In this day and age, schools across the country use social media as a news outlet for students. Students at Wilsonville High School were asked if it is a good idea for schools to have accounts, whether recreational or informative.

In an Instagram poll, students voted 88% yes and 12% no.

Pros:

With a sweeping overall majority, students agree that schools should have social media accounts. Most responses include, “it’s a great way to show school spirit” and, “helpful info can be sent out to students on a common platform.” Since Instagram is such a widely used platform amongst teenagers and parents alike, students think that this is a perfectly good way to get updates fast. One student mentioned that they think that schools should have accounts but only if they are for clubs; accounts such as “gossip” pages usually stir up drama and should be stopped.

Cons:

With only 12% of students saying no, they believe it can do more harm than good. Students replied, “accounts making fun of people can end in bad situations” and, “they can sometimes draw too much attention to people who don’t want it.” Recently, Instagram pages such as Wilsonville Naps, WVHS Tea, and more have been on the rise. While students believe that most of these accounts are all fun in games, there can be some real downsides. A junior said, “I feel like I can’t breathe anymore walking the halls of school without feeling like I’m constantly being judged.” 

Overall, students at Wilsonville seem to appreciate these school Instagram pages when informational, but not when they are making fun of people or bullying. To many students, social media can be a great informational outlet when used correctly.