Social Media in the Classroom

I am an education major and I recently read an article about the pros and cons of using social media in the classroom. I found this article to be extremely interesting because of the rapid advancement of technology in the past few years. One major pro of using social media in the classroom is that it enhances student engagement in the classroom. For example, in this specific class the use of blog posts is beneficial because people can give their own opinion online if they do not get the chance to in class. Using social media can also prepare students for their future and how to properly use their resources. Even though there are pros about using social media in the classroom, there are also cons. One major con is that it can be a distraction in the classroom. Many students will have a hard time focusing on the task at hand if they have access to their phones, laptops, iPods, etc. A second con is cyber bullying. In the article I read, many students admitted to being harassed online. One last con of using social media in the classroom is that it discourages face-to-face communication. Students could possibly begin to rely on social media and have underdeveloped social and communication skills.