Paul Holmes -
University
English Professor

Free Materials For ESL Teachers and Learners

“Social Media” ESL Discussion Questions

I. Understanding Social Media
1. What is social media?
2. Can you name three popular social media platforms?
3. How do you sign up for a social media account?
4. What is a social media profile?
5. Why do people use social media?

II. Social Media Usage
6. How often do you check social media?
7. What do you usually post on social media?
8. Do you prefer to post pictures or write text?
9. Who do you follow on social media?
10. How do you feel when you get a lot of likes on your post?

III. The Impact of Social Media
11. Do you think social media is good or bad?
12. How has social media changed the way we communicate?
13. Can social media be addictive?
14. What are the benefits of using social media?
15. What are the negative effects of social media?

IV. Privacy and Safety
16. How can you stay safe on social media?
17. What is a privacy setting?
18. Why is it important to not share personal information online?
19. Have you ever blocked someone on social media? Why?
20. What should you do if you see something upsetting on social media?

V. Social Media and Relationships
21. Can you make real friends on social media?
22. How do you maintain friendships through social media?
23. Do you think social media can help people who feel lonely?
24. Has social media ever caused a problem in your friendships?
25. How can you tell if someone is being honest on social media?

VI. Social Media for Learning and Information
26. Can social media be used for education?
27. How do you find news on social media?
28. What kind of educational content do you follow?
29. How can you check if information on social media is true?
30. Have you ever learned something new from social media?

VII. Social Media and Business
31. How do businesses use social media?
32. Have you ever bought something because you saw it on social media?
33. What is an influencer?
34. Do you think influencers are trustworthy?
35. How can social media help someone find a job?

VIII. Social Media and Culture
36. How does social media affect popular culture?
37. Can social media bring different cultures together?
38. Do you follow any cultural or artistic pages?
39. How do you share your culture on social media?
40. Has social media changed any of your cultural views?

IX. Social Media and Entertainment
41. What kinds of entertainment do you enjoy on social media?
42. Do you watch live streams on social media?
43. Have you ever participated in a challenge or trend?
44. What is your favorite viral video?
45. How do you find new music on social media?

X. Social Media Etiquette
46. What are some rules of behavior on social media?
47. Should you ask permission before tagging someone in a photo?
48. Is it okay to argue with someone on social media?
49. How should you react to a friend’s post that you disagree with?
50. Why is it important to respect others on social media?

XI. The Future of Social Media
51. How do you think social media will change in the next 10 years?
52. Will social media become more or less popular?
53. What new features would you like to see on social media?
54. Do you think virtual reality will become part of social media?
55. Can social media be replaced by something else in the future?

XII. Personal Experiences with Social Media
56. What is your favorite social media memory?
57. Have you ever taken a break from social media? Why?
58. What was the first social media platform you used?
59. How has your use of social media changed over time?
60. What advice would you give to someone new to social media?