Evolution of social networks:

Addiction to any social networks will definitely reduce the productivity.

After Google+, RG?

Its alarming that most students use alot of money to subscribe for data bundles

Great question!

The class gave me more trouble was a class in the first half of 2009 They spent the night on FB or playing on the internet.; They arrived in the morning in the classroom in a vegetative state and many even slept during my lesson. Of the 17 students in this class, only one was approved. Some who have repeated this class with me did not repeat this bad behavior in the following semester.

In general, what to do? If they lose income, they must pay for it until they learn.

At the same time, I remember a phrase from Umberto Eco on the effect of TV on the masses: "what would be the masses without the TV to distract them!"

I believe the FB fulfill a similar role. Slightly better because somehow encourages interaction between people. Distracts a little bit differently.

Students are increasingly (and perhaps alarmingly) using FB, everyday (almost every time, as they now make it through mobile devices). While we feel, this has some (negative) effects on their concentration for studies, they (how ever) convincingly argue about its positive side, also. Now that year-ending final (University) exam is going on, we old-timers may expect students to concentrate more on books & notes (and not on FB). But, even just before the exam (and of course, definitely after the exam) they (students) get into (spend time on) FB.

They get practical tips (before exam) and relieve stress (or share experience) soon after exam).

The attached compilation on such response/ reflections (actual) can be a sample study.

Thanks @BJ. I have noticed that, their data package is larger than mine.

That is a phenomenon that we are seeing. As Bonface said they spend lot of money as well for the data packages. I am not sure what we can do until they themselves realize the relative importance they have to give to the studies and FB. May be if they are severely affected they will then understand.

I think the whole period is transitional, so it is the phenomenon you described. I hope that after some yeas the phenomenon will be restricted to the ones that deserve. In a few year everything will be in balanced!

Thanks Alexandre, Rabinayaran, Profs N and Costas et al.

Our students are caught up with their social media!!! Until they cannot manage themselves (sleepy in class @ Alexandre), don't concentrate, studies are badly affected (@RS and Prof N).

This time is my semester end. I noticed shoddy lazy work and poor writing, and copying of lab reports. I called some to my office and advised them.

@Costas, I'm not so sure my students are mature enough to find a balance.

Certainly, they become very dependent, such as those who smoke cigarettes, play with their mobile phone, drink or other exciting ..

They are completely absorbed!

The memory capacity decreased. They can not think about deep subjects ...

the level of nervousness increased ...

Certainly, they become very dependent, such as those who smoke cigarettes, play with their mobile phone, drink or other exciting ..

They are completely absorbed!

The memory capacity decreased. They can not think about deep subjects ...

the level of nervousness increased ...

Social Network are the most visited sites by the students.

They interact with different people and make new friends there. Due to this, there with real friends has decreased to a large extent. They have aligned themselves towards the virtual world of social network which is effecting there real world in some way or another.

Regards,

Nitish

@Noureddine: I agree that 'The memory capacity decreased. They can not think about deep subjects ...' It's probably the effect of their MULTI tasking; they cannot focus and concentrate deeply!

@NItish: I have observed also they don't wish to communicate and make REAL friends. They already have enough of VIRTUAL friends; 'there with real friends has decreased to a large extent'.

Thanks all of you.

Yes, they spend a lot of time on FB. That is true of the whole Gen y. That is a part of its culture. It reflects their way of social intercourse.

Our times were different. usually every previous generation is somewhat critical of the subsequent generation. Even Plato (400 B.C.) said: “Today’s youth are disrespectful and undisciplined” But I think that is the way things are and we have no choice but to accept their way of doing things. This is the way their society has structured itself. Of course, we can make efforts at regulating them somewhat if it affects their being attentive in the class.

Evolution of social networks:

Addiction to any social networks will definitely reduce the productivity.

After Google+, RG?

Dear Prof Debi, thanks for your views (and Plato's).

I agree 'we have no choice but to accept their way of doing things. This is the way their society has structured itself.'

