Final Project

For my final project I chose to look at the rise of social media and it's implications on literacy and education. Please play the podcast below, and take notes or write down questions you have under the following headings I touch on throughout:

Context

Literacy Trends

Limitations of Research

Positive Implications

Negative Implications

Mental Health

Attempts to Mitigate Risks

Directions Forward, Implications for the Future, and Questions to Consider

References

Carrington, V., & Robinson, M. (Eds.). (2009). Digital literacies: Social learning and classroom practices. SAGE Publications. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781446288238

Greenhow, C., & Lewin, C. (2016). Social media and education: Reconceptualizing the boundaries of formal and informal learning. Learning, Media and Technology, 41(1), 6–30. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439884.2015.1115769

Haliti-Sylaj, T., & Sadiku, A. (2024). Impact of short reels on attention span and academic performance of undergraduate students. Eurasian Journal of Applied Linguistics, 10(3), 60–68. https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1454296.pdf

Lankshear, C., & Knobel, M. (2006). New literacies: Changing knowledge and classroom learning. Open University Press.

Rodriguez, J. E. (2011). Social media use in higher education: Key areas to consider for educators. MERLOT Journal of Online Learning and Teaching, 7(4), 539–550. https://our.oakland.edu/server/api/core/bitstreams/ceec0264-53e0-4e6d-a427-fcb254b45dc0/content

Statista. (2024, May 8). Social media usage in Canada – Statista dossier. https://www.statista.com/topics/2729/social-networking-in-canada/#topicOverview

Statistics Canada. (2001). Literacy skills for the knowledge society: Further results from the International Adult Literacy Survey. https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/11-008-x/2001003/article/6003-eng.pdf

Statistics Canada. (n.d.). Subjects: Education, training and learning – Literacy. https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/en/subjects/education_training_and_learning/literacy

Taylor, L. (2024, December 19). Australia's top regulator calls for ban on kids under 16 using social media. NPR. https://www.npr.org/2024/12/19/nx-s1-5231020/australia-top-regulator-kids-social-media-ban

Fardouly, J. (2025). Potential effects of the social media age ban in Australia for children younger than 16 years. The Lancet Digital Health, 7(4), 235–236. https://www.thelancet.com/action/showPdf?pii=S2589-7500%2825%2900024-X

Pew Research Center. (2015). Social networking usage: 2005–2015. https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2015/10/08/social-networking-usage-2005-2015/

Library of Parliament. (2010). Social media: An introduction. https://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2013/bdp-lop/eb/2010-5-eng.pdf

British Columbia Chamber of Commerce. (2022). Literacy lost – Canada’s basic skills shortfall. https://bcchamber.org/policy-search/literacy-lost-canadas-basic-skills-shortfall-2022

Children and Screens. (n.d.). Attention, media use, and children. https://www.childrenandscreens.org/learn-explore/research/attention-media-use-and-children/

Gammon, M. A. (2011). Social media literacy: Challenges and opportunities for higher education. In C. Wankel (Ed.), Educating educators with social media (pp. 329–345). Emerald Group Publishing Limited. https://doi.org/10.1108/S2044-9968(2011)0000001019

Rodriguez, J. E. (2011). Social media use in higher education: Key areas to consider for educators. MERLOT Journal of Online Learning and Teaching, 7(4), 539–550. https://jolt.merlot.org/vol7no4/rodriguez_1211.htm

YouTube. (2016, March 28). Video: Incorporating & accounting for Social Media in Education. [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZteEZbAtsNI

YouTube. (2023, October 26). Video: How to Make Learning as Addictive as Social Media. [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6FORpg0KVo

YouTube. (2024, May 23). Video: Jonathan Haidt on the Mental-Health Crisis and Smartphones. [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6NfPHrVilc