Conventional wisdom says teenagers and official school social media accounts should never mix. But what if that assumption is keeping you from your most powerful communications asset? For schools willing to involve student content creators in their social media strategy, the results speak volumes.
According to survey research from schools and education professionals across the country, 0% of schools regret involving students in social media. Stated another way, schools that have integrated students into their social media processes and content don’t regret it! The success metrics are clear—but why? And how can your school harness the benefits of student-led social media? Let’s break it down.
How Students Contribute & Why It Works
Currently, about 60% of schools have students contributing to school social media pages in one way or another or want to start. Students most often contribute through classes and clubs, where they receive guidance while having the freedom to collect and create content creatively.
The benefits of student involvement are significant. Students make school social media more authentic. They capture real moments that engage and resonate with classmates, families, and the community. Posts about student life, classrooms, and activities consistently get higher engagement rates (especially when they come from a student perspective). What’s more, student involvement offers research-based learning opportunities. Through content creation, they gain valuable skills in writing, design, video production, photography, marketing, and other disciplines, while also getting a hands-on understanding of digital citizenship.
For school PR professionals, empowering student contributors can help lighten the load. Managing social media alongside other responsibilities is often overwhelming, especially for small teams. It can be game-changing to have a cohort of content collectors, with a greater bandwidth, ready to capture the endless story opportunities in classrooms, after school, behind the scenes at theatrical productions, on sports teams, and beyond.
“Involving students has made a dramatic impact on the consistency of our school social media content,” notes Julia Mitchell, Director of Communications at New Hampshire’s Pinkerton Academy. “I cannot say enough how valuable I find their work!”
Pinkerton Academy, the largest semi-private, independent high school in New Hampshire, serves over 3,000 students. For four years, they’ve engaged student content creators through courses and independent study opportunities, using Class Intercom to streamline content collection and management. This structured approach has not only enhanced their school’s social media presence but also opened doors for students—like senior Patrick Cogan who, thanks in part to his content creation experience, has secured numerous educational and professional opportunities.
The truth is simple: when students contribute to school social media, everyone benefits.
Addressing Concerns About Student-Driven Social Media
Despite the benefits, some schools hesitate to involve students in their social media efforts. According to the 2024 Social Media in Education Report, the top concerns are managing student-created content (32%), ensuring content quality (59%), and avoiding additional workloads for teachers and administrators (29%). While these concerns are valid, the right tools can make overcoming them simpler than you might expect.
The right technology makes it easy to manage student-created content by implementing clear workflows and approval processes. With comprehensive moderation, educators can review and approve students’ posts before they go live, ensuring all content aligns with school branding and messaging. Intentional workflows that provide organized and contextual opportunities for feedback are huge opportunities for students to learn! With a few resources and feedback, content quality increases quickly as students grasp concepts like storytelling, perspective-taking, photography, and design. In fact, schools consistently report that, with a little guidance, students consistently exceed expectations when it comes to creating school social media content.
Where some worry about increasing workloads for staff, the opposite is true. Involving students in content creation instead reduces the burden on educators and administrators. Without the responsibility of creating content, staff can focus on oversight and strategy.
The key isn’t keeping students away from social media – it’s giving them the tools they need to succeed. Workflows, policies, and moderation tools ensure students can exercise their creativity in a safe, supportive environment. With these elements in place, schools can build a team of skilled content creators who bring student experiences to life, meaningfully, while maintaining professional standards.
Making Student-Led Social Media Safe & Secure
The success of student-driven social media hinges on having tools that simplify processes and ensure the security of school accounts. Class Intercom is the leading school social media management platform, offering a comprehensive suite of tools for assigning, creating, approving, scheduling, and providing feedback on content. With systems that include post approvals and role-based permissions, schools can confidently integrate student voices into their social media strategy, without losing control.
In addition to mitigating risk, schools using Class Intercom are able to streamline content creation. Scheduling features ensure timely posts, while collaborative task management gives educators the ability to set expectations and hold students accountable. With both in practice, schools can ensure posts are consistent and their communities are engaged.
The result is that students can contribute with confidence. Educators can provide direct feedback, helping students apply what they learn right away. These experiences let students explore their passions in ways they can’t with traditional school work. Every industry benefits from skilled content creators, and students who gain this experience early are better prepared for future career opportunities.
At Class Intercom, we believe students should be active participants in telling their school’s story. Our platform gives schools the tools to safely and effectively involve students in social media content creation—without sacrificing oversight or quality. Structured workflows and moderation tools help schools tap into student talent while staying in control. The result? Engaging, authentic content that strengthens school communities, prepares students for future careers and makes social media a powerful tool for education. Ready to get started? Follow the link below to get in touch.
