The power of social media

Tshwarelo Hosia | Sunday November 9, 2025 12:38

However, far from reality, perceptions cannot be disregarded because they matter more. Social media can spread at supersonic speed both good and bad aspects of a school.

Nonetheless, social media platforms tend to give much more prominence to negative developments. Like the old journalism adage, “if it bleeds, it leads”. The publicity generated around negative energies has the potential to dim and dwarf whatever positive developments a school may be championing.

What a double-edged sword! On one hand, it can be a powerful tool for spreading good vibes and showcasing a school’s achievements. On the other hand, it can also magnify negative incidents and create a distorted view of the overall image of the school system. Of late, social media is awash with stories of student indiscipline. It paints a grim picture of issues of governance and accountability in schools. Yet the truth of the matter is that student indiscipline is nothing new. It is an old phenomenon. It’s been around since the dawn of formal education, and it’s not uncommon for cases to spike towards the end of the academic year or when students are transitioning from one level to another.

I recall vividly, way back in 1983, an incident where excited by completing form three, students went on a rampage to harass and ill-treat first-year students.

A school that had enjoyed serenity and tranquility for the better part of the year faced a new challenge threatening to upset law and order. Fortunately, there was no social media to amplify the challenge by spreading it beyond the borders of the school. The school authorities not only localised the problem but also took measures to contain it. Leadership is key in the management of issues of discipline. In today’s digital age, it is extremely difficult for a school to contain and localise a problem. Thanks to the power of social media. The solutions lie within schools. The school principal plays a pivotal role in maintaining order and discipline, and building strong relationships with students based on mutual respect is crucial.

This approach can lead to improved student behavior and reduced indiscipline, enhanced student engagement and motivation, better academic performance and learning outcomes, as well as an enabling school culture and climate. Students should have a sense of belonging.

They should feel like they own the school as much as other members of the school community. When students feel heard, valued, and respected, they’re more likely to respond positively to authority and take ownership of their actions. Principals who prioritise building strong relationships can create a more supportive and inclusive learning environment.

Effective best practices school managers should embrace are, among others, active listening and empathy, clear communication and setting high expectations, consistency and fairness in discipline, while also encouraging student engagement and feedback. In the final analysis, training of school principals on school governance, coupled with school autonomy and flexibility, could also improve governance and learning outcomes.

Working collectively as a team, members of a school community, including students, could restrain the influence of social media. Usually, elements within an organisation resort to social media when there seems to be no hope that issues can be dealt with sufficiently and fairly at the school level. Desperation within the ranks of an organisation makes a school vulnerable to external busybodies who might exacerbate the problem at hand.

A school that has faith in its leadership and capacity for self-management hardly allows internal problems to spiral out of control. Completing students should also be trained while also taking personal responsibility to manage their own euphoria. Completing a long and arduous academic journey generates so much energy and excitement.

The feat should be celebrated with responsibility without necessarily compromising personal health and the safety of others. Otherwise, credit should go to many school authorities who managed to steer their schools in the right direction throughout the academic year. Despite the daunting challenges at hand, the future is always pregnant with hope.