Social Media Week #8
“Where you see
destruction, we see room
for improvement.”
- Jennings High School
Directions: Observe and discuss picture and quote with class to serve as an introduction to
the topic. 1
Social Media Week #8
Lesson Goal:
Students will be able to recognize the positive and negative consequences of using social media.
This will help students to understand how to use social media properly.
Table of Contents
Pre-Assessment……………………………………………………………………...Page 3
What is Cyberbullying…………………………………………………………….....Page 4
Social Media Etiquette………………………………………………………………..Page 6
Right or Wrong ………………………………………………………………………Page 8
Wicked Web…………………………………………………………………………..Page 9
Post-Assessment……………………………………………………………….……..Page 10
Closing/Resources………………………………………………………………...…..Page 11
Answer Key…………………………………………………………………………..Page 12
2
Social Media Week #8
Pre-Assessment
(Social Media)
INSTRUCTIONS: We would like you to take a quick assessment so we can make sure this
program is effective.
1. Cyberbullying means physical or verbal bullying.
True
False
2. A person can get in to trouble with the law for harassing someone on the internet.
True
False
3. It is okay to post pictures of drugs, alcohol, and fights on social media networks, because no
one will find out.
True
False
4. All things on social media are true because “real” people are posting them and not the media
True
False
5. Frequently posting where you are and what you are doing is the best way of keeping your
friends up to date on your life
True
False
3
Social Media Week #8
What is Cyberbullying
(Activity #1)
Definition: “The act of harassing someone online by sending or posting mean messages, usually
anonymously.” http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/cyberbullying
Example #1
Amanda Todd
Amanda was introduced to an anonymous person on Facebook who flattered her so
much to the point of convincing her to flash her topless body to him. A year later, the same
person or another anonymous person sent her the picture and it went viral, creating a mass of
bullying and teasing to the point that she had to change schools several times. Her reputation
was ruined, she had no friends, she was beaten up by some classmates, and she tried drinking
bleach but survived. Months later, Amanda Todd took her own life.
The authorities began a search to find the blackmailer with the help of Amanda’s
bullying video. To the shock of everyone, the hate campaign continued online after Amanda’s
passing, people ridiculed her suicide and made fun of the entire story, they even said she
deserved what had happened to her. The truth remains that people who bullied and tormented
Amanda, still walk the streets everyday thinking their hate and actions mean nothing while in
fact every comment they have made about her while she was alive or after her death, brings so
much pain to the people who loved her. Remember that words do hurt and scar, sometimes
beyond repair.
https://nobullying.com/amanda-todd-story/
4
Social Media Week #8
Example #2
Megan Meier
Megan Meier, a 13-year-old Missouri native started messaging a boy she had never met
on Myspace. The comments posted by someone using the account name of “Josh Evans” started
out by acting as though he was interested in Megan, which eventually turned aggressive and
derogatory. These comments were public and other classmates could read and comment on them.
As a result of the cyberbullying on Myspace, Megan hung herself in her closet. The user “Josh
Evans” was later found to have been created by a parent of Meier’s classmates.
http://cyberbullying.ua.edu/index.php/case-study-megan-meier/
Discussion Questions
1. Have you or someone you know ever been a victim of cyberbullying?
2. In what way do you feel you can stop cyberbullying?
3. Do you think schools should get more involved in helping to prevent cyberbullying?
What has your school done about this issue?
4. Do you think online words can hurt more than words said face-to-face? Why?
Final Point: Be careful what you post.
http://www.corabi.net/files/ABCF_Cyberbully_ConvGuide_20non-­‐
movie_20related_20questions_fnl.pdf http://www.covenanteyes.com/2012/01/20/table-talk-conversation-starters-about-cyberbullyingand-cyberbaiting/
5
Social Media Week #8
Social Media Etiquette
Instructions: Make copies of the additional information you should know page (7) to distribute
to students for them to keep.
1. Your privacy on social media• Make sure that your accounts are set to private, so that a minimum number of people are
allowed to view your posts and photos.
• Only allow people that you know to follow you, or be your friend. This will help limit the
possibilities for danger.
• It’s okay to follow strangers, but don’t let them follow you.
• Do not post anything that signals your house will be unoccupied.
2. Privacy of others on social media• Don’t post pictures of people unless you have their permission.
• Do not make statuses about someone else’s personal life without consent.
3. Censor your photos• Not making sure your pictures are censored can lead to many bad outcomes.
• Posting uncensored photos can result in not being able to get a job, or even going to
college.
• Do not post explicit photos, videos, or statuses for example:
i. Guns
ii. Drugs
iii. Nudity
iv. Fights
4. Turn off your location to ensure safety• Make sure to turn the feature off because it can lead to your possible location. This can
result into burglary, or any other crimes.
• Do not post pictures of your home or anything that gives strangers the ability to see
what’s in your home
http://www.hightechdad.com/2012/07/02/parents-beware-instagram-kik-messenger-are-adangerous-combination-what-social-dangers-to-check-for/
Final Point: Social networking sites can be helpful for some people, but could be
the worst case scenario for others. It is always best to think before you post.
6
Social Media Week #8
Additional Information You Should Know
PRO Social Networking Sites CON Social Networking Sites Law enforcement uses social networking
sites to catch and prosecute criminals.
67% of federal, state, and local law
enforcement thinks "social media helps
solve crimes more quickly.” In 2011 the
NYPD added a Twitter tracking unit and has
used social networking to arrest criminals
who have bragged of their crimes online.
Social networking sites lack privacy and
expose users to government and corporate
intrusions. 13 million users said they had not set
or did not know about Facebook's privacy settings
and 28% shared all or nearly all of their posts
publicly. The US Justice Department intercepted
1,661 pieces of information from social
networking sites and e-mails in 2011.
