How to Use Social Media to Your Advantage as a Student
Sydney Scott is a third-year undergraduate at Southeastern Louisiana University. She shares practical advice, inspiration, and tips for high school and college students using her unique brand of candor and humor.
With the rise of COVID-19 and the global pandemic, most of you are likely reading this from home. Your spring break may have been extended, and you may be facing an extended period of online coursework. I do not want to make light of this public health crisis and its impact on you. However, you may have some extra time on your hands now. Maybe you need a break from your little brother and his constant chatter. Perhaps you could use some quiet time to turn off the news and focus on you. I want you to consider that you can use this time for self-care, reflection, and a chance to get things done that you may not normally be able to prioritize. That’s why I still think this topic is relevant to post at this time. If you have any other ideas for blog posts during this time, shoot me an email.
Social Media + Students
If you’re a high school or college student, chances are that you have a Snapchat… and Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. There’s an even higher probability that you use all of these in different ways: you probably use Snapchat interchangeably with texting your friends, Facebook to keep in touch with family members, Twitter for news, and Instagram for polished photos you want the world to see.
I remember creating my first Instagram account in 2011; the quality of iPhone pictures was awful, and the filters were even worse. To simply say that social media has “changed” in the past nine years would be an understatement. We’ve experienced the rise of Snapchat, the slow decline of Facebook, the quick but remarkable cultural peak of Vine, and the fever dream that is TikTok.
One thing has steadily increased over the past decade, though, and that is the pressure to have an interesting, captivating, and polished social media presence. High school students may feel this pressure more than their college-aged peers. But instead of letting this pressure negatively affect you, I implore you to use it to your advantage.
Why A Social Media Presence Benefits You
What does social media have to offer students? Well, having a social media presence as a student has the potential to set you apart from the crowd, or at the very least, it offers additional insight into your personality that a traditional resume cannot. I created an Instagram account apart from my personal account last year in order to share fashion and writing content, and have found it to be surprisingly beneficial for making connections in the industry I want to work in after graduation. Plus, I’ve been able to earn a little money on the side from brand deals (and what student doesn’t want some extra cash?!)
It’s an easy way to look good on college, job, and scholarship applications, and plus, you’re probably already a pro at social media… and it’s free! Here’s how to leverage your social media to benefit your future.
The Golden Rule of Social Media: Be Yourself
This should seem obvious, but the most important rule to follow as a social media user in general is to be yourself. Have something you’re passionate about? Post about it! From sports to fashion, your interests and how you engage with and portray them have the potential to set you apart from the crowd. Let your personality shine through your social media by showing off your interests, hobbies, or anything you may be passionate about.
Curating Content
Content curation is a great way to demonstrate your knowledge about different topics on social media without making a time commitment to producing content. The term “content curation” may sound fancy, but it’s simply you sharing content pertaining to specific topics. Curating content shows that you have specialized knowledge about your passions. The beauty of curating content on social media is that you can do it any time, from anywhere, and you don’t have to make a time commitment to write a blog.
However, if starting a blog is something you’ve thought about before, now is a great time to do that. Having a blog as a student is a great way to really expand upon whatever you’re passionate about. Plus, it shows off your writing skills to potential employers and highlights your ability to start and maintain a project on your own.
Follow the “Grandmother Rule.”
If you’re not interested in putting that much effort into social media, you can still reap the benefits of having Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter as a student. A helpful rule to follow if you are just using social media for personal usage is the Grandmother Rule - the rule that you should only post things on social media that you’d be okay with your grandmother seeing. Not something you’d want your grandma to see? It’s probably a good idea to avoid posting it on your social media, then.
If I had a dollar for every time someone told me while in high school: “Whatever you post on the internet is out there forever!”, I’d have enough money to put me through college, twice. While that phrase sounds pretty ominous, it is valid that content published on the internet has no expiration date. However, you still have the ability to delete posts -- and you should take advantage of that!
Maybe you posted your best Renegade Tiktok on Instagram last year, but now you cringe looking at it. We’re all guilty of taking a selfie or two that we look back on now and find embarrassing, or tweeting something that doesn’t reflect our values anymore. You can also use the Grandmother Rule to tidy up these kinds of posts. Getting rid of or archiving content that no longer serves you can help you communicate to others your current values, without things of the past bogging them down.
Make it Work For YOU.
Social media is great for its ability to give us a creative outlet, a platform to share our opinions, or to share updates on our lives. Depending on how you use it, it can be just another way to express yourself to others, or it can easily become a stressor. Above all, I encourage you to be authentic when you post on social media. The “social” in “social media,” means that you are creating content that others will engage with in some way. We can’t always control who views our content on different platforms, so do be mindful of that.
I cannot emphasize this point enough to you: Social media should not stress you out or cause you to compare yourself to other people. Be YOU and be proud of your contributions to the world. However, if you get to the point where maintaining a presence on social media becomes stressful or no longer fun, take a break. Social media is optional and should only benefit you.
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