Social Network Influence on Educational Continuation and Career Choice: A Review

Abstract

Social media platforms have altered the way that students access academic information, seek career advice, and make learning decisions. Platforms like LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube are having a clearly perceptible twin effect on the career goals, skill acquisition, and professional network of students. While these websites are useful resources for mentorship and exposure to industry here, they also present problems of misinformation, romanticized career descriptions, and biased algorithms that can mislead students about possible career options. By examining actual case studies, this paper examines how students from various socio-economic backgrounds interact with career content online and how algorithmic suggestions influence their aspirations. Blending empirical evidence and statistical trends, we present a balanced assessment of the advantages and disadvantages of online career guidance. Findings provide educational implications which are of critical concern, and these include promoting media literacy programs, institutional intervention, and evidence-based interventions to enhance the benefits of social networks and avoid their limitations. The research provides insights for educators, policymakers, career counsellors, and other stake holders in promoting informed decision making among students based on digital influences in education.