But it's a little different in my church. Our young people are not all 'disrespectful and undisciplined'. Perhaps all the parents (including my dad) have been so very strict, never sparing the rod.

Social networking can be useful --- we are doing this now at RG.

Some students spend too much time on it, but some students spend too much time in bars in the past and at present

@Huajiang,

the right time division is the central point for every job, studies, sports, bars, RG.

Dear Miranda

The greater the diversity of tools mastered by the student, the higher your action territory. Today we witnessed the articulation of social movements and civil society through websites, social networks, blogs etc.. Unable to ignore the quantity and quality of information circulating in the virtual spaces. Teach children and adolescents to appropriate these new languages ​​is the only way to make them competent for collective communication. Every school should take the ethical commitment to provide students with the proper use of these tools, thus helping him to be able to filter the information available, producing content and getting link them reflexively

I'd add just a small reflection: teach your students how to use and distribute their time. Apply the old rule of 8h to sleep, 8 to play and 8 to work. That message is still helpfull and producing positive effects,

Cheers,

JP

Very good suggestion, Joao!

Thanks Lijo, sometimes old rules still work.

Best,

JP

Yes, Joao!

sometimes

Spending lots of hour in FB by students will simply reduce concentration toward the academic interest.

FB is a worldwide diffuse phenomenon, I see. The problem is that it can be accessed easily with a simple smartphone and you can send real-time images of a distant place where you are at that moment. All this cannot be very attractive, especially for young people. Then there is the aspect of "fashion" that should not be overlooked. I've seen guys looking to their mobile phone during the study for the preparation of an exam or even in the performance of common tasks a day (even at the dinner table or in the bathroom). I hope that none of us do these things with RG! The hope is that everything flows, "panta rei" as the ancient Greek philosophers said.

Yes Pat. it is in all parts of life.

Graduation

Did you see my mom?

Thanks for your views and beautiful illustrations!

O wow Enzo, you are an observant Prof:

'The problem is that it can be accessed easily with a simple smartphone and you can send real-time images of a distant place where you are at that moment. All this cannot be very attractive, especially for young people. Then there is the aspect of "fashion" that should not be overlooked. '

Yes Miranda, One of my PhD students said that Researchgate is taking a lot of time, but it is very interesting and useful.

Thanks @Mahfuz; it's true that RG has value! But I have many commitments, so my posts are not so frequent, except when I'm having breaks from my writing :)

Also, I see the same problem in some young researchers, who are discouraged by the decease of RG score even when the are in slow activation!!.

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Noureddine_Ouerfelli/questions.

Dear Miranda, my students as yours, are spending much time on FB. As I said before also my Faculty has official site on FB as well as my NCU. I noticed once, that when my students see me on FB - they think I can be at work and discuss work issues even for 24 hours a day. Some time ago They made even appointments via FB, shared their problems with the studies, theses etc. So once I decided to chat only with my friends via FB, not with the students who wants my attention like a babies. I want to say, on FB we speak more privately, with my friends who I know since years from our disabilities area researches and environments.

@Beata, Noureddine et al., our college has blocked FB from the beginning that is about 3 years ago. But the students buy their own data plans. We want our students to be independent, "not the students who want attention as babies". Thanks.

@Noureddine, even though scores drop, I'm quite sporting. I interact on RG to learn. But when friends who help the learning also reduce their activity on RG, I HAVE TO get my learning from other sources. Thanks.

Dear Miranda, that's good. I like the idea that students need to grow up and be independent. But the same time they need to know how not invade someone's space and time, with own free will and wish. I have to say, my students did not noticed I was after work, resting for example. No, not at all. They thought if they have questions anytime and I'm accessible I suppose to respond because that's my duty. They made themselves babies, so I had to change my techniques toward FB communication with the students.

I agree with Kamal. Common confusions are:

"its" and "it's"

" : " and " ; "

One typo is mistaking "where" with "were"or the other way around.

Students spend a lot of time on social networks, it has become an addiction with them. They can't concentrate on their studies or work, because of FB

Thanks for your views.

