectively. You learn about its pros and cons and how to balance it. I think if we had this course, we could at least take advantage of its benefits and maximize its potential.
If schools taught us how to use social media to earn money, I think many students could somehow ease their financial burdens. As I said, some people do social media and content creation as their full-time job. With professional guidance, I believe everyone could make social media a better space.
Additionally, this could help stop fake news, prevent cyberbullying, and reduce mindless scrolling. With the right guidance, students could become more aware of how to use social media to their advantage, protect their privacy, and manage their online presence effectively.
In my opinion, if social media were to become part of the curriculum, we should focus on the following:
Enhancing Social Media Presence With social media growing, I think it is time for everyone to improve their online presence and use it to their advantage. If you have a strong profile, more people will see and notice you, and you can leverage it for educational and career opportunities.
Privacy and Security Scams and fraud are everywhere—even I was a victim of an online scam. With basic knowledge about online security, we can prevent these cases. I read about many people getting scammed because they are not well-informed about privacy and security. If you don’t know how to spot scams, you are always a target.
Ethical Behavior Online I understand and support free speech. However, I think everyone should always act ethically when spreading news, information, and posts online. Always think before you click.
Mental Health Awareness Nowadays, everything on social media seems fake—at least, based on what I’ve read in different articles. Many people feel stressed because they compare themselves to others, but in reality, some are just faking their online personas to show off. Learning to handle emotions regarding social media is important, especially for mental health.
Having structured online courses would be helpful to everyone. Even simple knowledge and basic awareness could contribute to creating a better version of social media.
However, at this time, I think some people are already knowledgeable about social media—they know its pros and cons but still take the "negative path" because it is easier and more satisfying, without realizing they are wasting time unproductively.
But yeah, I wonder if my social media experience would have been different if it had been part of our curriculum. Would I be more responsible with my social media use? Could I be more productive and maximize its benefits if I were more educated about it? I am not sure.
What I know right now is that I am learning to minimize my use of social media and to use my time wisely.
All images are made and designed by the author using Canva.