How to Use Social Media To Be a More Effective Tutor
Most people use social media for entertainment, keeping up with friends, or mindlessly scrolling through memes. But what if you could transform it into something far more useful? Social media is a powerful tool, yet many people barely scratch the surface of what it can offer.
Research by Kepios tells us that at the start of 2025, there were over 5.24 billion social media users around the world. That’s an insane number because it represents 63.9% of the total population.
As a teacher, it’s easy to dismiss social media as a terrible distraction, but the truth is, it holds a lot of potential. In this article, let’s find out how you can make social media work to your advantage.
#1. Use Private Profiles to Structure and Organize Your Lessons
Social media can be a powerful tool for organizing your thoughts and refining your tutoring approach. Platforms like Facebook allow you to post private updates (“only me”), making them perfect for keeping a digital teaching journal.
Let’s be real, everyone knows that teaching is a stressful occupation. As Pew Research Center notes, 77% of teachers found their work to be ‘stressful’ while 68% found it overwhelming. Moreover, 84% of teachers stated that they didn’t have enough time during regular work hours to handle lesson planning, grading, and other tasks.
For this reason, you really want to take advantage of any tool that can make your life easier. Over the next few weeks, why not consider using a private social media account to help with things? After each session, you can take a few minutes to reflect on what worked well and what didn’t.
Maybe a student struggled with a concept more than expected, or perhaps a particular explanation really clicked. You can document these insights via posts and use the reply option to add subpoints to make a thread.
Social media can also serve as a place to store valuable teaching resources for future use. Instead of losing track of helpful articles, videos, or lesson plans, you can simply upload them privately into albums for easy access later.
This method makes it easier to pull up relevant materials when needed. The best part? It can feel even more convenient than cloud storage options. This is obviously because most social media platforms are designed from the ground up to be simple and easy to use.
#2. Engage with Students Beyond the Classroom
Social media offers an opportunity to interact with students in a way that feels natural and engaging. Think of it as a way to reinforce lessons and help students learn outside of tutoring sessions.
Of course, you’ll have to do this with tact. As the University of San Diego recommends, you’ll want to create a new account solely dedicated to academics. In addition, request your students to also make separate accounts so that there’s no mixing of personal and academic affairs.
The most interesting thing to do would be to create a private Facebook group that you can use for sharing study tips and resources. Just remember that if you choose to invite students to use social media, there’s the constant risk of distractions.
It’s unfortunate, but most platforms these days are designed to keep people hooked for as long as possible. Maybe you’ve seen the news about the Facebook lawsuit cases that people keep filing these days.
TorHoerman Law explains that Meta has been accused of deliberately making the platform addictive to teens and young adults. There are also a lot of allegations about the mental health impact that excessive usage brings with it.
So, ensure you keep an eye on how studious your students are with this method. You may find some students are really serious about using the method effectively, while others get derailed easily.
#3. Host Live Sessions and Study Groups
Social media can also be perfect for hosting live tutoring sessions and study groups. Platforms like Zoom, Instagram Live, and YouTube Live allow you to connect with students instantly, helping them work through difficult topics in a more engaging way.
Instead of simply assigning homework or answering questions via text, you can walk students through challenging problems step by step, clarify misunderstandings in real time, and create a more interactive learning experience.
According to research by Consumer Affairs, Journal of Consumer Research, only 15% of students in America receive any tutoring. They note that the biggest barrier is tutoring frequency. Only 25% of students with tutors have sessions at least three times a week.
With social media, you have a great opportunity to help fill this tutoring gap for those who need it. Even short, 20-minute Q&A sessions at the end of the week can reinforce key concepts and give students a chance to ask lingering questions.
For students who struggle with motivation, scheduled study groups can create accountability, making it easier for them to stay on track with their learning. If you are doing this on your own time and are allowed to charge tutoring fees, you can earn some great side income as well.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How do teachers create lesson plans?
Teachers create lesson plans by outlining objectives, structuring activities, and selecting teaching materials to ensure effective learning. They consider students’ needs, curriculum requirements, and assessment methods. A well-structured plan helps maintain focus, engage students, and track progress throughout the lesson.
2. What is the meaning of students’ engagement?
Student engagement refers to the level of attention, curiosity, and interest students exhibit in their learning process. Engaged students actively participate, think critically, and connect with the material. It also helps that high engagement often leads to better comprehension, retention, and overall academic success.
3. How can technology be used in teaching?
Technology enhances teaching by enabling interactive learning, personalized instruction, and instant feedback. Tools like social media platforms, digital whiteboards, online assessments, and educational apps definitely help create engaging experiences.
To wrap things up, social media, when used with intention, can transform the way tutors connect with students. As we’ve seen in this article, it offers endless opportunities to enhance learning while also acting as a fantastic teaching aid.
Naturally, the key to the best results is to approach it strategically so that it remains a space for productivity rather than distraction. That goes doubly so for any students you decide to involve in this unique teaching dynamic.