@Beata, my students also do not seem to respect lunch time and office hours. Like you, I stay back to finish my work, but they come thinking ''m accessible; I suppose to respond because that's my duty.'

@Prof Kamal, students are poor at grammar and spelling, because they are using FB spelling and FB grammar :(

@Huajiang: it's the same here in Malaysia. But it occurs in Liverpool, UK? Amazing!

I think it's a BLESSING that my college blocks FB and my students cannot get into FB using the college wifi. They need their own data plans. Otherwise the effect may be worse.

@Jaya: Yes, some of us realize that our students don't concentrate. They are by far too much distracted about what their friends will post them next on FB

Well said @ Miranda. Best is to block FB in educational institutions and work places so that people could be free from addictions and focus on thei job.

Miranda,

UoL allows students to access Facebook on the uni's computers.

I think a more serious problem is that students read emails, play games and access the internet using their mobile phones during lectures. This is a big distraction. In the good old days without these, students have nothing else to kill their boredom during classes and are more likely to follow the lecturers.

Dear All, Lijo Francis, Patrick Low and others that you know are not able any longer to log in their RG account from yesterday. RG suspended their accounts without any reason. I don't know why, but I find this an outstanding abuse. Please help them and inform all other participants as this is a signal that things are not going in the right way in RG before it happens to you!

Regards

Gianni

Http://www.linkedin.com/pub/patrick-k-c-low/23/64/802

@Huajiang, Meena: Sometimes, before I start a lecture, I remind students to put their phones, iPads etc in silent mode or turn them OFF. They have to comply. They aren't allowed to 'read emails, play games and access the internet using their mobile phones during lectures'.

@Prof G, Raoof et al., Patrick said that RG warned him about asking 'vague' question. I got the warning once, so I changed my manner of asking questions. But one of our friends told me once, that my Q's are 'adorable'. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Miranda_Yeoh/questions?ev=prf_que

@Miranda,

IMHO just a FULL FULL FULL professor can edit/remove the questions of FULL professor RG members.

Yes Raoof, I have told some friends that RG must know that we are HUMANS, not machines who can ONLY talk of our research and nothing else. So at times we ask questions and these questions that are not so research centered should be FINE. What do you all think?

You can find professionals related to each question in the RG.

I think any asked question in the world, anywhere and by anyone is research-oriented, thus, there is no exception.

e.g.: "How can I love you more?" This question is psychological and psychological experts are here with us.

A researcher has to be open-minded. Who can diatate what is research and what is not? I think everyone registered to use RG must chooes to do so in good will. What they talk about on RG should be taken as research; otherwise they may choose to use other more popular social network such as Facebook.

Thanks Raoof, Huajiang et al.,

Friends, I investigate Learning, so that's my research area. But I'm interested to know about desalination of water (that's Lijo's research area), but my area of 'general interest'. I'm also interested in Archaea bacteria (that's Pardis research). So I'm not allowed to ask about desalination, and about Archaea?? And Pardis must not ask about Learning??

I will just get on with my work and ask what I need to ask.....when people want to find fault, they always have a way.

Well said @Miranda and I admire your will for the same. I totally agree with your earlier comments "But one of our friends told me once, that my Q's are 'adorable'. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. "

Cheers

Meena

Thanks Meena. But I must admit that 3 of my threads have gone 'missing'. Let's be positive and say that this 'pruning' has enabled me to ask more question that are helpful to my research. And I was surprised to find that I have 111 threads now. Besides, I met many friends and profs on RG :)

Dear all,

One point of concern is that younger generations are "constructing" a virtual incomprehensible way of communication. They simply act, generally speaking of course, as if their own little mind,s bred in the so called "developed countries" or by them influenced, will not have to produce an inch of work. Hard work is something outside their daily vocabulary and they do not perceive - probably we were also unable to transmit that to them - that nothing is done without effort (at least if you are not the heir of someone who won the lottery - yes, going to the lottery shop is tyresome so it is better for someone to go and pay and you just collect your share).

