Facebook - A powerful social tool and a distraction?

February 2004. Mark Zuckerberg; a sophomore student currently attending Harvard creates a web page which will change socializing over internet forever. Facebook, a webpage created for communication between students at Harvard turned into a massive world phenomenon. In July 2006 Facebook went public which made it available to everyone. Since then Facebook has achieved to obtain 500 million active users from all over the world. A page loved by millions as an extraordinary communication and socializing tool making it possible to stay in touch with friends, family, colleagues and acquaintances. However, allegedly there is trouble in paradise claimed by Professor Paul Kirschner, who after a thorough study has come to the conclusion that using Facebook while working has consequences for exam results.

“The exam results of students who used Facebook while working – even if only intermittently – were on average 20 per cent lower than people who did not, psychologists said.” From the article published by Daily Telegraph. This is a significantly lower score which should be taken seriously. How did they come to this numbers you may ask yourself at this point. Here is how they performed their study: Researchers in America examined 219 students aged from 19 to 54, and found that Facebook users scored a grade point average of 3.06 out of four, while those who did not use the website while studying scored on average 3.82. Even though this seems like a reliable study you cannot read every aspect of the case from it. The starting intellectual level of each student, the ability of obtaining information more quickly, the dedication and will to work to each student can affect the test score. All of these factors plays a role in the study but are not shown. This is not meant as an offensive remark, but in a scenario where students smarter than the average population stays away from Facebook while the less intelligent log on Facebook. If they would have switched spots the test scores would (probably) still show a (clear) advantage to the naturally brighter students. The difference could have been decreased if they would have stayed of Facebook, it could have increased if Facebook in fact gave them the pause they needed to restore their learning capability or extend their study session.

However the numbers are clear and the fact that the students on Facebook scored lowered cannot be twisted, but my point is that you will not automatically achieve greater scores by not being on Facebook while working. This study cannot definitive prove that Facebook was the main and final reason the results turned out in the way they did.

I do believe students would perform better if not distracted from school work, not only Facebook. I only felt obligated to point out the fact that Facebook is not the nail in the coffin for good scores at exams. Facebook is an amazing tool, but as all tools invented and used by humans has to be used with common sense. Also, it turns out common sense tells us to stay off Facebook during school. Unfortunately it is not so easy to follow your own advice. Oh and here is the article, even though I honestly believe I have summarized the article to such a sufficient degree which leads to the lack of need to read it. Anyways

Kristoffer 2STD