Social media now plays a huge role in our lives. As an administrator, if social media disappeared tomorrow, my job would get noticeably easier. The number of issues that happen over social media but find their way back to school the next day is mind-boggling. 

Student-to-student interactions, parent-to-parent, parent-to-student, parent-to-school, and more are part of the new world that is education. But, this blog is less about how social media interacts with students and more about how teachers are using it and the effects on teachers.

Ideas of what a classroom should look like are all over sites like Pinterest. These idealized expectations can wreak havoc on new teachers who may compare themselves and feel inadequate when they see those images. While these can serve as inspiration, it is important to remember that many of these are staged and do not reflect the reality of many classrooms. It’s perfectly fine if your classroom doesn’t match what you see online. The important thing is that your classroom is a place where students feel safe and supported in their learning. 

The same is true for teachers or administrators who post as if they have all the answers (the irony of writing about this as an administrator who posts a blog is not lost on me, though I try to provoke thought rather than offer quick answers through my writing). It is easy to do a quick Google or YouTube search and find someone who appears to have all the answers to every classroom dilemma. These often reflect an idealized version of events and do not reflect the day-to-day realities. As an example, I wrote about working in the hallways in a previous blog. Despite the benefits, there are many days I don’t get out to do this, unfortunately, as the demands of my day don’t allow for it. Like most people on the internet, we often want to present the polished image over the messiness of learning and demands of the day. Be sure to be mindful of this when balancing what they promote against your current practice.

As in many areas, there are online social media groups designed for teachers exclusively. The intent of these groups is good; to provide a safe space for people to discuss common challenges and struggles and to share and connect with one another.

The issue with many of these spaces is that they can quickly drift into negativity. In online spaces like this, it has been shown time and time again that people become less empathetic and more likely to complain than be positive. Those who are positive are typically less likely to push back in these spaces typically. There are times when things do turn positive, but there is often someone who comments quickly to point out that it’s ‘okay for them,’ which is why the drift tends to happen.

This may lead into a mindset where we see ourselves as martyrs or victims of the system that does not serve us as a profession of strong and passionate educators. For example, when commenting on a policy decision or news story, a common refrain seen in these groups is asking when ‘they’ will treat us as professionals. While I empathize with the sentiment, the framing of this question is problematic. Who exactly are ‘they’? The district, the parents, the students? These are not singular entities who share a singular mind. These are individuals who are mostly agreeable, and most of whom are compassionate people. Similarly, what treatment are you looking for as a professional, exactly? As an organization, you can find educators with a variety of opinions, some of which will align with decisions made and some that will not. It is impossible to act on all opinions at once and this can lead to feelings of being ignored.. 

There are absolutely hard realities and things about education that need to change, but these forums are unlikely to elicit that change. Continuing professional and respectful dialogue, leveraging unions and associations, and working toward the changes you would like to see are positives worth putting energy into. While there can be very real benefits to online spaces such as the sharing of information and finding some camaraderie, be wary if they turn negative and consider the effect on your own well-being. Personally, I have been in online spaces that were an amazing space to share and get new ideas, and I left feeling energized. But I have also seen the other side where I left feeling irritable and depleted. 

The online world of social media is here to stay. You can find literally anything on the internet these days, and more than that, it can find you and move directly into your feed. Be sure that social media is working for you and serving your purposes. Curate your content, engage in critical reflection so you can gain ideas without affecting your confidence by comparing yourself to an idealized version. Finally, a reminder that social media is a poor substitute for authentic relationships and interactions with your colleagues.