I feel strange when faced with vast crowds of people all over the World that will reduce their valid but short lives to a mere condition of spectators. As Pino Aprille refers, "99% of the world's population benefit by some way of great things done with the hard work of the remaining 1%". The issue, however, is very serious and we must find a way because we are all responsible, to show that if you go to bed at night satisfied for something that you have really done that is far more better than going to bed satisfied for something you watched but was made by others. How can we show our students that they can actually be "actors" instead of a group (or herd) os "spectators"?

Best regards my friends,

JP

Thanks Joao. Well it's far better to belong to the 1 % of hard workers:

"99% of the world's population benefit by some way of great things done with the hard work of the remaining 1%".

As for: 'How can we show our students that they can actually be "actors" instead of a group (or herd) of "spectators"?', I think the example that we give may be more effective than the words we speak, but words and actions are necessary.

Friends, sometimes Blessings come in disguise. Now Lijo has more time to work on his research without RG cares or commitments. Lijo wrote this 5 hours ago to us all:

'Just now I have received the Cyprus Visa in my Passport.

Now I am going to prepare the PPT slides to present my papers in Cyprus EDS Conference. Since I have two papers to present.

Conference will be from 11-15 May.'

Have a nice trip Miranda and an excellent conference.

Cheers,

JP

@ Miranda,

I wish a GOOD conference for LIJO.

I can access RG everyday but have never been to Cyprus. So congratulations Lijo.

Cyprus is absolutely fantastic. One of those places one should absolutely visit.

Underwater is also amazing.

Enjoy your trip Miranda.

Cheers,

JP

Joao and friends, it's Lijo who is going to Cyprus, not me. I have some holidays, and I will go home to Serdang, visit old friends in my university where I studied. Pardis is attached to that university, but she may still be in Iran. I will spend more time writing when I recover from this exhaustion of rewriting 2 papers recently :)

Sent from mobile.

Prof Taiar, you are right about negative effects of FB. So from beginning of semester, I told students turn off all devices in lectures. They did that. For these things, I'm strict. But when students need help and moral support, I'll be there.

This is my first answer at this thread! "The latest offering is from Susan Maushart, a single mother of three who lives in Perth, Australia. Her book, titled The Winter of Our Disconnect, describes how her family was so distracted by digital technology that they rarely communicated, and then only via "textspeak." She then made the highly unpopular decision (among her kids, anyway) to cut the cord on technology."

Thanks Prof Ljubomir. It must be a Good book, that Susan is writing :)

And sounds like Steinbeck's WINTER OF DISCONTENT :)

For us, we can adjust our priorities and time spent on social media, but many kids can't seem to do so.

Around me, everyone spends more than 4 or 5 hours a day on Facebook and other socials network. I think it's has a bad influence on the ability of writing, they use abbreviations and symbols more than using normal words.

Yes Nesrine. Many of us notice that our students are poor at spelling, use text language, symbols and abbreviations. Even the young lecturers are doing this in my college! It causes confusion.

Friends, is this going to be a feature from now on? Do we as teachers and lecturers put up with this, or can we turn the tide? What do you think?

Effects?- a multitude of them.

1) Socially withdrawn/blunted- it is a neat paradox, on one hand they are involved with 'social networking' sites, and spend hours upon hours reading about the lives of others, but they do not hav time to spend with their family, nor do they feel the need for making any actual vocal or physical contact with their peers. Instead of meeting a person face to face, talking and enjoying their company, they prefer to stare into computer screens leading a non-involving cyber life.

2) Agonizingly poor language skills- as highlighted by many- Abbreviations, super-abbreviated notes, so much so, that it becomes part of their day to day lexicon.

3) Lack of focus/knowledge : A reading of a good book does wonders. Does the continued reading of posts on social networks do anything?- not really. It puts one into a state of mental lethargy that can be quite detrimental.

4) Health issues- I need not comment on these- many others have- all over the world.

5) Exposure to unacceptable content- young minds are very pliable, and sensitive to information to which they are exposed. The wrong information at the wrong time can have devastating effects.

6) Isolation from the family: the single biggest problem which delinates the current generation from the previous.

