How can social media impact your views? A media literacy lesson

Secondary Resources > KS3 PSHE / KS4 PSHE

Other Side of the Story is the media literacy project from BBC Bitesize aimed at 11-16-year olds. Other Side of the Story encourages teens to look behind the reels and posts on social media to really examine if they can influence what they think.

This lesson can stand alone or be used as one of three lessons designed to cover the main aspects of media literacy.

This complete 40-minute downloadable lesson is designed to give KS3 and KS4 students a deeper understanding of social media and how algorithms and echo chambers work. Using real world examples, it includes:

• A glossary of key terms
• Definitions of deepfakes, misinformation and disinformation
• Discussion points around what makes something "go viral"
• What algorithms are and how they work
• How algorithms can lead to bias
• Class debate: "Should social media be banned?"
• Printable discussion points and prompts
• Teachers notes in the "Notes" section of the Powerpoint

This lesson focuses on the role of social media in information dissemination and how this can influence our thinking. Students will evaluate the credibility of social media posts and understand the mechanisms behind information spread. Collaborative activities will encourage them to discuss and debate the reliability of various sources, enhancing their critical thinking skills.

These lessons are designed to align with the KS3 and KS4 National Curriculum, which emphasises the critical role of spoken language in pupils' cognitive, social, and linguistic development. They aim to enhance students' media literacy, while simultaneously developing their spoken language skills through structured discussions.

English - Pupils use their reading comprehension to analyse different types of media and explore how media uses different techniques and language to influence opinions.

Computing - Pupils are taught how to evaluate, create, and interact with media content, and they learn about the ethical implications of digital interactions.

PSHE - Pupils learn how media affect attitudes toward self, body image, relationships, and societal norms and how it can shape public opinion and effect the democratic process.

This glossary of media literacy terms can be printed to help students who might need visual stimulus. The discussion prompts can be used to encourage students to contribute to the debates in a respectful and assertive way using the debate points below.