Social Media

Distraction or learning tool? Learn more about how social media is used by students, teachers, and school systems
The icon for TikTok pictured in New York on Feb. 25, 2020.
The icon for TikTok pictured in New York on Feb. 25, 2020.
AP
Ed-Tech Policy TikTok Is Raising National Security, Privacy Concerns. Should Educators Steer Clear?
The social media video app is raising national security concerns that could ultimately get the platform banned in the U.S.
Alyson Klein, March 22, 2023
7 min read
Grid of 6 screengrabs from various Teachers' TikTok accounts
Montage by Hayley Hardison/Education Week
Teaching Profession How Teachers Use TikTok: To Get New Ideas, Feel Inspired, and Indulge a Laugh or Two
From classroom layouts to comfy-but-cool outfits to solace from others in the trenches, #teachertok connects educators.
Hayley Hardison, February 14, 2023
3 min read
Police officers escort Andrew Tate from the Court of Appeal after they appealed the decision to extend their arrest by another 30 days term in Bucharest, Romania, Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2023. Divisive influencer Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan, are held on charges of being part of an organized crime group, human trafficking and rape.
Police officers escort Andrew Tate, who makes self-improvement videos for men that are laden with offensive, misogynistic comments, from a court in Bucharest, Romania, on Feb. 1. Tate and his brother Tristan, are being held on charges of being part of an organized crime group, human trafficking, and rape.
Andreea Alexandru/AP
Student Well-Being & Movement 5 Ways Teachers Can Confront Students' Exposure to Andrew Tate and Other Online Extremists
Young people are exposed to all sorts of online hate that, if left unchecked, can lead to radicalization.
Madeline Will, February 10, 2023
5 min read
Images shows a stylized artistic landscape with soothing colors.
Getty
Student Well-Being & Movement Opinion Not All Screen Time Is the Same. Here’s What the Research Says
Explaining to students what the studies show about cellphone use can help them make informed decisions.
Jean M. Twenge, February 8, 2023
1 min read
Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy speaks during a White House Conversation on Youth Mental Health, Wednesday, May 18, 2022, at the White House in Washington.
Surgeon General Vivek Murthy speaks during a White House Conversation on Youth Mental Health last spring in Washington.
Jacquelyn Martin/AP
Student Well-Being & Movement Surgeon General: Kids Under 14 Should Not Use Social Media
Surgeon General Vivek Murthy said social media threatens kids' ability to develop a healthy identity and sense of self.
Lauraine Langreo, February 2, 2023
3 min read
Andrew Tate, center, and his brother Tristan, leave after appearing at the Court of Appeal, in Bucharest, Romania, Tuesday, Jan.10, 2023. The divisive social media personality Andrew Tate arrived at a court in Romania in handcuffs on Tuesday morning to appeal a judge's earlier decision to extend his arrest period from 24 hours to 30 days on charges of being part of an organized crime group, human trafficking and rape.
Andrew Tate, center, and his brother Tristan, leave after appearing at the Court of Appeal in Bucharest, Romania, on Jan. 10. The divisive social media personality has appealed a judge's earlier decision to extend his arrest on charges of being part of an organized crime group, human trafficking, and rape.
Alexandru Dobre/AP
Student Well-Being & Movement Misogynist Influencer Andrew Tate Has Captured Boys' Attention. What Teachers Need to Know
Middle school boys, in particular, are repeating Tate's offensive language and ideas in the classroom, teachers report.
Madeline Will, February 2, 2023
9 min read
Illustration of mobile phones, tablet and laptops with different climates.
Dan Page for Education Week
Classroom Technology From Our Research Center Most Teens Learn About Climate Change From Social Media. Why Schools Should Care
Teens are getting information on climate change from YouTube and Facebook, underscoring the need to teach media literacy in schools.
Arianna Prothero, January 30, 2023
9 min read
Photograph of a group of young people holding their mobile phones together
iStock/Getty
Classroom Technology Explainer Is the Gas App Safe? Here's What You Need to Know
Gas is billed as a positive, safer alternative to other popular social media apps. But experts see problems.
Alyson Klein, January 18, 2023
2 min read
Illustration of teen girl using smart phone.
elfiny / iStock / Getty Images Plus
Teaching Opinion How TikTok and YouTube Made Me a Better Teacher
Social media may be winning the battle for students’ attention, but teachers can still steal back our “viewers.”
Eric Eisner, January 12, 2023
4 min read
young hands with mobile phone
Prudencio Alvarez/iStock<br/>
Student Well-Being & Movement Seattle District Sues Social Media Companies Over Students' Mental Health
The district says it has had to hire additional mental health professionals to meet students' growing mental health needs.
Arianna Prothero, January 9, 2023
5 min read
A phone screen shows a download page for Snapchat on July 30, 2019.
A phone screen shows a download page for Snapchat on July 30, 2019.
Amr Alfiky/AP
Student Well-Being & Movement What the Research Says Preteens' Social Media Habits Could Be Changing Their Brains
Habitually checking social media "likes" and comments can significantly affect students' brain development, a new study finds.
Sarah D. Sparks, January 6, 2023
3 min read
The icon for TikTok pictured in New York on Feb. 25, 2020.
The icon for TikTok pictured in New York on Feb. 25, 2020.
AP
Classroom Technology Should Schools Ban TikTok? Louisiana Ed. Chief Urges Districts to Do It
Louisiana is one of the first states to recommend school districts ban TikTok from all school-owned devices, amid major privacy concerns.
Alyson Klein, January 3, 2023
3 min read
Scales of justice and Gavel on wooden table and Lawyer or Judge working with agreement in Courtroom, Justice and Law concept.
Pattanaphong Khuankaew/iStock
Law & Courts Court Upholds Discipline of Students for Instagram Posts That Targeted Black Classmates
A unanimous federal appeals court panel said its ruling was consistent with the U.S. Supreme Court's 2021 decision on off-campus speech.
Mark Walsh, December 29, 2022
4 min read
Close up of a young woman holding a smartphone with like and love icons floating around the phone in her hands.
iStock/Getty Images Plus
Classroom Technology TikTok, Gas, Twitter: How Social Media Is Influencing Education
A handy guide to the upsides and downsides of the fast-paced world of social media.
Lauraine Langreo, December 14, 2022
3 min read