Understanding Social Media's Impact

Tiffany·

Social Media

Preview

At a Glance

Grade Level7th Grade

SubjectSocial Media

Original Prompt

Create two paired texts - one informational article examining the psychological impacts of social media on perception of reality, and one literary short story depicting a character whose online persona begins to overtake their actual life. Design a guided reading activity where students identify and annotate evidence related to how social media blurs reality, then scaffold an explanatory writing task requiring students to develop a thesis about this phenomenon. Include specific guidance for craf...

This learning resource focuses on the complex relationship between social media and our perception of reality. It begins by defining key vocabulary, such as 'perception' and 'digital identity,' before leading learners through a set of learning goals aimed at critically analyzing how social media can distort reality. The resource encourages students to engage with texts that illustrate the effects of curated identities and social comparison, particularly among adolescents. Through guided reading and annotation strategies, students explore how social media can shape self-perceptions and identity, leading to feelings of inadequacy. The material includes exercises for developing thesis statements, constructing evidence-based paragraphs, and reflecting on personal digital identities. Emphasis is placed on understanding the psychological impact of social media and developing critical thinking skills to evaluate online content.