SOCIAL MEDIA

1. Talk about you!

2. What platforms do you use?

3. How much time do you spend on the platforms?
4. When do you first go online on a typical day?
5. When is the last time you go online on a typical day?
6. Is there any particular moment of the day in which you use the cellphone more?
When? For what?

1. Discuss these ideas

- Friends online are as good as real friends.

- Online books will mean the end of bookshops.
- It is better to talk to someone than to send a text message.
- A lot of the technology we use is not necessary.
- The Internet has made the world a better place.
- Surfing on the Internet is bad for relationships.

2. Read these comments and reply to them.

3. Explain the words that strike your attention

 4. Reflect on the positive and negative views of social media.

The Pros and Cons of Teens on

Social Media
Posted on June 23, 2016 by Kelly Austin

Every teenager is a member of one or more social media platforms. Whether it is

Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, SnapChat or any other platform, social media
tends to form an integral part of their lives. Social media has its advantages and
disadvantages in the way it affects the lives of teenagers. Let us take a look at
some of these effects.

Positive effects of social media on the lives of teenagers

1. ________________________________________________

With social media, teens can easily find out about what is going on in their
neighborhood, school, state, country and even the entire world. It is an important
way to equip themselves with adequate knowledge of current affairs. This
information can be quite useful and enables them to make informed decisions
based on what they know.
2. ________________________________________________

Social media platforms can act as a great study tool for students. They can use
them to ask each other difficult questions that they could not solve on their own. It
also makes it easier to for group discussions and study groups even when they are
far from each other. Students can also post research work on social media
platforms to educate other students on a particular topic.

3. ________________________________________________

Social media provides a place where teens can freely express themselves. They
can join groups and fan pages that they are interested in and which reflect their
own unique personality. This empowers them and makes them know that their
opinion counts, thus boosting their self-esteem. Their confidence online is also
transferred to their physical lives where they are able to pursue their passions to
the fullest.

4. ________________________________________________

Many times, teens with disabilities do not get an equal chance to interact with
others. However, social media offers an equal opportunity to everyone. Teens with
disabilities can do all of the activities that their fellow teenagers do on social
media. This makes them feel that they actually belong and realize that they are
not different at all.

5. ________________________________________________

There are many jobs posted and applied for with the use of social media. Whether
they are part time, full time, volunteer positions, internships or contract jobs, they
can all be found on social media platforms that provide users with the ability to
create their own unique profile of skills and interests. This allows teenagers to
have access to new job opportunities especially from their locality.

6. ________________________________________________
We all have to admit that this is the age of rapid technological advancements.
When teenagers use social media, they embrace the technology that is widely
available and use it for their own good. It is good for them to keep up with the
changing trends in technology.
Negative effects of social media on the lives of teenagers
1. ________________________________________________

Cyberbullying is one of the more negative influences that presents itself in social
media especially for teenagers. It gives a platform for cyberbullies to taunt and
bully others. It is easier to bully others through social media than to do it
physically. Due to the huge level of networking offered by social media,
cyberbullying moves from bad to worse in a matter of days causing long lasting
pain.

2. ________________________________________________

Teens with disabilities can become a target of prejudice from their fellow teens.
This can make them feel isolated and very lonely. The situation is made worse by
the fact that many teenagers will often carry on with their online attitudes even
when they are interacting face to face.

3. ________________________________________________
Social media is very engaging and leads to teenagers spending a lot of time on
them. They may neglect their school work, extra-curricular activities and even their
friends and family so that they can play a game or chat about various things not
related to schoolwork. This clearly reduces their productivity levels. Such kids even
start failing in school work and may end up being addicted to the social media
platforms.
4. ________________________________________________

Due to the increase in the time spent interacting in the virtual world of social
media; it affects the face to face communication and social skills of teenagers. You
can find very outspoken kids on social media being quite reserved when it comes
to face to face interactions. Knowing where to hold our hands and what kinds of
facial expressions to hold are something that comes with face-to-face interactions.

5. ________________________________________________

Social media has a way of making teens disclose a lot of information that they
would not disclose face to face. By giving out too much information, for example
about where one lives, where they go to school and other personal details, the
teen could inadvertently make it easier for those who want to do them harm.

5. Now you write about the advantages and disadvantages of using

social networks.