With mock exams looming, students at Urmston Grammar Sixth form have been revising tirelessly, aiming for those high marks that will secure their future. It is futile to suggest that revision isn’t difficult, hours of seemingly meaningless memorising is no one's favourite way to spend their Christmas holidays. However, the work we do is valuable and can help all the more when preparing, at the last minute, for exams.
Despite my attempts to stay focused, I've found myself becoming distracted by social media. This is a problem I am certain I share with other peers my age, making it even more difficult for young students to study for lengthy revision periods. This concept is far from revolutionary, with hundreds of studies proving the harms of social media on effective revision. So I have to ask myself and others, Is social media more harmful than good?
I spoke to Lola Terry-Leahy, a fellow student at my sixth form, about how she feels social media has affected her revision over the holidays. She said ‘It’s definitely been a distraction whilst trying to revise, I always stop to check notifications that I get. But it's also been helpful to stay in touch with friends so I don't get too stressed or in my own head about revising ‘.
I myself have found the urge to check that ping an irresistible escape from the piles of paper in front of me. However, what is the solution?
My aim is not to encourage everyone to delete their snapchat and instagram, instead I believe that we must learn to adapt with the new media. Turning your phone on do not disturb, or better yet, placing it in a different room, in order to remove that distraction, are only a couple of examples of way’s students can adapt.
Nevertheless, with all these provisions needed, in order to efficiently focus, I beg the question again. Is social media a useful tool or simply a distraction?
