Social Media Usage in Education: A Comparison between Saudi Arabia and the United States

This paper examines the impact of social media on education in Saudi Arabia and the United States. Social media usage as a pedagogical feature has increased over the past few decades, though in different ways. Recent advancement in technology has brought a significant transformation in the educational sector. The use of mobile phones and computers has created an exciting environment for both teachers and learners. The role of social media usage in education has been made possible due to various policies adopted by institutions in many countries. As the usage of computers continues to grow rapidly, education policy makers have suggested that schools should encompass Information and Communication Technology (ICT) programs in their curriculum. The use of the Internet has enabled faster communication methods and online discussion forums. The emergence of online communication such video conferencing and Skype has brought a tremendous change in communication. The emergence of social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, has necessitated online discussions for various topics. The education sector has tapped into this opportunity to make learning exciting. Teachers have made use of YouTube podcasts to prepare teaching aid materials that can be accessed by students at any time. The role of social media in education cannot be underestimated. It has changed the whole learning process, causing teachers, parents and students to experience learning in a transformative manner. Social media has reshaped the way we communicate in all aspects of business, leisure and professional activities. While social media in both Saudi Arabia and the United States have roles to play in the education sector, the response in Saudi Arabia for the integration of social media into the education system is significantly lower. While the infrastructure exists in Saudi Arabia the will to use social media is lower than in the United States. Social media usage by females is much lower in Saudi Arabia due to the strict Islamic culture. Schools will not embrace the use of social media unless the Saudi government makes this a high priority.