Utah is the first US state to make new rules about social media for teenagers. The new rules say that social media apps like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok must get permission from parents before children can use them. Parents will also be able to see what their children are posting and who they are messaging. Children won’t be able to use social media between 10:30 pm and 6:30 am unless their parents say it’s okay. The new rules also stop social media companies from collecting data about children for advertising. Utah’s governor, Spencer Cox, says he made the new rules to protect young people’s mental health. Other states, like Texas and New Jersey, are also talking about making similar rules. However, some people think the new rules could stop children from using social media safely.
Original news source: Utah is first US state to limit teen social media access (BBC)
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Group or Classroom Activities
Warm-up Activities:
– Social Media Scavenger Hunt
Instructions: Give the students a list of social media apps mentioned in the article (Instagram, Facebook, TikTok) and have them search for the logos of each app on their phones or on the computer. Once they find each logo, have them write a sentence about what they know about the app or what they like/dislike about it.
– Parental Permission
Instructions: Have the students imagine they are parents and discuss in pairs or small groups whether or not they would allow their children to use social media. They can discuss the benefits and drawbacks of social media for children and what kind of rules they would set for their children.
– Social Media Schedule
Instructions: Draw a table on the whiteboard with the times between 10:30 pm and 6:30 am. Have the students fill in the table with what they would do during these hours instead of using social media. They can share their ideas with the class.
– Social Media Pros and Cons
Instructions: Divide the class into two groups and assign one group to list the pros of social media for young people and the other group to list the cons. Have them share their lists with the class and discuss.
– Social Media Safety Tips
Instructions: Have the students brainstorm a list of safety tips for using social media. They can share their ideas with the class and the class can vote on the top 5 most important tips.
Comprehension Questions:
1. What is Utah doing about social media for teenagers?
2. What social media apps will need permission from parents?
3. What will parents be able to see on their children’s social media accounts?
4. When can children use social media?
5. Why did Utah’s governor make the new rules?
6. What are other states considering?
7. Why might some people think the new rules are bad?
8. What is the new rule about social media and advertising?
Go to answers ⇩
Listen and Fill in the Gaps:
Utah is the first US state to make (1)_________ rules about social media for teenagers. The new rules say that social media apps like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok must get permission from parents before children can use them. Parents will also be able to see what their children are posting and who they are messaging. Children won’t be able to use social media between (2)_________ pm and 6:30 am unless their parents say it’s okay. The new rules also stop social media companies from collecting (3)_________ about children for advertising. Utah’s governor, Spencer Cox, says he made the new rules to protect young people’s (4)_________ health. Other states, like (5)_________ and New Jersey, are also talking about making similar rules. However, some people think the new rules could stop children from using social media (6)_________.
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Discussion Questions:
Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.
1. Do you like using social media?
2. Do your parents let you use social media?
3. What social media apps do you use?
4. Do you know what permission means?
5. Do you think it’s important for parents to see what their children are posting on social media?
6. Should you use social media at night?
7. Do you like it when social media collects data about you?
8. Do you think social media is bad for your mental health?
9. Do you think the new rules are good or bad?
10. Do you think other places should make similar rules to Utah?
11. Have you ever seen something bad on social media?
12. Have you ever talked to someone you didn’t know on social media?
13. Do you think social media is safe?
14. What do you like to post on social media?
15. How do you think we can make social media safer for children?
Individual Activities
Vocabulary Meanings:
Match each word to its meaning.
Words:
1. social media
2. permission
3. parents
4. posting
5. messaging
6. data
7. mental health
8. advertising
Meanings:
A) Sharing messages with friends on apps like Instagram and TikTok
B) Trying to sell things to people through social media
C) Adults who take care of children
D) The state of your feelings and thoughts
E) Allowing someone to do something
F) Information that companies collect about you
G) Seeing what someone has written on social media
H) Sending messages to friends on social media
Go to answers ⇩
Multiple Choice Questions:
