Introduction
As exam season approaches, many parents face a dilemma: should they allow their kids to use social media during study breaks or enforce a complete digital detox? Well, ask us, and we firmly believe that this is surely not a straightforward question. That’s because while many parents instinctively worry about the distracting nature of social media platforms, they also know that total restriction may create additional stress or feelings of isolation in kids.
This situation is more complicated because today’s students are digital natives who don’t use social media for mere entertainment. Many kids turn to social media for connection and support. With so many strings attached to social media usage, it’s natural for parents to feel overwhelmed and confused. Hence, we at Delhi Public School Sushant Lok, ranked among the best school in Gurgaon, have created this blog post to clear your confusion and enable you to make the right decision.
We firmly believe that you can only decide whether something is good or harmful if you have a complete understanding of it. Hence, we’re sharing below the pros and cons of using social media as study breaks during exam season. This will help you form an informed opinion and make decisions accordingly.
Pros of using social media as study breaks:
Quick mental shift from academic pressure
Social media provides an instant change of mental scenery from complex academic material. This rapid context switch helps your child’s brain step away from intense concentration, preventing mental burnout. Such mental gear-shifting can be refreshing for your kids, especially after working through challenging concepts or memorization tasks.
Finding comfort through shared experiences
When kids spend most of their time alone for exam preparation, they start feeling isolated and stressed. Using social media during study breaks allows them to see other students having similar experiences. It provides reassurance that what they’re feeling is not uncommon. Such shared experiences create a sense of solidarity that can significantly reduce anxiety.
Access to instant help and guidance
Social media platforms often host informal study communities where students exchange tips, share resources, explain complex concepts, etc., to simplify learning experiences. Your kids can join these digital study groups for immediate help when stuck on a problem.
Unlike traditional study groups or support networks, the ones hosted on social media platforms provide quick questions and answers the moment they’re needed. This just-in-time support can prevent frustration and help maintain your child’s study momentum.
Cons of using social media as study breaks
While using social media platforms during study breaks has certain advantages, you must also be aware of the potential drawbacks. We at Delhi Public School Sushant Lok believe the following are the biggest challenges of letting kids engage on social media during exam time:
Time distortion and the ‘rabbit hole’ effect
Sometimes, what begins as a ‘quick check’ often extends far beyond the intended break time. Unfortunately, social media platforms are designed with infinite scrolling and algorithmic recommendations that continuously present engaging content.
This intentional design deliberately blurs time awareness, making five minutes easily turn into thirty. If your kids are not mindful, the cognitive transition back to studying can become increasingly difficult, resulting in lost study time.
Comparison anxiety
Social media often presents carefully curated representations of peers’ academic lives. Some students may post about finishing extensive study sessions or gaining mastery of a challenging subject.
Seeing such posts may trigger feelings of inadequacy in your kids, making them doubt their preparation. This social comparison can create unnecessary stress and pressure, affecting your child’s overall well-being and self-confidence.
Disruption of focus and attention span
The rapid-fire nature of social media content trains our brains for quick shifts between unrelated information rather than sustained attention. After scrolling through dozens of unrelated posts, your child’s brain becomes primed for distraction.
Regaining one’s attention may take longer than expected, disrupting both focus and attention span. Some kids may even struggle with intrusive thoughts about the content they’ve seen online or find themselves mentally checking out during important study material.
Conclusion
The debate on social media usage, as study breaks during exam season, is ongoing and has received mixed opinions from parents worldwide. While the opinions are far too diverse to derive any universally agreeable conclusion, we at Delhi Public School Sushant Lok, one of the well-known best school in Gurgaon, firmly believe in finding a middle ground.
Following extreme policies, such as preventing social media usage or letting kids use social media as much as they prefer, can be more damaging than helpful. Hence, focus on creating a balanced approach that benefits your child without compromising their study routine, focus, attention span, etc.
Parents must observe their child’s response patterns to social media usage during study breaks to find the most relevant approach. We encourage parents not to view this question as a simple matter of rules and restrictions but as an opportunity to help their kids develop crucial self-regulation skills. You can also have open conversations with your kids to explore the most suitable options for best results.