4 Week 4: Social Media
Week 4: Social Media
Welcome to Week 4, where we will explore the world of social media and the importance of etiquette within it. Social media is a big part of many people’s lives, and knowing how to use it wisely is key. This week, we’ll learn about the words used in social media and what we should and shouldn’t do on social media platforms. We will also explore netiquette: polite interactions in any digital setting.
Activities and Resources
- Introduction to Social Media Terminology – A fun activity to learn some new words and learn social media etiquette.
- Netiquette across technology – A listening activity focused on how social media can help you find the job you want.
- Debate on Social Media Etiquette – Join a discussion on what is proper and what is not on social media.
- The Social Media Coin– A reading activity to explore the rules of social media etiquette.
- Writing Great Examples– Practice writing clear examples that support topic sentences.
- Using Imperatives for Social Media Instructions – Learn how to give clear and kind commands about social media.
- Write about Social Media – Focus on another aspect of society impacted by social media
Social Media Etiquette: A Beginner’s Guide
Using social media responsibly means thinking before you post, respecting others’ feelings, and knowing when not to share something. It’s also about modeling these rules for your friends and followers with your actions.
We will also discuss how to use commands or imperatives in a positive way to guide friends and followers on social media. Whether it’s telling someone to “Please share” or advising them “Don’t post personal info,” these small statements can help maintain a safe and friendly online environment.
4.1 Vocabulary Focus: Mastering Social Media Etiquette: Guidelines for Digital Decorum
“With great connectivity, comes great responsibility.”
In today’s interconnected world, social media has become an essential part of our daily lives. From connecting with friends and family to networking with professionals, social media platforms offer endless opportunities for engagement. However, with great connectivity, comes great responsibility. Navigating the digital world requires a keen understanding of appropriate etiquette to ensure positive and supportive interactions.
One essential aspect of social media etiquette is understanding the significance of hashtags. These are words or phrases starting with the “#” symbol, used to group content together and make it searchable. For example, you can search for #tbt (throw back Thursday) to find images from past stories that people have posted and tagged. When using hashtags, it’s essential to choose realted and appropriate ones to make sure your post goes to the best group.
Another crucial element is knowing how to engage with others’ content. The action of retweeting on Twitter, for example, involves reposting someone else’s tweet to share it with your followers. Similarly, on platforms like Instagram and Facebook, you can interact with posts by liking or sharing them.
When it comes to your own posts, you need to be mindful of what you share. Your social media feed is the stream of updates and content displayed on your homepage. Make sure your posts contribute positively to the conversation and reflect your values and interests.
In addition to public posts, social media platforms often offer private messaging features, such as DMs (Direct Messages). These allow users to communicate privately with one another, helping to develop more personal and intimate connections.
Building a meaningful presence on social media involves more than just broadcasting your own thoughts; it also requires active engagement with others. This includes following other users whose content you find interesting or inspiring. The act of following someone allows you to stay updated on their posts and contribute to a sense of community.
In the digital world, certain individuals have significant influence over their followers. These individuals, known as influencers, have the ability to shape opinions and behaviors within their online communities. As a responsible social media user, you must critically evaluate the content shared by influencers and consider its impact.
Navigating social media also involves staying informed about current trends and topics. Content that is currently popular and widely discussed is often referred to as trending. Keeping an eye on trending topics can help you stay relevant and engaged with your online audience.
Behind the scenes, social media platforms use complex algorithms to determine the content shown to users in their feed and search results. Understanding these algorithms can help you optimize your posts for maximum visibility and engagement. You can also think about why certain advertisements or posts appear in your feed.
For those looking to expand their reach on social media, paid promotion can be a valuable tool. Platforms offer the option to promote your posts or advertisements to a wider audience, increasing visibility and engagement.
Lastly, creating shareable content is key to building a strong presence on social media. Shareable content is designed or optimized to be easily shared across platforms, expanding its reach and potential impact.
