The increased use of social media over the last 10 to 15 years is enough proof that social media has come to stay. As the spearhead of the digital age, social media not only exists as a mirrored version of our physical communities and social spaces, but it is also a core part of our day-to-day activities which facilitates the conduct of business and commerce, communication, politics — especially over the last year of major national elections globally — and a general source of information for many.

Meltwater’s Digital 2024 Global Overview Report offers a crystal perspective on how much social media dominates the world’s population — that out of over 8 billion global citizens, the global internet user total is 5.35 billion people, with active social media user identities clocking the 5 billion population mark. This staggering milestone is a testament to how much the world currently identifies social media as a concrete addition to livelihood.

Albeit the immense benefits of social media within the current age of digitalization, there is the need to smartly weigh the charms and harms that come with social media. Especially since our entire lives do not centre absolutely on social media, there is the need for individuals to build up a structure that engages an almost austere regime of balance where social media use is adequate within a time.

More especially for students whose academic demands are large, social media usage must be brought under a certain subjection in a balanced sphere. It is in this balance that students can appropriate not just their time in terms of the use of social media, but what exactly they use social media for.

It is no secret that social media, in recent times, is surely one of the favourite pastimes of students across all levels. After a hectic day of class work, piles of assignments and exhaustive reading of scholarly papers, a scroll on TikTok looks like an opportunity to relax. A few reels on Instagram, reading some funny updates on the X trends and joining a Facebook live are a means to simply refresh one’s mind.

However, that charm of social media to keep one hooked and glued and consuming content for hours without end is real. It is in this regard that social media has become an addictive staple for many persons, especially for students. In the extremity of such addictiveness, social media could upstage attentiveness to academic work, leading to a loss of balance due to lack of boundaries.

There is also the reality of simply consuming entertaining content without specifically focusing on content that offers good information in relation to one’s academic work. Thus, in the face of a plethora of quality and relevant information on social media networks that could equip an individual in their academic quest, there is a diversion to focus on the entertaining and fun aspects. Two hours of scrolling, of which an hour could be spent watching videos that discuss one’s academic field, would be simply lost to texting friends, commenting on posts and scrolling reel after reel, which can undermine the balance one must establish with academic work and the use of social media.

The most important thing is for everyone engaged in these academic activities to understand the need to strike a balance between that and the use of social media. The uttermost step is to prioritize academic responsibilities above social media use, at all costs. A good balance between academic work and social media would be to clearly set the priorities right, and that would mean books before the socials. Exploring the concept of a digital detox, which is abstaining from social media periodically, is also a fine strategy to help.

One must deliberately take breaks from social media to help them focus more on that which is the main priority of their lives. This will help a student to easily focus on academic work. If these remain a hurdle, it is worthwhile that an individual will set boundaries and goals with accountability partners in place who would help guide these boundaries where one gets to achieve what they must achieve and not waste time.

Social media use is inevitable, and we cannot be evasive about how much it has become an impactful part of our lives. Therefore, for anyone who is engulfed in academic work, it is only necessary that they control the extent to which social media dominates their lives in order to sustain a balance that keeps them winning at all fronts without being distracted.