a disagreement between two or more people

to make a situation become more serious, intense or dangerous, often by increasing conflict or tension

Social media and conflict

RSHE (PSHE)

What healthy internet use looks like

Social media and mental health

Social media and communities

Social media and difference

This unit examines the impact of social media on mental health and relationships. Pupils explore healthy internet use, understand the effects on wellbeing, examine online communities and their differences, and develop strategies for managing conflict and assessing the impact of social media.

Our online lives: How can being online impact my life?

Grooming, exploitation, coercion, harassment, rape.

Depiction or discussion of sexual violence

Depiction or discussion of distress or humiliation e.g. bullying.

Depiction or discussion of peer pressure or bullying

to make a situation become more serious, intense or dangerous

to use actions or words to calm a situation down or reduce tension

by sharing the argument to get more people involved

by posting your own insults to defend yourself

What is one way to avoid the escalation of conflict on social media?

jump into the comments and argue back to defend Jordan

message Jordan privately and suggest he steps away and reports it

share the post in a group chat for backup

post insults to shut the other person down

Mason sees his friend Jordan arguing in social media comments. With tensions rising and others joining in, what is the best way for Mason to help?

Knowing {{}} for de-escalation can help people avoid conflict on social media.

trusted adults in school, such as school staff

nowhere — you should deal with it alone

trusted adults at home, such as parents or carers

Where can you get help if online conflict is upsetting or threatening?

Match each online platform feature with how it might affect disagreements.

Which word describes an assumption that influences how you act?

Which of these best describes what happens when a disagreement between two people gets worse and involves more people?

join the argument to defend them publicly

If you saw a friend being treated unfairly online, what would be the most helpful response?

What do we call it when certain groups of people are not fairly shown or included in media and online content?

algorithms show content based on your previous activity

everyone uses social media in exactly the same way

all content creators make identical posts

social media companies control every post

Why might the content you see on social media not represent everyone in society fairly?

Match each online behaviour with its likely consequence.

Social media and conflict

Lesson outcome

Content guidance