EDU 776/LIS 724 Week 8 Social Media in Education

 The A to Z of social media for academia | THE essential guide

Image Source: The Times Higher Education

The common thread of the three articles I picked under "college" is that college admissions staff are checking applicants' social media.  While the three articles disagree with the exact percentage of colleges that check social media, the lowest percentage of 25% is still significant.  The idea is that colleges want to get a more clear idea about the applicants and what impact those applicants would have on the school if they are accepted.  Since schools operate on reputation, it does make sense that a school would want to make sure that an applicant is a good fit.  Anything that student does or has done will come back as that person being a student or member of the alumni of University X.

In general, college age students and those individuals who soon will be on their way to college are comfortable with posting their lives online for everyone to see.  Well, when it comes to college, this type of activity might not be for the best.  For example, someone might post on TikTok a video they thought was funny, but it may come off as very immature to someone in college admissions.  The article from the Texarkana Gazette (2023) features a student who stated she was using TikTok as a diary of sorts with the intention of trying to help others.  It did impact her, and she ended up not getting on an athletic team she was hoping to join.

When I read that she was treating TikTok as a diary, I cringed.  I keep a journal and have for many years.  That journal and all of the previous ones are kept secured.  I understand that maybe it is a "generational thing", but I can't imagine posting very personal details online for everyone to see.  I think there is a fine balance between having videos that are to entertain or to help people and where someone's life is just put out there. 

While these articles deal with college, the same can be said for employment.  There are jobs that require security clearances and background checks.  Those checks usually include checking the future and current employees social media regardless if it is Facebook or TikTok.  People should go back through their social media and see if there is materials that should be removed before someone else sees it.  For me, it would be don't put something out there that you don't want your parents or grandparents to see.



Articles reviewed:

Cohen, D. "College Admissions Officers are Paying More Attention Applicants' Social Profiles."  AdWeek.   January 30, 2020.  https://www.adweek.com/performance-marketing/college-admissions-officers-are-paying-more-attention-to-applicants-social-profiles/

Jaschik, S.  "Rise Seen in Admissions Officers Checking Social Media."  Inside Higher Ed.  January 12, 2020.  https://www.insidehighered.com/admissions/article/2020/01/13/more-admissions-officers-last-year-check-social-media?utm_source=Social+Assurity+Newsletter&utm_campaign=e2da6d96be-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2019_07_12_02_48_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_e4e3298fae-e2da6d96be-126983889

"TikTok Loves True Confessions.  Colleges Not So Much." Texarkana Gazette.  February 20, 2023.  https://www.texarkanagazette.com/news/2023/feb/20/tiktok-loves-true-confessions-colleges-not-so-much/




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