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Social Media Impact Text

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Social Media Impact Text

Read the feature article and use evidence from it to answer each question. The article is fictional and does not present research statistics.

A feed with two sides

A feed with two sides When Matilda’s cousin moved to another state, their family group chat helped them share photos and keep in touch. Matilda also used a short-video app to learn a few beginner guitar chords. Social media, she decided, could make distance feel smaller and help people discover new skills. But one Saturday, Matilda scrolled through a stream of polished holiday photos and birthday parties. She began comparing her ordinary afternoon at home with other people’s carefully chosen highlights. Her own day suddenly seemed dull. The posts did not show the waiting, messy rooms or outtakes behind the pictures, but Matilda forgot that for a while. Later that week, Matilda stayed up replying to messages. The next morning she felt tired and struggled to concentrate on her homework. She noticed that checking for new likes had become a habit, even when she had meant to put her phone away. Matilda decided to make a few changes rather than delete every app. She turned off non-essential notifications, put her phone on charge outside her bedroom and set a time to stop scrolling. She also followed accounts that shared useful ideas and made her feel welcome. When a post left her feeling worse, she paused and reminded herself that a feed is a selection, not a complete picture of someone’s life. Social media is a tool, not a measure of a person’s worth. Used thoughtfully, it can support friendships, creativity and learning. Boundaries can help protect sleep and make room for conversations and activities away from a screen.

Comprehension and response

Use details from the article to support your answers. For questions asking for your view, explain your reasoning.

1.What two useful things did Matilda use social media for?

2.Why did Matilda’s ordinary afternoon start to seem dull after she looked at the holiday and party posts?

3.Which detail best shows that Matilda’s late-night messaging affected her offline life?

She learned beginner guitar chords.
She felt tired and struggled to concentrate on homework the next morning.
Her cousin lived in another state.
She followed accounts that shared useful ideas.

4.In the article, what does the phrase “a feed is a selection, not a complete picture” mean?

5.Name two changes Matilda made to create healthier boundaries with her phone.

6.True or false: The article suggests that Matilda had to delete every social media app to feel better. Give one detail that supports your answer.

TrueFalse

7.Sort each example as a possible benefit or a possible challenge described in the article: keeping in touch with family; comparing your day with polished posts; discovering a new skill; losing sleep by replying late.

Keeping in touch with family
Comparing your day with polished posts
Discovering a new skill
Losing sleep by replying late

Possible challenge
Possible challenge
Possible benefit
Possible benefit

8.The article says social media is “a tool, not a measure of a person’s worth”. Explain this idea in your own words.

9.Which statement best describes the writer’s point of view?

Social media is always harmful and should never be used.
Social media has benefits and challenges, and thoughtful habits can help people use it well.
Online posts show a complete and reliable picture of everyday life.
Everyone should use social media in exactly the same way.

10.Choose one boundary from the article. Explain how it could help someone, and suggest one other practical boundary a young person might try.