Mapping the Conversation Essay. Effects of Social Media on the Reading Patterns of College Students in the United States

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Effects of Social Media on the Reading Patterns of College Students in the United States
Background
To many people, social media networking is a relatively recent concept. Its usage, however, dates back to so long ago as the 1970s. While the earlier technologies allowed communication and exchange of ideas and satisfied the criteria for being regarded as social media, they have been overshadowed by the easy access, creativity, efficiency and speed of their more modern counterparts including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Skype, YouTube and Whatsapp. These qualities have endeared them to the younger generation who claims a huge part of their usage. In them they see an opportunity to create and develop friendships as well as share their emotions, ideas and cultural artifacts (Ito et al 113). With many of the college students in the United States falling in the young age bracket, the impact of social media on their learning activities, main among them reading habits, is so immense that it has raised the concerns of the involved authorities. According to the stakeholder in question, different perceptions and arguments have been borne.
Introduction
It’s an era in which computer technology rules many of the activities mankind undertakes. Such advents as Internet of Things (IoT) – which promises to connect different objects in achievement of a single objective – are evidence of the extent to which technology have penetrated human life. Nevertheless, one of the biggest impacts of technology on the way people run their lives is social media networking. A huge debate concentrated on the effects of social media platforms on different aspects of living, chief among them reading habits, has inevitably risen. Since reading claims a huge part of fulfillment of responsibilities and requirements for college students, much of the debate has been concerned on the impact of social media on the reading patterns of students. Exploiting the Statis Theory, this paper attempts to bring the discussion on the effects of social media on the United States college students reading habits on the table. It will include the perceptions and arguments of the various stakeholders involved in the issue. They include college students, social media companies, the government, academic institutions and parents.
Parental Concerns
Many parents worry that their children are spending more time on technological devices such as televisions, computers, tablets and phones than they do on their books. They argue that much of the time on social media is spent for entertainment purposes rather than increasing the breadth of knowledge and information. The main concern is that students on social media platforms are either chatting, messaging or viewing videos and graphics while studying, a habit that eventually leads to distraction and lower grades (Rosen, Carrier and Cheever 948-958). Further, social media have the power to grab the reader’s attention during an attempt to multitask. The concentration of students who watch television or use social media platforms while reading for academic purposes is greatly affected ( Mokhtari, Delello and Reichard 164-180). In the end, little cha...