The Price Of Going Viral: Education And Health At Stake -By Success Edenamuiki

While social media promotes businesses and enhances communication, do its negative effects on students’ health and education outweigh its benefits?

Many students today are deeply drawn to what is trending on social media. They want to stay connected, be seen, be heard, and in many cases become influencers. In the process, this constant desire for attention and relevance often distracts them from their education and the real purpose of being in school — to learn and build their future.

It is important to acknowledge that social media has positively transformed communication. It helps to promote businesses, share ideas, learn new skills, and provide access to information and educational content through platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and many others.

However, when used excessively, social media can have negative effects on students. It reduces study time, weakens concentration, disrupts sleeping patterns, and leaves students tired during the day. Lack of proper rest can also result in headaches and reduced academic performance.

Constant exposure to online pressure and comparison can also affect mental health, making some students feel anxious, less confident, depressed, lonely, and socially isolated. These habits can harm both their physical and emotional well-being.

Health is also paying the price of this growing viral culture. The pressure to constantly stay active online can lead to stress, anxiety, sleep deprivation, and emotional exhaustion. Many young people sacrifice proper rest, physical activity, and face-to-face interactions to maintain their digital presence. Excessive screen time can also contribute to headaches, eye strain, and poor posture.

If not properly managed, the pursuit of online relevance may undermine both the physical and mental well-being of individuals, especially students who are at a crucial stage of development.

To illustrate this point, imagine that a student, Willems Adams, is expected to attend a class at 7:00 a.m. on Monday but stays awake on social media until 3:00 a.m. As a result, he fails to get the recommended 8–10 hours of sleep needed by the body. This lack of sleep can lead to brain fog, making it harder to think clearly, concentrate, and remember information.

Students should focus more on education and reality because many things seen online today are unrealistic and sometimes misleading. Paying too much attention to such content can expose them to peer pressure and cyberbullying. Therefore, if not properly controlled, social media may do more harm than good to students’ education and health.

SUCCESS EDENAMUIKI
Journalism and Media Studies Student,
Delta State University, Abraka.