Social networking sites help students do
better at school. 59% of students with
access to the Internet report that they use
social networking sites to discuss
educational topics and 50% use the sites to
talk about school assignments. After George
Middle School in Portland, OR introduced a
social media program to engage students,
grades went up by 50%, chronic
absenteeism went down by 33%, and 20%
of students school-wide voluntarily
completed extra-credit assignments.
Students who are heavy social media users
tend to have lower grades. Students who use
social media had an average GPA of 3.06 while
non-users had an average GPA of 3.82 and
students who used social networking sites while
studying scored 20% lower on tests. College
students’ grades dropped 0.12 points for every 93
minutes above the average 106 minutes spent on
Facebook per day.
Social networking sites help improve
relationships and make new friends. 70%
of adult use social sites to connect with
friends and family. 52% of teens using
social media report that using the sites has
helped their relationships with friends, 88%
report that social media helps them stay in
touch with friends they cannot see regularly,
69% report getting to know students at their
school better, and 57% make new friends.
Social networking sites can lead to stress and
offline relationship problems. A University of
Edinburgh Business School study found the more
Facebook friends a person has, the more stressful
the person finds Facebook to use. According to a
Feb. 9, 2012 Pew Internet report, 15% of adults
lost friends due to social media, 12% of adult
users had an experience online that resulted in a
face-to-face argument.
http://socialnetworking.procon.org/ 7
Social Media Week #8
Right or Wrong?
(Activity #2)
Instructions: Read the scenarios to the students. After reading the scenarios, ask the students the
potential risks in each situation?
Scenerio 1 - Rodrick’s best friend has just received a scholarship. Rodrick decides to post it on
Facebook without his best friend’s consent. What are potiental risks posed in this situation?
Scenerio 2- Sydney is excited about her trip to the Bahamas in a week, so excited that she posts
about it online. What are potiental risks posed in this situation? What if Sydney wants to show
everyone where she was? What can she do?
Scenerio 3- Johnny posts a picture of him and his friends, not knowing that an illegal substance
was visable in the background. What are potential risks posed in this situation?
Scenerio 4- Alyssa is a teacher at a local elementary school. She frequently takes pictures and
videos of her kids on her phone and posts them all over Snapchat and Facebook. What are
potential risks posed in this situation?
Scenerio 5- Kaleb’s Instagram page is private. One day he starts following a very popular
account. Three days later the account wants to follow back. What are potential risks posed in this
situation?
Final Point: Think before you post anything. It could come back with potential risks.
8
Social Media Week #8
Wicked Web
(Activity #3)
Instructions: To learn that everything on the internet is not true, you need to see for yourself.
We will use a common website known for inaccurate information, Wikipedia. (Be sure the
classroom has internet access).
Step 1: Go to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page.
Step 2: Create a Wikipedia account.
Step 3: In the search box, type in “Social Media.”
Step 4: Scroll down to “Classification of Social Media”, and click “[edit].”
Step 5: Click on any information and change it.
Final Point: This shows how anything can be easily changed on the internet. Should we believe
everything we see or read?
9
Social Media Week #8
Closing
Ask: Does anyone have any questions about the discussions we had today?
_______________________________________
Non-Social Media Resources
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Hang out with friends
Music
Family time
Sports
After school activities
Outdoor adventure
______________________________________________________________________________
Resources for additional support
If you are ever having concerns about your social media experience, you can…
1. Friends: Ask your trusted friends for advice. Maybe they’ve been through something
similar
2. Family: Talk out your problems with people who care most.
3. Counselors, Teachers: If you don’t feel comfortable sharing certain problems and
concerns with loved ones, counselors and teachers can an additional source.
4. Journal/Blog: Look for options to report content on the social media website.
5. Use the St. Louis County Youth Connection Helpline
a. Call : (314) 628-2929
b. Text: “4HLP” to 31658
c. Chat: keepingkidsfirst.org
10
Social Media Week #8
Post-Assessment
(Social Media)
INSTRUCTIONS: We would like you to take a quick assessment so we can make sure this
program is effective.
1. Cyberbullying means physical or verbal bullying.
a. True
False
2. A person can get in trouble with the law for harassing someone on the internet.
a. True
False
3. It is okay to post pictures of drugs, alcohol, and fights on social media networks, because
no one will find out.
a. True
False
4. All things on social media are true because “real” people are posting them and not the
media
a. True
False
5. Frequently posting where you are and what you are doing is the best way of keeping your
friends up to date on your life
a. True
11
False
Social Media Week #8
Answer Key
(Social Media)
INSTRUCTIONS: We would like you to take a quick assessment so we can make sure this
program is effective.
1. Cyberbullying means physical or verbal bullying.
True
False
There are four types of bullying, verbal, physical, social and cyber. Cyber bullying is the
act of harassing someone online by sending or posting mean messages, usually
anonymously.
2. A person can get in trouble with the law for harassing someone on the internet.
True
False
Harassment or threatening others on the internet is taken very seriously. Many people
have faced criminal charges because of this.
3. It is okay to post pictures of drugs, alcohol, and fights on social media networks, because
no one will find out.
True
False
Law enforcement regularly checks the internet for these clues of crimes. Also your friends
or followers can anonymously report you. Ex: Girl drunk driving posted video of herself
and got arrested.
4. All things on social media are true because “real” people are posting them and not the media
True
False
Social media is very useful for real time breaking news that can become viral in minutes.
However social media can also do the same for false information such as people believing
vaccines cause Autism.
5. Frequently posting where you are and what you are doing is the best way of keeping your
friends up to date on your life
True
False
Although posting information on your social media accounts might be fun and helps you
feel up to date with your friends, it is not the best idea to use it as your online diary,
because you never know who is looking at your account/s.
12