By following these guidelines and familiarizing yourself with essential social media vocabulary, you can navigate the digital world with confidence and integrity. Remember that social media etiquette is not just about following rules; it’s about growing a culture of respect, empathy, and positive engagement. As digital citizens, we all play a role in shaping the online community, and by practicing good etiquette, we can contribute to a more inclusive and harmonious digital world.
Vocabulary Match
Match each vocabulary word from the reading to the best definition.
4.2 Listening Activity: What is Netiquette?
- As you listen, write down the rules you hear for for digital netiquette.
- Compare with a partner.
4.3 Debate Activity – The Impact of Social Media
Engage in a classroom debate about the positive and negative effects of social media.
You will be assigned to the Pros or Cons group.
With your group, take 15 minutes to make a list of either the Pros or Cons of Social Media. Consider social, psychological, economic, and cultural impacts.
Make a list of the key points for your side (one for each team member). You can also choose a team member to counter against the arguments from the other side.
Each side will take turns introducing new points.
After all points have been introduced, the class will have an open debate where students can freely discuss and counter each other’s points.
4.4 Reading for Main Ideas and Details
Before you read: Review the comprehension questions. Answer the questions when you finish the reading.
- What are the two main challenges businesses face when using social media?
- How has social media changed the way businesses advertise?
- In what ways can businesses use social media to connect with customers?
- Why is negative feedback a potential problem for businesses on social media?
- What are some tips for businesses to create successful social media content? Can you add some of your own?
The Social Media Coin: Two Sides for Businesses
Social media has become an undeniable force, weaving its way into both our personal lives and the business world. From established corporations to local shops, everyone’s using digital platforms to grow their business. But the impact of social media on businesses is a double-edged sword. Let’s explore both the advantages and disadvantages of this powerful tool.
A Blessing for Businesses:
Social media offers a significant advantage: a cost-effective to connect with more customers and clients. Gone are the days of expensive advertising campaigns. Now, a small bakery can compete for attention with a national brand, creating a more equal playing field. Businesses can create brand awareness and directly connect with potential customers through engaging content, targeted advertising, and influencer marketing. Social media also creates a valuable two-way communication channel. Businesses can address customer concerns, answer questions in real-time, and build relationships through openness and availability, ultimately leading to increased customer loyalty.
Challenges to Consider:
However, maintaining an active social media presence comes with its own set of challenges. One problem is the constant need for content creation. This can be time-consuming for smaller businesses with limited resources. Reaching a target audience can also be tricky as many social media sites prioritize paid advertising. Businesses need to learn and adapt to the ever-changing formulas to ensure their content is seen. Additionally, social media can be a popular place for negativity. An angry customer’s bad review can quickly go viral and potentially damage a business’s reputation. Businesses need to be prepared for effective negative feedback management.
Mastering the Social Media Game:
So, how can businesses navigate the complexities of social media? Here are some key takeaways.
First, focus on creating engaging and informative content that provides real value to your audience. Let your brand’s personality shine through to connect with your audience on a human level. Proactive engagement is crucial. Participate in conversations, respond promptly to comments and messages, and foster a sense of community. Finally, utilize social media data to track what customers are responding to. Then, be ready to change your strategy as platforms and trends change.
By understanding both the strengths and weaknesses of social media, businesses can use their potential to achieve their marketing goals, build lasting customer relationships, and thrive in today’s digital world.
Further Discussion:
- List any businesses you know that use social media.
- How do they do it?
- Do you think social media is a reliable source of information about businesses? Why or why not?
- What are some ways that customers can use social media to interact with businesses?
- How can businesses use social media to track their marketing success?
- Imagine you are a small business owner. What strategies would you use to manage your social media presence?
