Like it or not, American youth are decidedly online.

According to a 2013 report by Pew

Research, 78 percent of teens have cell phones, and almost half of those are smartphones —
which means they can log onto the Internet virtually anywhere, any time. You can bet many
of those students are also using social media tools like Facebook, Twitter and Snapchat —
maybe to excess.

These statistics might make educators a little uncomfortable. After all, uncontrolled social
media can be a major distraction in the classroom and open the doors for cyberbullying or the
sharing of inappropriate Web content. When looking at social media from this perspective, it
is understandable why many teachers choose to ban these technologies from their classrooms
entirely. This may be a mistake. In fact, with a little planning, social media can be a powerful
teaching tool. Here’s why.

The Case For Social Media In The Classroom

Mashable reports that in 2010, Portland-based teacher Elizabeth Delmatoff launched a social
media pilot program in her seventh grade classroom. Thanks to her carefully crafted lesson
plans and selective media choices, Delmatoff’s students’ grades and attendance improved
dramatically, and one-fifth of students began completing extra assignments for no credit at all.
Here are four reasons to consider following her lead in your own classroom.

1. Engaged students are more successful

Delmatoff told Mashable that at one point, students were nervous their blogging assignments
might get them into trouble — because they were so fun. Social media allows students to flex
their creative juices and interact with their peers in a way that just cannot be replicated in the
classroom. By engaging students in this way, learning outcomes improve.

2. Social media teaches important life lessons

In November, 2013, a school counselor named Julie Culp posted a photo of herself on
Facebook holding a sign that asked anyone viewing it to like and share the image. Her goal:
To teach students how quickly photos and ideas can spread online. According to The
Huffington Post, the image was shared more than 16,000 times and liked more than 600,000
times in the first week alone. By embracing social media, educators like Culp can teach
students how to use these tools appropriately.

3. Online collaboration trumps cliquish behavior

Mashable notes that students eventually entering the job market will be expected to
collaborate effectively and respectfully with their peers. By using social media, teachers
provide students with a head start on developing this important skill since most may find it
easier to share their ideas in what feels like a less personal setting. These technologies can
also serve as a great equalizer allowing students who typically would not interact to do so.

The benefits of social media in the classroom are clear, but so are its risks. Understanding and
planning for these downfalls can ensure these projects succeed.

Classroom Social Media Risks — And How To Beat Them

There is a reason why, according to CNN, a California school districts recently paid an
outside firm $43,000 dollars to monitor students’ social media behaviors: These technologies
can be abused and exploited. Teachers understand that as well as anyone, but that does not
mean they need to ban it entirely. Here are some of social media’s greatest risks (and how to
prevent them).

1. The Internet is a new medium for bullying

There is little denying the social media makes it easier for students to bully or abuse their
peers — or even their teachers. The Cyberbullying Research Center reports that in 2010, 20
percent of students reported being the victims of cyberbullying, and just as many admitted to
being cyberbullies. The group notes other studies place these estimates as high as 40 percent.
Fortunately the center also offers resources for teachers who want to prevent online bullying
among their students, including lists of warning signs, teaching materials for lessons in
Internet safety, and even scripts for parents and teachers who want to approach the subject
with their students.

2. Social media can be a time suck

Anyone with a Facebook account knows that what was meant to be a quick peek at friends’
activity can turn into an hour-long affair — at least. Teachers can prevent social media from
becoming a distraction or time-waster in their classrooms by setting clear rules about how
and when these technologies should be used, and by selecting classroom-endorsed tools
widely. More on that next.

3. The Internet is a dangerous place

Yes, the Internet is chock full of inappropriate images and language, viruses and scams.
Thankfully, notes Mashable, the Children’s Internet Protection Act helps protect students
from much of these dangers by blocking social media sites like Facebook and MySpace in
public schools. Tools that help teachers block unwanted content in the classroom are
available and include Edublogs, Edmodo and Wikispaces Classroom.

Planning Makes (Virtually) Perfect

If the points above teach us anything, it is that social media can be an important learning tool
when used appropriately — something that demands a great deal of planning and Internet
savvy. Do your research and plan for potential problems before introducing social media to
your students. Ironically, one of the best ways to do that is to flex your own social media
muscles, joining communities of educators willing to share their own ideas and experiences.