Students social media to aid careers, poll finds

College and high school students use social media to make important education and career connections, according to an Associated Press-Viacom poll. Four out of 5 high school and college students say websites are an excellent or good way to interact with fellow students, and a bit fewer -- about 7 in 10 -- say they're equally good for getting information on class assignments or school events, or to form study groups and collaborate with peers. Just over half say the Internet is useful to look up ratings on teachers. Among students who are employed, 62 percent say social networking is helpful in interactions with co-workers. Even more, about 9 in 10, say they see social networking as a tool to keep in touch with friends and family. And 74 percent say it's a good way to distract themselves.