Photo by Laura Chouette on Unsplash
4.5 Practice Paragraph Parts: Writing Great Examples
Examples: A great example should have the following points.
| Related: The example should connect directly to the main idea. | If the main idea is about the benefits of exercise, an example could be how regular exercise improves mood and increases energy levels. |
| Specific: Give detailed examples rather than general ones. | Instead of saying “People like to travel,” say “Last summer, my family and I traveled to Paris, where we saw famous landmarks like the Eiffel Tower and tasted delicious French cuisine.” |
| Clear: Make sure it’s easy to understand. | Instead of saying “Eating healthy is good,” say “Eating fruits and vegetables helps keep our bodies strong and healthy.” |
| Real: Use examples from real life when possible. | Rather than a hypothetical situation, use a real-life experience, such as “Last week, I volunteered at a local animal shelter and helped care for abandoned puppies.” |
4.6 Grammar/Discussion: Imperatives
Imperative Power Up! A Crash Course on English Commands
The imperative mood lets you give orders, instructions, or requests in English. It’s like your verbal toolbox for getting things done! Here’s a quick guide:
How to create imperatives:
- Base Verb: We use the base form of the verb (without “to”) for positive commands.
- Infinitive form: to open
- Base form: Open
- Open the window! It’s getting hot in here.
Add Politeness:
- “Please”: Add “please” for a more polite request.
- Please sit down. (More courteous than just “Sit down!”)
- Please open the window for me. (Extra polite!)
Let’s Do This Together:
- “Let’s” + Verb: Use “let’s” + the base verb for suggestions or invitations.
- Let’s go outside! (Suggests going outside)
- Let’s practice our English! (Invites someone to practice English)
Remember: Imperatives can sound strong, so use them with care in some situations.
In groups, create 5 Rules for a Zoom Classroom.
Use web etiquette/proper digital decorum.
Follow rules for imperatives.
Compare your rules with what other groups created.
4.7 Writing Exercise: Write a paragraph
Write a paragraph about how social media has impacted one part of society (for example: global business, education, dating relationships.
Remember to use paragraph parts from Week 1.
Review Parts of a Paragraph
Topic Sentence: This is the first sentence. It tells the reader what the paragraph is about. It’s like telling a friend what you think about a movie before you explain why.
Supporting Sentences: These are the sentences that explain your topic sentence. They give details, reasons, or examples to support your main idea.
Concluding Sentence: This is the last sentence. It sums up your ideas or gives a final thought about your topic. It’s like saying goodbye to your friend after your chat about the movie.
Photo by Sara Kurfeß on Unsplash
4.8 Project: Pros and Cons of Technology
Your task for this week is to create a single Google slide discussing the pros and cons of social media, based on your learning and personal experiences.
Instructions:
- Title: Begin with a compelling title that reflects the theme of the slide, such as “The Pros and Cons of Social Media.”
- Content:
- Pros: List 2-3 benefits of social media. Provide a brief description or example for each.
- Cons: List 2-3 drawbacks of social media. Provide a brief description or example for each.
- Visual Enhancement:
- Use visuals like icons or photos that represent each pro and con.
- Ensure all visuals are relevant and add value to the information presented.
- Review and Feedback:
- Proofread your slide for clarity and grammatical accuracy.
- Share your slide with a peer for feedback to refine your presentation.
Example Slide Content:
Title: The Pros and Cons of Social Media
Pros:
- Connectivity: Social media allows people to stay connected with friends and family, regardless of distance.
- Information Sharing: It’s a powerful tool for raising awareness on important issues.
- Professional Networking: Platforms like LinkedIn help in finding job opportunities and networking.
Cons:
- Privacy Concerns: Personal information can be compromised due to data collection practices.
- Mental Health Impact: Excessive use can lead to anxiety and depression due to constant comparison with others.
- Misinformation: Social media can spread false information rapidly, leading to confusion.
Visuals:
- Icons or images representing connectivity (e.g., connected people), privacy concerns (e.g., a padlock), and professional networking (e.g., LinkedIn logo).
Reflection:
This slide should provide a balanced view of the pros and cons of social media, supported by both learning and personal experiences.
Next week, you will be presenting your Google Slides from the past 4 weeks.
Watch the video below to prepare to share next week.