Communication Technology and College Students

The twenty-first century has skilled tremendous changes in the development and utilization of communication technology. Educational institutions have also embraced this improvement as universities, and other tertiary institutes have incorporated technology into their communications and operations. In the current age, people especially the youths and young adults spend a big amount of their time engaged in different communication science media platforms. The communication technology has shifted from the use of email to IM to texting to Facebook and among others where one is expected to be active in any of the famous platforms or be out of the loop. A number of adults have accepted the use of communication technology in the lives of their kids as it is the primary medium for them to keep in touch. However, some concerns have risen among the adults as they relate developments in the communication technology with dangers particularly with the misuse of technology that may harm the college students. This paper analyses the advantages and disadvantages linked to the use of communication technology among college students. Communication technology has earned a place in the society, and it presents numerous opportunities for college students to interact, learn, and grow.            

Advantages

According to Goff (2009), college students apply different social media types such as MySpace and Facebook as social networks while Google and Wikis are some examples of social search engines. Goff (2009) reports that students mainly use these sites for social communication and academic purposes. Digital Youth Project a study conducted in different universities by researchers revealed that there is an increasing use of technology platforms. The social networking was found to provide useful, encouraging skills for the college students who spent more than five-thousand hours online. In addition, the digital world presents opportunities for the young population to work on new forms of self-expression, explore an individual interest, develop technical skills, and deal with social norms as they live and learn from the new media (Goff, 2009).

Goff (2009) argues that young people who spend a significant amount of time online can pick up the technical and social skills that are important for them to become competent citizens in this digital era. Furthermore, technologies such as podcasting, iPods, and YouTube provide opportunities for the college students to expand their circle of friends, promote independence, and boost self-directed learning. According to Lisa Tripp, an assistant professor, soon specific skills are going to be more than consuming media as the focus will shift to producing media such as interactions through blogs that contribute to the general circulation of culture (Goff, 2009). Goff (2009) adds that profile pages common in communication platforms reflect the skills to self-express oneself.

Communication technology also contributes to young people building friendships and interests. They utilize sites such as Facebook and MySpace to find like-minded individuals and communicate with people they already know in real life. This interaction has enabled college students to find and meet their peers everywhere and expand their social circle by common interests. In addition, they can publicize and distribute their admirable work through online platforms that enable micro-experts in different areas to meet these achieving students. The learning of the young people with the digital media is self-directed hence they earn a freedom and autonomy that is not readily available in classroom settings. Goff (2009) concludes that college students get to learn from one another through the respect that they assign to one another in the communication sites.    

Disadvantages

There exist challenges to the use of communication technology among college students. MacVean (2011) argues that the sites have caused concern for parents and they have to be involved in the lives of their children. Communication technology has made it difficult for parents to perform their parenting duties in the adolescent children and college students. The sites have become addictive to these young adults as they spend much of their time on their phones, tablets, iPods, or computer. Parents and guardians believe that spending much time online is dangerous and makes the children lazy. Parents are forced to set parameters for their kids on the online platforms. They have to monitor what the college students express through having a presence in their child's online social network. The digital media has been linked to damaging characteristics mainly since the children lack processing skills. They may encounter harmful images through the online system.

Opinion

There are more positives linked to communication technology than the negatives from these social networks. The online presence offers an opportunity for college students to connect to their school or sports circles and allow a dialogue among them. However, parents must stay in the loop to protect their children from malicious individuals and networks. The parents can have access to their page whenever they require and be able to view what is being posted. The children must also be educated on how to operate the online communication networks to avoid future regrets.

Conclusion

Communication technology offers a range of opportunity for college students and encourages them to develop skills that are important in the work environment. The social network is fostering technology skills that are essential in the present digital age. However, parents have a crucial role to play to ensure the teens remain safe in their social networks. They have to accept technology is part of the society and part of the culture for the young people, and they must remain aware of with whom the college students are communicating.

Works Cited

Goff, Goldberg. "Social Networking Benefits Validated." The Washington Times, 28 Jan. 2009, www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/jan/28/social-networking-benefits-validated/. Accessed 28 Nov. 2017.

MacVean, Mary. "In Touch Too Much? Kids Head off to College with Mom and Dad Just a Text Away." 4 June 2011, latimesblogs.latimes.com/home_blog/2011/06/helicopter-parents-college-.html. Accessed 28 Nov. 2017.