Social media: Friend or Foe for Teenagers?

 

Task one 1. Prediction

Look at the title and the subheadings. In pairs, discuss your ideas.

· Two positive effects of social media (prediction):

  1. ---

  2. ---

· Two negative effects of social media (prediction):

  1. ---

  2. ---

Task 2. Vocabulary matching

Match the word with its meaning. Write the letter next to the number.

Terms:

1. cyberbullying

2. FOMO (fear of missing out)

3. harassment

4. screen time

5. notification

6. self-esteem

7. addiction

8. online community

9. digital wellbeing

10. trolling

11. like / share (as nouns)

12. mental health

Definitions (A–L):

A. the total number of hours a person spends looking at a screen (phone, computer, TV)

B. using the internet to hurt, threaten, or embarrass someone repeatedly

C. the anxious feeling that others are having fun without you

D. repeated aggressive behaviour or pressure (online or offline)

E. a sound or message that alerts you to something new on your phone/app

F. confidence in your own worth or abilities

G. the state of being unable to stop doing something (e.g., using social media)

H. a group of people who interact online because they share an interest

I. the practice of using technology in a healthy and balanced way

J. posting provocative or offensive messages to upset someone

K. the act of pressing a button to show approval (like) or to spread a post (share)

L. a person’s emotional and psychological condition (e.g., anxiety, depression)

Your answers:

1. ---

2. ---

3. ---

4. ---

5. ---

6. ---

7. ---

8. ---

9. ---

10. ---

11. ---

12. ---

Social Media: Friend or Foe for Teenagers?

Social media has become a huge part of teenagers’ lives. Various platforms are used by millions of teens every day. But is this a good thing or a bad thing? Let’s look at both sides.

The positive side

For many teens, social media is a way to stay connected with friends, especially those who live far away. It can also help them find communities of people with similar interests – for example, art, music, or sports. Some teenagers use social media to express themselves creatively or to learn new things. In fact, a recent study showed that 68% of teenagers felt that social media helped them feel more supported during difficult times.

The negative side

However, there are serious problems too. One of the biggest is cyberbullying. About 37% of young people say they have experienced online harassment. Another issue is FOMO – the fear of missing out. Seeing photos of friends having fun without you can make teenagers feel lonely and anxious. Spending too much time online can also affect sleep and school grades. The average teenager spends more than 7 hours a day on screens, not including schoolwork.

What can be done?

Experts suggest simple steps: limit screen time to 2 hours of free time per day, turn off notifications during homework and before bed, and talk openly with parents or teachers about online experiences. Social media itself is not evil – but how we use it matters.

Source: adapted from childpsychology.org (2024)

Task 3. Scanning

Read the text quickly and find the numbers.

· How many hours per day does the average teenager spend on screens? ________

· What percentage of teens felt more supported thanks to social media? ________

· What percentage experienced cyberbullying? ________

Task 4. True / False / Not stated

Read carefully. Write T (true), F (false) or NS (not stated). Correct the false statements.

a) Social media can help teenagers find people with similar hobbies.

Answer: ____   Correction (if false): ________________________

b) Experts say 3 hours of screen time per day is safe.

Answer: ____   Correction (if false): ________________________

c) Most teens use social media mainly for school projects.

Answer: ____   Correction (if false): ________________________

d) Turning off notifications is one piece of advice.

Answer: ____   Correction (if false): ________________________

Task 5. Discussion (small groups)

Use the text and your own experience. Discuss:

· Which problem mentioned in the text is the most serious in your opinion? Why?

· Have you ever tried to reduce your screen time? What worked or didn’t work?

Task 6. WRITING TASK (output for Blogger)

Situation: You have a blog on Blogger called “Digital Life Hacks”.

Task: Write a short blog post (120–150 words) with the title:

“3 ways to make social media better for teens”

Your post must include:

· ONE problem from the text (e.g., cyberbullying, FOMO, too much screen time)

· TWO practical tips (based on the text or your own experience)

· ONE question at the end to ask your readers for their opinion

Useful phrases for your post:

In my experience… / According to experts… / A simple trick is… / What about you? Have you ever…?