ATTENTION matrics: you must prepare properly for the exams.
A recent global study has found that with social media platforms, scholars – especially high school pupils – spend too much time focused on social media rather than their studies.
As with everything else in life, social media has many positives but also comes with many negatives.
Holger Schonfeld, a qualified business and life skills coach, as well as the director of the College for Business and Maritime Studies, said more pupils and students are getting detached from the realities of life and are being drawn into the world he calls “unrealism”.
“Facebook, for instance, has reported that they have 1,3 billion users across the world and this number increases daily. On Facebook, people can pretend to be someone they are not, often posting inappropriate pictures to get likes or more followers.”
Schonfeld said this is not the society we need.
He said parents had to step in and regulate their children’s use of social networks during exam periods.
“This may sound extreme, but I have personally seen students using cellular phones in the classroom to play games or chat on social media, rather than engage with the lesson.
“South Africa’s matric pass rate is on a steady decline. There is so much social pressure for young people to join groups and to be accepted as ‘friends’ by each other online. Social media is driving us into a future of dependency on or addiction to social media.”
Schonfield said his college offered some free guidance and career counselling for matriculants from now until the end of November. People looking for more information can contact the college by:
Phone: 011 339 1301
Email : [email protected]
Visit : www.maritimecollege.co.za
Message : 074 585 8119 on WhatsApp
