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At NS, one of the most prominent forms of official communication is done through social media, but some problems come with this method.
NS utilizes accounts on both Facebook and Instagram, with there being two separate Instagram accounts and one Facebook account. They use them to post and communicate with the community and students. They have the official school account on Instagram, nshawks, and the SBO account, nshsbos, having both in the hope of reaching more students through the SBOs. They also have the official high school Facebook page: North Sanpete Hawks. SBO media specialist Ava Lamb manages the accounts with help from administrators.
Using social media does have its benefits. Including mass communication that is quick and easy.
“It spreads the word quickly, and we can celebrate with the public,” said assistant principal Natalie Stansfield.
Social media is an important tool and something for students and parents that have become a daily part of life for most of these people, with the average teenager spending about three hours on social media a day. It can be used for communication in large groups, but what about those students or parents who don’t have social media?
From the recent NS Times survey, only 46 percent of students follow the SBO’s Instagram, and only 51 percent follow the official high school Instagram account.
“It’s nice to have, but it still can be difficult because sometimes you still don’t see the announcements,” said junior Gracie Kjar.
Some students who follow NS social media accounts still show concern that they don’t always see it or worry about those who don’t have social media at all.
“We kind of hope that their friends will tell them, but that’s also why we have posters up and that we spread the word, but some kids just do not know,” said Lamb.
Not having social media can cause problems, including not feeling informed or even being misinformed when important activities are announced or other important information is announced.
“When you don’t communicate or anything, it leads to confusion, and confusion in masses leads to nothing,” said Lamb.
One example of this that Lamb explained is the whole class color thing with pep assemblies. It hasn’t always been communicated properly or just doesn’t quite reach everyone so it isn’t necessarily up and running fully yet, but there is hope that it will come through and people will understand what is going on soon.
“It is not my favorite thing, and we spend a lot of time on it, but it’s a good way to get a message across,” said Stansfield.
Despite the flaws of using social media to inform NS, Lamb explains that she hopes it will improve and information will get out to the student body smoother and faster as the year progresses.
