The Sociology of Influence: What Tutors Can Learn From Content Creators
Ever wonder why students seem to listen more closely to YouTubers than to their teachers? It’s not that the YouTuber necessarily knows more — it’s that they understand the sociology of influence.
Social Proof in Action
Psychologists and sociologists call it social proof: we are more likely to trust and copy behaviour when we see that lots of others are doing the same. If a video has a million views and thousands of comments, students assume it must be worth watching. That same student might ignore a teacher’s explanation in class — not because it’s wrong, but because it doesn’t come wrapped in that same layer of validation.
Tutors can learn from this. Even if you don’t have a million subscribers, you can still build trust by:
-
Sharing examples of other students’ success (“Here’s how my last GCSE student raised their grade from 5 to 8”).
-
Using platforms students already respect — even a short explainer clip on YouTube or TikTok can reinforce what you teach in lessons.
-
Encouraging peer-to-peer learning so students see that others like them are engaging with the same content.
YouTube vs TikTok for Teaching
Not all platforms are created equal, and students consume them differently:
-
YouTube: Longer-form, structured, and often used deliberately for revision. Great for full explanations, worked examples, and deep dives into tricky topics.
-
TikTok: Fast, snackable, and often stumbled upon rather than searched for. Perfect for hooks, tips, and memorable mnemonics — but attention spans are short.
A smart tutor uses both: YouTube for depth, TikTok for reach. The trick is to repurpose the same idea for each platform — a 30-second hook for TikTok that leads students to a 5-minute YouTube breakdown.
Lessons for Tutors
-
Meet students where they are. If they’re scrolling TikTok, why not put revision tips in their feed?
-
Leverage micro-influence. Even a small, trusted channel can carry more weight with students than a dry handout.
-
Build your own authority. Regular posts, consistent branding, and visible success stories all contribute to your credibility.
In the end, teaching isn’t just about transmitting knowledge. It’s about influence. And whether we like it or not, YouTubers and TikTok creators have mastered that game. If tutors borrow a little of their style and strategy, we might find students are not just listening — but engaging.
No comments:
Post a Comment