Starter Questions
How often do you use social media?
Which social media platform do you use the most?
What do you mainly use social media for?
Do you prefer communicating online or face-to-face?
How much time do you spend on your phone each day?
Could you live without social media for a month?
Do you think social media has changed the way people communicate?
What was the first social media platform you ever used?
Do you ever take breaks from social media?
What’s the best thing about life online?
Vocabulary
social media
social network
social media platform
follower
influencer
content creator
algorithm
post
comment
like
share
upload
livestream
viral
trending
notification
direct message (DM)
profile
privacy
digital footprint
online identity
cyberbullying
misinformation
fake news
screen time
addiction
online community
block
unfollow
go viral
Useful Idioms & Expressions
Go viral
To become extremely popular online very quickly.
“Her video went viral overnight.”
Scroll endlessly
To continue looking through online content without stopping.
“I sometimes scroll endlessly before going to sleep.”
Break the internet
To attract an enormous amount of attention online.
“The celebrity’s announcement practically broke the internet.”
Get sucked into something
To become so involved in something that you lose track of time.
“I got sucked into TikTok and spent two hours scrolling.”
Put yourself out there
To make yourself visible or open to other people’s opinions.
“Starting a YouTube channel means putting yourself out there.”
A double-edged sword
Something that has both positive and negative effects.
“Social media is a double-edged sword.”
Behind the screen
Referring to behaviour that happens online rather than face-to-face.
“People sometimes say things behind a screen that they wouldn’t say in person.”
Keep up with the Joneses
To try to have the same lifestyle or possessions as other people because you don’t want to feel behind.
“Social media can make people feel like they need to keep up with the Joneses.”
Discussion Questions
Has social media made communication better or worse?
Why do people care so much about likes and followers?
Is social media addictive?
Do influencers have too much influence over young people?
Should children have social media accounts?
How does social media affect people’s self-esteem?
Do people present a fake version of themselves online?
Is online friendship as meaningful as face-to-face friendship?
Should social media companies be responsible for misinformation?
How much privacy should people have online?
Is it possible to have a healthy relationship with social media?
Should people be allowed to remain anonymous online?
Why does negative content often attract more attention than positive content?
Has social media made people more connected or more isolated?
Would society be better without social media?
Should employers be allowed to look at someone’s social media before hiring them?
What would happen if social media disappeared tomorrow?
Do you think people will become more dependent on the internet in the future? Why or why not?
