Elon Musk is making changes to his social media, X (it used to be called Twitter). He is making two new types of paid plans. One plan will cost less but will still show ads. The other plan will cost more but won’t show any ads. He started asking new users in New Zealand and the Philippines to pay $1 to use X. This is his way to stop fake accounts.
We don’t know all the details about the new paid plans yet. We also don’t know if there will be any free options. Musk wants people to pay for better service. Some people are already paying $8 each month for a special service. X also has a new plan called “Not A Bot” to stop spam. But, some advertisers are worried about bad content and are not coming back to X. Other companies like YouTube and Netflix also have plans with ads and without ads. We don’t know if X will pay people who make content if they use the no-ad plan. The European Commission is checking if X is following new rules about bad content.
Original news source: Elon Musk says X to have two new premium tiers (BBC)
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Group or Classroom Activities
Warm-up Activities:
– Charades
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. Each group will take turns acting out a word or phrase related to the article (e.g. social media, paid plans, fake accounts). The other groups will try to guess what word or phrase is being acted out. This activity will help students practice vocabulary and communication skills.
– News Summary
Instructions: Have the students read the article individually or in pairs. Then, ask them to write a short summary of the main points of the article. After they have finished, have them share their summaries with a partner or the whole class. This activity will help students practice reading comprehension and summarizing skills.
– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Prepare a list of statements related to the article (e.g. “Paid plans are a good idea”, “Ads should be shown on social media”). Give each student a copy of the statements and ask them to circle whether they agree or disagree with each statement. Then, have them discuss their opinions with a partner or in small groups. This activity will help students practice expressing and justifying their opinions in English.
– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Choose a few key vocabulary words from the article (e.g. social media, paid plans, fake accounts). Divide the class into small groups. Give each group a set of blank sheets of paper and ask them to draw pictures to represent each vocabulary word. The other groups will try to guess the word based on the drawings. This activity will help students practice vocabulary recall and communication skills.
– Headline Creation
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. Ask each group to create a catchy headline for the article using the key information. Encourage them to be creative and concise. After they have finished, have each group share their headline with the whole class. This activity will help students practice summarizing information and using language creatively.
Comprehension Questions:
1. What is Elon Musk changing about his social media?
2. How many new types of paid plans is Elon Musk making?
3. What will the cheaper paid plan show?
4. What will the more expensive paid plan not show?
5. Who did Elon Musk ask to pay $1 to use his social media?
6. Why did Elon Musk ask people to pay $1?
7. What are some other companies that have plans with ads and without ads?
Go to answers ⇩
Listen and Fill in the Gaps:
Elon Musk is making changes to his social media, X (it used to be (1)______ Twitter). He is making two new types of paid (2)______. One plan will cost less but will still show ads. The other plan will cost more but won’t show any ads. He started asking new (3)______ in New Zealand and the Philippines to pay $1 to use X. This is his way to stop fake accounts.
We don’t know all the details about the new paid plans yet. We also don’t know if there will be any free options. Musk (4)______ people to pay for better service. Some (5)______ are already paying $8 each month for a special service. X also has a new plan called “Not A Bot” to stop spam. But, some (6)______ are worried about bad content and are not coming back to X. Other companies like YouTube and Netflix also have plans with ads and without ads. We don’t know if X will pay people who make content if they use the no-ad plan. The European Commission is (7)______ if X is (8)______ new rules about bad content.
Go to answers ⇩
Discussion Questions:
Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.
1. What is Elon Musk changing about his social media?
2. How would you feel if you had to pay to use social media?
3. Do you like seeing ads on social media? Why or why not?
4. Do you think it’s fair for people to pay more to not see ads?
5. What do you think about Elon Musk asking people to pay $1 to use social media?
6. How do you think paid plans can stop fake accounts?
7. Do you think it’s important for people to pay for better service on social media? Why or why not?
8. What do you think about the “Not A Bot” plan to stop spam?
9. Are you worried about bad content on social media? Why or why not?
10. Do you know any other companies that have plans with ads and without ads?
11. Would you want to be paid if you made content on social media? Why or why not?
12. What do you think the European Commission is checking about social media?
Individual Activities
Vocabulary Meanings:
Match each word to its meaning.