With my kids I have a simple rule- read books every day. Face-time only with their grandparents who live abroad, and a few puzzle games on the iPad. Otherwise it's mainly doing craft and physical play.

Thanks for your views @ Indrajit. One day your children will appreciate the discipline that you impose now. By their craft and physical play, they will develop creativity and body skills.

Have a good weekend to all.

Dear Prof Kamal, we all have to keep up communication within the family, even if it needs some drastic action, like disconnecting the cord on techno. Refer to Prof Ljubomir's post above.

Thanks for nice words my dear @Miranda! :) My comment above has a photo that originates from the following link! " Is technology connecting us or making us more isolated?" It is a good discussion. Listen it!

http://7thkingdom.org/2013/03/episode-8-is-technology-isolating-us/

@Prof Ljubomir et al., we need a lot of wisdom to use the technology rightly. Technology is a neutral thing and to the wise all things are good. I need to reflect because otherwise good things are wrongly used. In that case, techno will isolate us all...

The problem is that our students or our children have excess of information.They can't think over and arrange methodically in the mind (it's like to digest information-or to separate food in the alimentary canal).Especially,I'm afraid of aggressive or negative information, or lie- my younger son is very sensitive.We can't control their virtual information. It can cause intoxication of information.

Dear @Irina, here is a link to a good reading on "Social Networking’s Good and Bad Impacts on Kids" !

http://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2011/08/social-kids.aspx

Thank you, dear Ljubomir. Your material is useful.But bad impacts remain actual.

Thanks for your views. I think we agree on the positives:

'Young adults who spend more time on Facebook are better at showing “virtual empathy” to their online friends.

Online social networking can help introverted adolescents learn how to socialize behind the safety of various screens, ranging from a two-inch smartphone to a 17-inch laptop.

Social networking can provide tools for teaching in compelling ways that engage young students.'

And we have seen the negative effects on our students:

'Teens who use Facebook more often show more narcissistic tendencies.

Young adults who have a strong Facebook presence show more signs of other psychological disorders, including antisocial behaviors, mania and aggressive tendencies.

Daily overuse of media and technology has a negative effect on the health of all children, preteens and teenagers by making them more prone to anxiety, depression, and other psychological disorders,

• Facebook can be distracting and can negatively impact learning.

So we need to exercise great care with use of social media, to reap the good benefits...

Dear friends, recently I observed that I wasn't able to get into FB or Linked In using my office computer fixed line or college wifi.  Our college is mainly committed to academic performance.  With more research evidence on negative effects of social networking, this action has been put in place.  Last semester, I remember I could get into FB after office hours.

https://www.academia.edu/1810511/Negative_impact_of_social_networking_sites_on_academic_performance_of_students

Refer this paper. It would be helpful for you to know the situation in Sri Lanka.

https://globaljournals.org/GJCST_Volume14/5-Influence-of-Facebook-in-Academic.pdf

There are definitely negative effects of social media, particularly when it comes to writing and formal communication. But there are ways of utilizing social media to the educator's benefit. Creating an informal learning environment through social media can boost student engagement with material outside of the class (but still relevant to the class) and may negate the negative impacts on writing communication (i.e., when students post/comment on material on a Facebook post, they appear to use more formal language). From my experience, a Facebook group is a great way to get students engaged with course material and beyond, but they need some direction.

I recently published a paper on the engagement aspect here: 

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/280231738_Using_Facebook_to_Enhance_Independent_Student_Engagement_A_Case_Study_of_First-Year_Undergraduates

Article Using Facebook to Enhance Independent Student Engagement: A ...

Dear Miranda

There are negative and  positive points:

Points Possible Negative

1. Many students do not know how to deal with the widespread availability of information available on the internet. Some take everything they read on the web as absolute truth and this interferes with the learning process and the development of critical eye towards what is presented to them.

2. The youth of today is multifunctional, does everything at the same time, however, this can have negative consequences if not well managed. Access to social networks during times of study, for example, can cause distraction and interfere with academic performance.

