TikTok in the Classroom,  Enhancing or Eroding the Teaching Profession?, A DebateTikTok in the Classroom,  Enhancing or Eroding the Teaching Profession?, A Debate

Does TikTok belong in the classroom? According to Education Week, 94 percent of teachers are using the social media platform to find ideas related to education, from which they create lesson plans, show science experiments, and use it to reach students in novel ways. Is this new wave of digital engagement the future of classroom innovation or a distraction that undermines the integrity of the teaching profession? Supporters of using TikTok in the classroom argue that it is important for educators to meet students where they are. Using the platform, they contend, can help make whatever subjects they teach more digestible and adaptable to different types of learners. From science tutorials to historical explainers, they assert, TikTok can become an informal classroom of its own. Opponents of using TikTok in the classroom argue that it is designed to entertain and keep eyes glued to the screen, not to educate users or nurture critical thought. No one vets TikTok, they contend, and the information it conveys may be biased, inaccurate, and misleading. Social media can be addictive, they assert, and data show that TikTok and other platforms can harm children's mental health and development. Does bringing TikTok into the classroom enhance or erode the teaching profession?