SOCIAL MEDIA: WHAT’S NOT TO LIKE?

“Social media can boost teen’s self-esteem – or foster depression”

By: Alison Pearce Stevens

Published: Science News for Students, Oct 12, 2017, https://www.sciencenewsforstudents.org/article/social-media-whats-not

Level of Difficulty: **

BEFORE YOU READ

·         How social media effects teenagers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgdS7uKKMAE

·         Why I quit social media for a year https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFSwDtspY5c  

QUESTIONS

1.       Read the first four paragraphs of the text and answer the questions:

·         Social interaction has undergone a radical change in recent years in that the traditional venue has been replaced by…

·         What major difference between the traditional venues for socialization and the modern venues is a cause of problems? The fact that…

·         The above issue may have serious repercussions for students in that …

2.       Read the section titled a filtered view and answer the questions:

·         We gain important insight into teenagers’ state of mind from the 2015 experiment. It is that…..

·         The distorted image teenagers present to their social circle is due to the fact that…

·         The down side of the above is that…

·         What conclusion can be drawn from the information provided thus far?

·         We understand from the 2015 study of eighth and ninth graders that the quality of the post/ the length of the post / the nature of the post / the seriousness of the post may have an effect on popularity.

·         What habit mentioned in this section may affect the state of mind of teenagers? Whether …

3.       Read the section titled “A place to connect and answer the questions:

·         What widely held prejudice was disproved by Marwick and Boyd?

·         There are physical / practical/ emotional / social reasons why teenagers hang out on social media

·         What major feature of online communication can cause serious repercussions?

4.       Read the section titled “Online Drama” and answer the questions:

·         The reason why the term online drama is used to describe confrontations online is the fact that………

·         What epithet do teenagers avoid using in this context?

·         The term online drama is used to alter perceptions / change messages/ adapt messages / promote understanding

5.       Read the section titled “Keeping It in the Family” and answer the questions:

·         Read the study Coyne and her colleagues carried out. Connecting with parents on social media benefits parents in that…

·         It also benefitted teenagers themselves in that their level of anti-social behavior was…(Provide a one word answer)

·         We understand from the text that social media is beneficial so long as …

WRITING TASK

Use all you have learnt to write an essay discussing the advantages and disadvantages of teenagers’ use of social media.

SOCIAL MEDIA: WHAT’S NOT TO LIKE? KEY AND TEACHERS’ NOTES

This extremely topical text provides a good all-round analysis of the use of social media by teenagers. The upsides and downsides are clearly explained. As a result the text should generate plenty of discussion and lead to a well rounded essay.

1.       The answers to the questions in this section 

·         Social media (such as instagram, snapchat and facebook)

·         Using social media to connect with others is kind of like having a private conversation in a public place.

·         They can feel cut out, judged, less connected and caught in online drama and cyber bullying

2.       The answers to the questions in this section 

·         Peer feedback plays a big role in how teens view themselves and each other

·         Teens present idealized versions of themselves online

·         Those carefully crafted profiles can make it feel like everyone else is living a better life than you are

·         Students’ use of social media may form distorted perceptions of their peers

·         The nature of the post

·         Whether they make upward or downward comparisons

3.       The answers to the questions in this section 

·         Kids no longer know how to communicate in person

·         Practical

·         Online conversations can stick around

4.       The answers to the questions in this section 

·         The confrontation between people is performed in front of an audience

·         Bullying.  

·         Alter perceptions

5.       The answers to the questions in this section 

·         It helped parents better understand their kids and what they were going through

·         Less

·         People don’t focus on how many likes or shares they have