3. The excess can be risky. To spend hours and hours on social networks, young people fail to interact face-to-face and this can hurt them in life in society. With fewer interactions "real", they may have impaired communication skills (the Internet does not require intonations, body language, etc.). The "offline" world can never be replaced by online.

4. The popularity of social networks and the speed that is characteristic to the online world have created new ways to write and speak in short, transformed the Portuguese language, giving her new aspects and meanings. This can interfere with the quality of drafting of these young people. The language of the internet has not yet been naturalized as standard in our society, it is still limited to the online medium. Schoolwork, for example, still require the formal language. However, words such as "u", "h", "baum" end up appearing in academic papers and young people, for often unaware of the formal writing, just depending on automatic brokers.

5. Many students do not think before posting any content on the Internet. One must remember, however, that everything we write on the web can be seen and logically judged. Posts with incriminating content can bring complications to the student throughout his academic and professional journey. Some schools, for example, seek background information on prospective students and depending on that encounter, the student may be impaired. The internet is an open book, so guide the young in this respect is essential.

Possible Positive Points

1. Social media increased interactivity and the ability of students to express themselves and collaborate with the production of information. The rapid dynamics (almost instantaneous) of the online world, gave young people the ability to develop quick thinking, a quality that is greatly appreciated in the reality in which we live.

2. Social networks teach young people important real-world situations. For example, the notion of "networking" is exercised through communities like Facebook and this can help the young throughout his life. Being able to create solid contact network is extremely important for both personal development as a professional and academic.

3. At that has huge contact with new technologies, the youth of today dominates completely. This domain is very useful, since today the progress of the world depends on these new technologies. Having this ability is to be ready for the demands that lie ahead.

4. Draw an online profile today is easy. Build and deconstruct has become part of the lives of these young people. They do profiles define who they are, off profiles, disappear and appear when they want. This dynamic provides flexibility. With this constant movement, they control what they want to be and when they want to be. This may be relevant to the day-to-day and throughout life, where often must assume certain behaviors, give our opinion, we keep quiet, finally, be flexible and adapt to the different scenarios that are imposed .

5. The internet opens up a world conducive to creativity. Having your own blog or your website photos, for example, gives opening for the young to express and show their talent. To share with others, he has instant feedback on their production, which can motivate you and even help you build and follow dreams and goals

Thanks @Jeff, for a brief description of your paper. Yes, we know that Facebook is another avenue to a great deal of information.  I teach k12 Biology, but here the marking strictly goes by the marking scheme.  Powerpoint notes are all put on the Portal, and the questions usually require remembering, understanding and application skills.  From your conclusion:

"The apparent correlation between engagement and academic performance suggests that performance may be a predictor of engagement, or that online engagement may serve to enhance individual course marks – however the specific causal relationship within this correlation requires further assessment. Ultimately, this study suggests that Facebook can be used to enhance extracurricular engagement in a higher education setting and can be beneficial to university students beyond the scope of achievement scores."

Thanks for your paper @Selvarajah.  My situation here is just as you have described.  I am interested to see the questionnaire that was used, if you have it.

"The study found the correlation between social media usage and academic performance. Most of the heavy or frequent users received low grades, compared to light users. We found similar results with lower grades."

Thanks dear @Nelson, for very accurate understanding and description of the effects of social media.  You have said most of it, I agree entirely.  Bravo!

What I have been doing the past year is using Whatsapp group with each of my tutorial classes.  There are 20-25 in a tutorial class.  I answer my students' questions and I encourage them.  Thanks to all of you.

Dear @Miranda, this is a very good story! 

Social media savvy students ‘better at avoiding cybercrime’!

http://www.welivesecurity.com/2015/11/10/current-uni-students-less-vulnerable-cybercrime/

Dear Ljubomir, thanks for the link.  In this age, avoiding cybercrime, avoiding being a victim is utterly essential.  Have a look at this paper that I retrieved.  Thanks.  (I'm busy with writing.  It's also prayer and fasting weeks before Christmas. I will connect with friends by email and on FB.)

http://ijarcsms.com/docs/paper/volume3/issue1/V2I12-0102.pdf