New social media platforms like Butterflies AI and Bluesky are becoming popular. People are not happy with big platforms like X and Facebook. Butterflies AI lets users interact with AI, which some find interesting. Bluesky lets people control what they see, which many users like.
These new platforms face challenges as they try to grow. More users make a network more valuable, which is hard for new platforms. Some groups want to make social media more open and connected. They hope to let users move easily between different platforms.
Some new apps focus on real-life connections. Mozi helps people meet in person, not just online. Flipboard's Surf app combines news from different places into one feed. These changes mean there will be many different ways to use social media.
Original news source: What's next for social media? (BBC)
π§ Listen:
π Vocabulary:
Group or Classroom Activities
Warm-up Activities:
– CHARADES
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. Each group will take turns acting out one of the new social media platforms mentioned in the article (like Butterflies AI, Bluesky, Mozi, or Flipboard's Surf) without speaking. The other groups will guess which platform it is.
– OPINION POLL
Instructions: Create a simple survey with questions about social media preferences (e.g., "Do you prefer smaller social media platforms or larger ones?"). Students will walk around the classroom asking their classmates these questions and recording their answers. Afterward, discuss the results as a class.
– SKETCH IT
Instructions: Students will work in pairs. One student will describe a new social media platform from the article without naming it, while the other student draws what they think it is based on the description. After a few minutes, they will show their drawings and see how closely they match the actual platform.
– HEADLINE CREATION
Instructions: Students will read the article and then create a catchy headline for it. They can work individually or in pairs. Encourage them to think about what is most interesting or important about the new social media platforms. Afterward, students will share their headlines with the class.
– MIND MAP
Instructions: On a whiteboard or large sheet of paper, write "New Social Media Platforms." Students will work in small groups to brainstorm and add ideas related to the article, such as features of the platforms, user preferences, and challenges they face. They can draw connections between ideas to create a visual representation of their thoughts.
π€ Comprehension Questions:
Butterflies AI and Bluesky.
They are not happy with how these big platforms work and want something different.
Butterflies AI lets users talk and interact with AI.
Bluesky lets users choose what content they want to see.
New platforms find it hard to get more users because they need a lot of people to be valuable.
Mozi helps people meet and connect in person.
Surf combines news from different places into one easy feed.
π§βοΈ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:
New social platforms like Butterflies AI and Bluesky are becoming popular. People are not with big platforms like X and Facebook. Butterflies AI lets interact with AI, which some find . lets people control what they see, which many users like. These new platforms face as they try to grow. More users make a network more valuable, which is hard for new platforms. Some want to make media more open and connected. They hope to let users easily between different platforms. Some new apps focus on real-life connections. Mozi helps people meet in person, not just . Flipboard's Surf app combines news from different into one feed. These mean there will be many different ways to use social media.
π¬ Discussion Questions:
1. What is your favorite social media platform? Why do you like it?
2. Do you think it is important to meet friends in real life? Why or why not?
3. How would you feel if you could talk to an AI on social media?
4. Do you like the idea of controlling what you see on social media? Why?
5. What is a good way to make new friends online?
6. Do you think new social media platforms are better than old ones? Why or why not?
7. How would you feel if you could easily move between different social media platforms?
8. What do you think is more important: online friends or real-life friends? Why?
9. Do you like reading news on social media? Why or why not?
10. What is a challenge you think new social media platforms face?
11. How would you feel if you could choose exactly what news you see online?
12. Do you think social media can help people connect better? Why or why not?
Individual Activities
ππ Vocabulary Meanings:
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Words
Meanings
π‘ Multiple Choice Questions:
π΅οΈ True or False Questions:
π Write a Summary:
Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.
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