Paul Holmes -
University
English Professor

Free Materials For ESL Teachers and Learners

“Children’s use of social media” ESL Discussion Questions

I. Understanding the Basics
1. At what age should children start using social media?
2. What are the most popular social media platforms among children?
3. How do children typically use social media?
4. What are the benefits of social media for children?
5. Are there educational social media platforms designed for children?

II. Safety Concerns
6. What are the main safety concerns for children on social media?
7. How can parents ensure their children’s safety on social media?
8. Should parents monitor their children’s social media activity?
9. How can children be taught about online privacy?
10. What should a child do if they encounter online bullying?

III. Impact on Development
11. How does social media affect children’s social skills?
12. Can social media usage impact a child’s attention span?
13. How does social media influence children’s self-esteem?
14. What is the effect of social media on children’s mental health?
15. How can parents help balance social media use with other activities?

IV. Educational Aspects
16. How can social media be used for educational purposes by children?
17. What are some educational content creators that are good for children?
18. Can social media help with homework and school projects?
19. Should schools incorporate social media into their curriculum?
20. What are the limitations of using social media for education?

V. Parental Guidance and Rules
21. What rules should parents set for social media use?
22. How can parents educate themselves about social media?
23. What is the role of parents in guiding social media content?
24. How can parents encourage positive social media habits?
25. Should there be a daily limit on social media use for children?

VI. Social Interactions and Relationships
26. How does social media affect friendships among children?
27. Can social media help children with social anxiety?
28. How does social media influence children’s perceptions of relationships?
29. What are the pros and cons of online friendships for children?
30. How can children learn to differentiate between online and real-life relationships?

VII. Cyberbullying and Online Harassment
31. What is cyberbullying and how common is it among children?
32. How can children and parents deal with cyberbullying?
33. What are the signs that a child is being cyberbullied?
34. How does cyberbullying differ from traditional bullying?
35. What measures can schools take to address cyberbullying?

VIII. Privacy and Information Sharing
36. Why is privacy important for children on social media?
37. How can children learn to protect their personal information online?
38. What are the risks of sharing too much information on social media?
39. Should children’s accounts be private or public?
40. How can children discern what information is safe to share?

IX. Influence of Social Media Content
41. How do influencers impact children on social media?
42. What kind of content should children be exposed to?
43. How can children develop critical thinking about social media content?
44. What is the impact of advertising on children through social media?
45. How can children be protected from inappropriate content?

X. Social Media Trends and Challenges
46. What are the latest social media trends among children?
47. How do social media challenges and trends affect children?
48. Should children participate in social media challenges?
49. How can parents stay updated on the latest social media trends?
50. What are the potential dangers of following online trends?

XI. Digital Literacy and Responsibility
51. What is digital literacy and why is it important for children?
52. How can children be taught about digital citizenship?
53. What responsibilities come with using social media?
54. How can schools contribute to teaching digital literacy?
55. Why is it important for children to understand the impact of their online actions?

XII. Balancing Online and Offline Life
56. How can children balance online and offline activities?
57. What are healthy habits for using social media?
58. How important is it for children to have time away from screens?
59. What activities can children do outside of social media?
60. How can families encourage more offline time together?