Should Social Media be avoided to crack NEET/JEE?

Social networking sites are highly addictive. Aren’t they?  Facebook or Instagram seems to have a lot of addictive content for the Gen Z out there.

Do you also spend hours scrolling the so-called FB or IG? Do you use Telegram or Snapchat a lot? If that’s exactly the case, you are addicted to “Social Media”.

Well, there is nothing bad about using social media apps or spending time exploring the creative side of the world. Using social media apps is completely normal in the ‘Digital Era’ but you need to keep a check on your social media usage if you are among the lakhs of aspirants who aim to clear the NEET or IIT JEE exam.

As per the research conducted by Cornell University (USA) which examined the relations of social media addiction to college students’ mental health and academic performance, addictive social media use will look much like any other constituent use disorder and may include mood swings, salience (i.e., behavioural, cognitive, and emotional preoccupation with social media), varied tolerance capacity, withdrawal symptoms, behavioural conflict, and deterioration.  

The research concluded that when social media users repeat a recurring pattern of relieving undesirable temperaments with social media use, their level of psychological dependency on social media increases, and their day-to-day and important tasks get hampered.

For students who aim to crack National level entrance exams, the risk is more. As talked about several times, clearing IIT JEE or NEET is no cakewalk and demands utmost concentration and discipline.

The purpose of this article is not to state that the use of social media is depraved but to convey that this activity must not deviate you from your goal and disturb the daily schedule. You must keep a check on the social media usage and limit it before it becomes an addiction. However, if you have the control and discipline, using social media for a limited time during study breaks, either for entertainment or motivational purposes won’t do any harm.

Disadvantages of Social Networking Sites for JEE/ NEET Aspirants

• Social networking sites are one of the biggest distractions for students. If used excessively, students will lose interest and concentration in their studies.
• There is no doubt about the fact that social media is addictive. It is designed to lure its users to spend more time on such apps. This is exactly what students need to stay away from.
• The urge to check the apps for comments, likes, and shares after a post is time-wasting. Better avoid posting anything on the media. Refrain yourself from being an active participant.