“Conversation Starter Lesson Series: Upper-Intermediate” is designed for intermediate-level ESL learners who want to improve their fluency and confidence in speaking English.
Each lesson includes an engaging reading material with audio, vocabulary and expressions, comprehension questions, and discussion questions to be used for one to one class, group class, or self-study for both online and offline classes.
Unit 4: Relationships and Communication
Story 02: The Impact of Social Media on Friendship and Relationships
Key Lesson Vocabulary & Expressions: Look over and review before proceeding.
- integral
- connectivity
- resort to
- shallow
- intimacy
- envy
- resentment
- miscommunications
- facilitate
- mindful
Read or Listen to the following passage:
In today’s digital age, social media has become an integral part of our daily lives, changing the way we interact with others and impacting our relationships. While social media can provide numerous benefits in terms of connectivity, it also has the potential to harm and even ruin friendships and relationships.
One of the most significant impacts of social media is the increased accessibility it provides to others. Through social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, individuals can easily connect and communicate with people from all over the world. However, this increased accessibility can also lead to a loss of depth and quality in friendships and relationships. Rather than engaging in face-to-face conversations and interactions, individuals may resort to quick, shallow interactions through social media, leading to a lack of intimacy and closeness.
Another impact of social media on relationships is the potential for social comparison and envy. With the constant stream of posts and updates from others, individuals may feel pressure to present a perfect image of themselves on social media, leading to feelings of inadequacy and inferiority in comparison to others. Additionally, the ease of access to others’ personal lives and experiences can create feelings of envy and resentment, which can harm relationships.
Moreover, social media can also lead to an increase in misunderstandings and miscommunications. Tone and intent can be difficult to convey through text-based communication, leading to confusion and conflict in friendships and relationships.
Despite these potential negative impacts, social media can also have a positive impact on friendships and relationships. It can facilitate communication and maintain connections with those who are far away, and can even lead to the formation of new friendships and relationships.
In conclusion, while social media can have a significant impact on friendships and relationships, it is important to be mindful of the potential negative impacts and to actively work towards maintaining healthy and meaningful connections with others.
Comprehension Questions:
- What are some of the potential negative impacts of social media on friendships and relationships?
- How can social media impact the depth and quality of friendships and relationships?
- What is social comparison and how can it impact relationships on social media?
- What are some of the potential misunderstandings and miscommunications that can arise from social media communication?
- Are there any potential benefits of social media on friendships and relationships? If so, what are they?
Conversations Starters:
- Do you think social media has made it easier or more difficult to build meaningful and intimate relationships?
- How has social media facilitated communication and connectivity in your personal life?
- In what situations do you find yourself resorting to social media instead of face-to-face communication?
- Can social media interactions ever replace the depth and intimacy of face-to-face interactions?
- How has social media contributed to the rise of envy and resentment in society?
- Can social media help to reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation, or does it exacerbate them?
- What steps can individuals take to be more mindful of their social media use and its impact on their relationships?
- How has social media contributed to the miscommunication and misunderstandings in your personal relationships?
- Is social media more beneficial or harmful to maintaining healthy and long-lasting friendships?
- What’s your favorite social media platform?
