Abstract:

Social media platforms have become ubiquitous, offering diverse content catering to the preferences of various users. While initially focused on entertainment, social media now disseminates real-world events, including court cases and legal matters, attracting viewers interested in true crime documentaries and series. Channels on platforms like YouTube and applications like TikTok provide snippets and brief analyses of ongoing legal proceedings, blurring the lines between traditional print media reporting and real-time visual broadcasting. For law students, learning the law from textbooks differs significantly from witnessing it in action on social media. While these platforms offer valuable learning opportunities, they also present numerous pitfalls. This paper explores the use of social media content as an educational tool in the lecture room, emphasizing the importance of critically analysing its advantages and disadvantages. Viewing legal cases through a social media lens can introduce biases and propagate misinformation, potentially influencing case outcomes and the administration of justice. Additionally, podcasts where hosts offer opinions on legal matters before their resolution raise concerns about impartiality and accuracy. To address these challenges, it is crucial to incorporate these social media resources into legal education responsibly, balancing exposure to real-world cases with awareness of their limitations. Future legal professionals must understand how to navigate these resources ethically and discerningly. An analysis will be conducted to propose strategies for integrating social media content into the legal curriculum while mitigating its potential drawbacks. Future legal professionals can strategically leverage social media insights to enhance their awareness of court processes and legal complexities. By adeptly exploiting these resources, they can strengthen their case tactics and ultimately obtain positive outcomes in court.

Keywords:

Law student, social media, legal education, teaching and learning.