Social Media: Pros and Cons
Students complete a text with social media vocabulary, read an article about a teenager who spent 30 days without social media, answer questions, match sentence halves with linking words (although, however, so that…), complete a paragraph with opinion expressions (In my opinion, On the one hand…), read the views of three generations and answer open questions.
Free, no card. Create your account and the activity is already there.
7 blocks, in class order
What's in this activity
-
Fill in the gaps Social media: complete the text
-
Reading text Thirty days without social media
-
Multiple-choice questions Check your understanding
-
Match the halves Linking ideas: match the halves
-
Fill in the gaps Giving your opinion: complete the paragraph
-
Viewpoints for discussion Social Media: Help or Harm for Teens?
-
Open-ended questions Think and write
No login, no sign-up
Try it the way your students will
Answer freely: this is only a preview. Nothing is sent or saved.
Social media: complete the text
Thirty days without social media
Bruna is a sixteen-year-old student who realized she spent too much time looking at her phone. Every morning, the first thing she did was check every notification. She felt constantly distracted during classes and noticed that comparing herself to famous people with millions of followers was hurting her self-esteem. One day, she decided to stop. She promised to stay completely offline for 30 days.
The first week was extremely difficult. Bruna felt anxious and kept reaching for her phone to scroll through endless feeds out of habit. She worried about missing news from her friends and wondered if she was addicted to digital attention. However, after seven days, her brain began to adapt.
Suddenly, Bruna had hours of extra free time. Instead of spending her screen time gazing at pictures, she started reading novels, learned how to bake bread, and joined a local running club. She also spent more quality time talking with her family in person.
By the end of the month, Bruna noticed major improvements. Her concentration at school was much better, and she slept more deeply every night. Without social media telling her how to look or act, she felt much happier with herself. However, the experience was not perfect. She did miss some group chat conversations and photos from relatives who live far away.
Now, Bruna is back on social media, but with strict limits. She realized that online platforms are fun, but real life happens away from the screen.
Check your understanding
Why did Bruna decide to take a 30-day break from being online?
How did Bruna feel during the first seven days of her challenge?
Which new activity did Bruna start during her time offline?
What was one negative aspect of Bruna's offline experience?
What is Bruna's attitude toward social media now that the month is over?
Linking ideas: match the halves
Match the beginning of each sentence with its ending. Pay attention to the linking words.
Left halves
Right halves
Giving your opinion: complete the paragraph
Social Media: Help or Harm for Teens?
Social media helps me stay connected with my friends after school, especially when we are busy with homework. I love sharing photos and finding online communities that share my hobbies, like drawing and gaming. However, I must admit that it can be stressful sometimes. When I see everyone posting their best moments, I feel left out or worried about my own life. Still, I think the good things are bigger than the bad ones if you know how to use it safely.
As a parent, I see both sides of social media for young people. It is a great tool for learning new things and communicating quickly with family. My daughter uses it to organize study groups, which is really helpful for her grades. On the other hand, I worry about screen time and how it affects her sleep. It is hard to find the right balance between giving her freedom and protecting her online.
When I was young, we talked face to face or wrote letters, which created strong friendships. Today, I see my grandchildren using their phones constantly, and I worry they are missing out on real life experiences. But I also notice how social media keeps them close to friends who live far away. It is not all bad, but I hope they remember to put their phones down and enjoy the world around them.
Key Vocabulary
Discussion Questions
- 1 How do the teenager's reasons for using social media compare to the elder's concerns about real life experiences?
- 2 Have you ever felt left out or stressed because of something you saw on social media?
- 3 What is the best way for parents and teens to find the right balance for screen time?
Think and write
How did Bruna's feelings and habits change from the first week of her challenge to the end of the month?
What were the disadvantages Bruna experienced during her 30 days offline, and why were they important?
In your opinion, why did Bruna feel happier with herself when she stopped using social media?
Like it? Take it to your class
With the activity in your account, you share it by link or add it to a class, and follow each student's answers.
Keep looking
Similar activities
-
B1 · suggested for 9th grade
Short Story: The Phone on the Bus (Reading Comprehension)
Students read a short story about Elisa, who finds a phone on a bus and has to decide what to do, with a vocabulary x-ray and a glossary. Then they answer questions, complete a summary of the story, use adjectives for feelings (tempted, ashamed, relieved…), match sentences with linking words, read three opinions about rewards and answer open questions. Reading · Vocabulary · Grammar · Speaking · Writing 60 min View activity -
B1 · suggested for Adults
Job Interview: Getting Your First Job
Students listen to a voicemail inviting Camila to an interview and note down the details, read her interview at a bookstore, where she has no experience to show, match typical questions with good answers, complete Camila's draft answer, compare it with a more professional version (with a vocabulary x-ray) and answer open questions. Listening · Reading · Vocabulary · Writing 60 min View activity -
B1 · suggested for High school
Jobs of the Future: Skills for Tomorrow
Students listen to a podcast clip about jobs that do not exist yet, answer questions, complete the transcript, read an article about the skills that will matter most in the future, match the halves of predictions (will, may, be likely to), read three points of view on robots and artificial intelligence at work and answer open questions. Listening · Reading · Vocabulary · Speaking · Writing 60 min View activity