Why is this course important?

At the time of writing (2023), it is estimated that almost half of the world’s population spends time ‘checking their socials’ (Statistica, 2021). The reality is that not only are there a staggering number of people on social media sites, but the amount of time that people are spending on them increases year on year. The reasons people engage in social media vary. Students who engage in social media say they do so to connect with other students and to learn more about their course (Mallon and Dresden, 2023). But they also say it is all too easy to fall into the trap of spending too much time on social media and missing out on vital parts of your core teaching material or becoming confused by the varying opinions of students (Mallon and Dresden, 2023).

Regardless of whether you are studying face to face, at a distance, or a mixture of both, or whether you are working towards an undergraduate or a postgraduate one, this course is for you. If you are working in Higher Education, supporting a family member who is studying or just interested in social media, you may also find aspects of this course useful. We encourage you to dip into those sections which seem most relevant to how you use social media.

Social media is constantly evolving, so we have included findings from the latest research, alongside our own experiences of using social media and of talking to and researching with students studying at The Open University. The course is designed to help you to make your own considered decisions about your engagement with social media, while also providing tips and guidance to help you make the most of it as part of your university experience. Most importantly, it will give you a better sense of the options available, which will allow you to have confidence in the choices you make about how you use social media as part of your Higher Education experience.