Studying is not a fun activity for many. It’s not easy to stay motivated and focused for long periods. Not to mention, students are surrounded by distractions, even at home.
One perfect example of a distraction is clutter. If a student is surrounded by chaos in their study area, they won’t stay focused and productive.
Another example of distraction is screen time. In the U.S., children ages 8 to 12 have an average daily screen time of 4 to 6 hours. Teens have a higher screen time of nine hours. Students can scroll through their Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok accounts for hours on end, which keeps them from getting anything done for school.
Ironically, students also get their motivation to study through social media. This is where study gram and study tube come in handy. These words are an amalgamation of the word “study” and the last syllable of the social media platform where contents are published: Instagram for “study gram” and YouTube for “sturdy tube.”
The Purpose
The purpose of study gram and studytube is to motivate oneself when studying and to inspire others to do the same. On Instagram, most posts with the “studygram” hashtag are photos of study notes or a desk setup.
On YouTube, most study videos are about organizing notes, time management strategies, and productivity hacks. There are also videos about acing college entrance exams and finding affordable universities with outstanding academic programs.
Given this context, it’s easy to see why people, particularly students, are drawn to studygram and studytube. The content gives them practical tips they can use to improve their study habits. They also learn new things that they can apply to their process of studying to achieve better academic results.
There are also hour-long “study with me” videos of people studying silently: writing notes, flipping pages, and highlighting text. This idea seems to have originated from South Korea. These videos are popular because they give viewers a sense of companionship, which can be motivating. This is especially useful during the pandemic, where students are forced to study on their own.
The Problems
Studygram and studytube are both helpful and inspiring. But as with anything in life, there will always be pros and cons.
Impractical Strategies
Each person learns differently from others. Many studytubers often rewrite their notes on camera and use different kinds of pens. They use color coding in their messages. Some even use calligraphy skills to add accents to their notes and make them more visually appealing.
There’s nothing wrong with rewriting notes. For some who do this, rewriting helps them retain information more easily. But the further use of colored pens, several highlighters, and stylized writing can be impractical and inefficient in the long run.
Looking at aesthetically pleasing notes can indeed be motivating. They might make students more likely to read their notes. Having pretty notes can also give students a sense of accomplishment. But in the end, having Instagram-worthy lecture notes isn’t the key to getting good grades in school. It’s still about focus and dedication. Students should focus more on the substance of their notes rather than their aesthetic appeal.
Expensive Trends
The audience for studygram and studytube ranges from middle school to college students. Most of them are at a highly impressionable age. So if they see their favorite influencer using particular stationery or study tools, these viewers may feel pressured to purchase them as well to “fit in.”
But many of these tools are not affordable. For example, some studygram influencers use an iPad and an Apple Pencil to take notes. Sure, using an iPad for notes has many advantages. But because of studygram and studytube, students may feel like they need these expensive tools to study more efficiently. They may feel pressured to buy these gadgets, even if they’re costly.
Also, the different kinds of stationery that studygram and studytube influencers use (and hype on social media) are more expensive than their standard counterparts. For example, many use Muji stationery in their videos. But these items are more costly than no-brand stationery found in local department stores.
There’s nothing wrong with using these tools if they work for a student and can afford them. But students must realize that these social-media-famous tools are not required to get good grades in school.
Overall, the online study community can be beneficial. Although, students should tread lightly when engaging with studygram and studytube posts. And they must remember that they can succeed academically through hard work and dedication. The tools shouldn’t be the priority.