1. What is the new rule for teenagers using social media in Utah?
(a) They can use social media whenever they want
(b) They must get permission from their teachers
(c) They must get permission from their parents
(d) They are not allowed to use social media
2. Which of the following social media apps must get permission from parents before children can use them in Utah?
(a) Snapchat, Twitter, and WhatsApp
(b) Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok
(c) YouTube, LinkedIn, and Reddit
(d) Pinterest, WeChat, and Line
3. What will parents be able to do according to the new rules in Utah?
(a) See what their children are posting and who they are messaging
(b) Post on behalf of their children
(c) Delete their children’s accounts
(d) Change their children’s passwords
4. When can children use social media in Utah?
(a) Only between 10:30 pm and 6:30 am
(b) Only after they finish their homework
(c) Only when they are using it for school projects
(d) Anytime they want
5. Who made the new rules in Utah?
(a) Utah’s governor, Spencer Cox
(b) Utah’s senator, Mike Lee
(c) Utah’s mayor, Erin Mendenhall
(d) Utah’s teacher’s union
6. Why did Governor Spencer Cox make the new rules?
(a) To protect young people’s mental health
(b) To encourage children to use social media more
(c) To increase the amount of data social media companies collect
(d) To make it harder for parents to monitor their children’s social media use
7. What are some other states that are talking about making similar rules?
(a) Alaska and Hawaii
(b) California and Nevada
(c) Texas and New Jersey
(d) Oregon and Washington
8. What do some people think about the new rules?
(a) They think the new rules will make social media safer for children
(b) They think the new rules will stop children from using social media safely
(c) They think the new rules are not strict enough
(d) They think the new rules will make it harder for social media companies to collect data about children for advertising.
Go to answers ⇩
True or False Questions:
1. Utah is the first state to make new rules about social media for teenagers.
2. Parents can see what their children are posting and who they are messaging on social media.
3. Children can use social media anytime they want without their parents’ permission.
4. Social media companies can collect data about children for advertising.
5. The new rules are meant to protect young people’s mental health.
6. Texas and New Jersey are also talking about making similar rules to Utah.
7. The new rules are guaranteed to help children use social media safely.
8. Children won’t be able to use social media between 10:30 pm and 6:30 am unless their parents say it’s okay.
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 Utah?
2. What are the new rules about social media for teenagers?
3. Who needs to give permission before children can use social media apps?
4. What time can children not use social media?
5. Why did Utah make the new rules?
Answers
Comprehension Question Answers:
1. What is Utah doing about social media for teenagers?
Answer: Utah is making new rules about social media for teenagers.
2. What social media apps will need permission from parents?
Answer: Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok will need permission from parents.
3. What will parents be able to see on their children’s social media accounts?
Answer: Parents will be able to see what their children are posting and who they are messaging.
4. When can children use social media?
Answer: Children can’t use social media between 10:30 pm and 6:30 am, unless their parents say it’s okay.
5. Why did Utah’s governor make the new rules?
Answer: Utah’s governor made the new rules to protect young people’s mental health.
6. What are other states considering?
Answer: Other states are considering making similar rules.
7. Why might some people think the new rules are bad?
Answer: Some people think the new rules could stop children from using social media safely.
8. What is the new rule about social media and advertising?
Answer: The new rules stop social media companies from collecting data about children for advertising.
Go back to questions ⇧
Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:
1. new
2. 10:30
3. data
4. mental
5. Texas
6. safely
Go back to questions ⇧
Vocabulary Meanings Answers:
1. social media
Answer: A) Sharing messages with friends on apps like Instagram and TikTok
2. permission
Answer: E) Allowing someone to do something
3. parents
Answer: C) Adults who take care of children
4. posting
Answer: G) Seeing what someone has written on social media
5. messaging
Answer: H) Sending messages to friends on social media
6. data
Answer: F) Information that companies collect about you
7. mental health
Answer: D) The state of your feelings and thoughts
8. advertising
Answer: B) Trying to sell things to people through social media
Go back to questions ⇧
Multiple Choice Answers:
1. What is the new rule for teenagers using social media in Utah?
Answer: (c) They must get permission from their parents
2. Which of the following social media apps must get permission from parents before children can use them in Utah?
Answer: (b) Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok
3. What will parents be able to do according to the new rules in Utah?
Answer: (a) See what their children are posting and who they are messaging
4. When can children use social media in Utah?
Answer: (a) Only between 10:30 pm and 6:30 am
5. Who made the new rules in Utah?
Answer: (a) Utah’s governor, Spencer Cox
6. Why did Governor Spencer Cox make the new rules?
Answer: (a) To protect young people’s mental health
7. What are some other states that are talking about making similar rules?
Answer: (c) Texas and New Jersey
8. What do some people think about the new rules?
Answer: (b) They think the new rules will stop children from using social media safely
Go back to questions ⇧
True or False Answers:
1. Utah is the first state to make new rules about social media for teenagers.
Answer: True
2. Parents can see what their children are posting and who they are messaging on social media.
Answer: True
3. Children can use social media anytime they want without their parents’ permission.
Answer: False
4. Social media companies can collect data about children for advertising.
Answer: False
5. The new rules are meant to protect young people’s mental health.
Answer: True
6. Texas and New Jersey are also talking about making similar rules to Utah.
Answer: True
7. The new rules are guaranteed to help children use social media safely.
Answer: False
8. Children won’t be able to use social media between 10:30 pm and 6:30 am unless their parents say it’s okay.
Answer: True
Go back to questions ⇧