Words:
1. changes
2. social media
3. paid
4. plans
5. ads
6. users
7. service
8. content
Meanings:
(a) Things that try to sell you something
(b) Websites like Facebook and Instagram
(c) Making things different
(d) Giving money for something
(e) Ideas for what to do
(f) Things like videos, pictures, and writing on the internet
(g) People who use a website or app
(h) Something that helps you or gives you what you want
Go to answers ⇩
Multiple Choice Questions:
1. What is Elon Musk making changes to?
(a) His social media
(b) His car
(c) His house
(d) His clothes
2. How many new types of paid plans is Elon Musk making?
(a) Three
(b) Four
(c) Five
(d) Two
3. How much is Elon Musk asking new users in New Zealand and the Philippines to pay?
(a) $5
(b) $1
(c) $10
(d) $20
4. What is Elon Musk’s way to stop fake accounts?
(a) Deleting accounts
(b) Blocking accounts
(c) Asking users to pay
(d) Ignoring accounts
5. What is the name of the new plan on X to stop spam?
(a) “Super Bot”
(b) “Not A Bot”
(c) “Fake Bot”
(d) “Spam Bot”
6. What are some advertisers worried about on X?
(a) Bad content
(b) Good content
(c) Funny content
(d) Interesting content
7. Which other companies have plans with ads and without ads?
(a) Facebook and Instagram
(b) Google and Amazon
(c) Twitter and Snapchat
(d) YouTube and Netflix
8. Who is checking if X is following new rules about bad content?
(a) The American Commission
(b) The Asian Commission
(c) The European Commission
(d) The African Commission
True or False Questions:
1. He is making two new paid plans – one with ads and one without ads.
2. New users in New Zealand and the Philippines have to pay $1 to use X.
3. The paid plans will provide better service.
4. X has a plan called “Totally A Bot” to stop spam.
5. Elon Musk is keeping his social media called X.
6. No one is paying $8 each month for a special service on X.
7. Advertisers are worried about bad content on X.
8. The European Commission is ignoring if X is following new rules about bad content.
Go to answers ⇩
Write a Summary:
Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.
Writing Questions:
Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.
1. What is Elon Musk changing about his social media?
2. How much does Elon Musk want new users in New Zealand and the Philippines to pay?
3. Why does Elon Musk want people to pay for better service?
4. What is the new plan called that X has to stop spam?
5. Who is checking if X is following new rules about bad content?
Answers
Comprehension Question Answers:
1. What is Elon Musk changing about his social media?
Elon Musk is making changes to his social media.
2. How many new types of paid plans is Elon Musk making?
Elon Musk is making two new types of paid plans.
3. What will the cheaper paid plan show?
The cheaper paid plan will show ads.
4. What will the more expensive paid plan not show?
The more expensive paid plan will not show any ads.
5. Who did Elon Musk ask to pay $1 to use his social media?
Elon Musk asked new users in New Zealand and the Philippines to pay $1 to use his social media.
6. Why did Elon Musk ask people to pay $1?
Elon Musk asked people to pay $1 to stop fake accounts.
7. What are some other companies that have plans with ads and without ads?
Some other companies that have plans with ads and without ads are YouTube and Netflix.
Go back to questions ⇧
Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:
(1) called
(2) plans
(3) users
(4) wants
(5) people
(6) advertisers
(7) checking
(8) following
Go back to questions ⇧
Vocabulary Meanings Answers:
1. changes
Answer: (c) Making things different
2. social media
Answer: (b) Websites like Facebook and Instagram
3. paid
Answer: (d) Giving money for something
4. plans
Answer: (e) Ideas for what to do
5. ads
Answer: (a) Things that try to sell you something
6. users
Answer: (g) People who use a website or app
7. service
Answer: (h) Something that helps you or gives you what you want
8. content
Answer: (f) Things like videos, pictures, and writing on the internet
Go back to questions ⇧
Multiple Choice Answers:
1. What is Elon Musk making changes to?
Answer: (a) His social media
2. How many new types of paid plans is Elon Musk making?
Answer: (d) Two
3. How much is Elon Musk asking new users in New Zealand and the Philippines to pay?
Answer: (b) $1
4. What is Elon Musk’s way to stop fake accounts?
Answer: (c) Asking users to pay
5. What is the name of the new plan on X to stop spam?
Answer: (b) “Not A Bot”
6. What are some advertisers worried about on X?
Answer: (a) Bad content
7. Which other companies have plans with ads and without ads?
Answer: (d) YouTube and Netflix
8. Who is checking if X is following new rules about bad content?
Answer: (c) The European Commission
Go back to questions ⇧
True or False Answers:
1. He is making two new paid plans – one with ads and one without ads. (Answer: True)
2. New users in New Zealand and the Philippines have to pay $1 to use X. (Answer: True)
3. The paid plans will provide better service. (Answer: True)
4. X has a plan called “Totally A Bot” to stop spam. (Answer: False)
5. Elon Musk is keeping his social media called X. (Answer: False)
6. No one is paying $8 each month for a special service on X. (Answer: False)
7. Advertisers are worried about bad content on X. (Answer: True)
8. The European Commission is ignoring if X is following new rules about bad content. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧
