Social media is used by nearly everyone, adults and children alike. However, at South, it is used to connect students to events or other important information happening throughout the school. South is encouraged to utilize social networks to publicize school events and connect with each other rather than through just announcements and messages sent by teachers, according to Dr. James Shellard, student activities director.

“I’d like them to work with each other because I figure they know the best ways,” Shellard said.

The posting of events to class groups like Student Council and Titan Nation, is mostly done via Facebook to keep students informed, according to senior Sean Dolan, senior class vice president. Dolan believes Facebook is the most widely used form of social media amongst the student body, which makes it a more reliable source form of communication.

“When it comes to when a meeting is or what we’ll be meeting about the next time we’re together, we use that group to communicate, because most if not all of the members of student council have a Facebook, so they’re able to check that,” Dolan said.

Technological improvements and the changing forms of communication, according to Dolan, makes it beneficial to use social media in order to reach all members of the school. As members of student council, Dolan feels that in order to make South the best it can be, they need to reach out to students and keep them informed in every way possible about events going on in the school.

“With the evolution of technology it really allows us to use [social media] to our benefit, and communicate, like I said, with everybody else in the student body, and publicize and advertise what we’re doing in here, so that everywhere else outside of our room is where it should be,” Dolan said.

According to Angela Nelson, Pep Club sponsor, the use of social networking is a positive thing for the school. Nelson also acknowledges that the shift in popularity of social media is not only seen by students on their phones more often, but also in the way teachers and adults communicate.

“I actually think [social media] is really good,” Nelson said. “I mean, that’s the way things are changing technology, so even as an adult, email is the way you go and not phone calls. So, I think it’s a good thing; I like it.”

Although school use of social networking is useful in retrieving information about certain events, it can also cause the blurring between worlds of teachers and students which often tends to create uncomfortable situations, according to Shellard.

“There’s such a fine line between invading student’s privacy and also maintaining credibility with students,” Shellard said. “I can’t friend you on Facebook. It becomes awkward.”

However, regarding social networking use at South for the plethora of clubs and activities, social media helps unite students and keep them connected outside of school, according to Shellard.

“It’s really connecting  many many more people,” Shellard said. “If I look at our school and the energy in this school and the way that people are connected, I think they’re more connected now than they’ve ever been, and I would attribute social networking to it.”