Is digital media causing the end of free and fair elections?
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can evaluate the positive and negative impacts of digital media within free and fair elections.
Key learning points
- Free and fair elections allow people to vote for their representatives without fear, manipulation, or interference.
- Social media likely impacted voting beliefs and behaviour during the UK 2024 election, both positively and negatively.
- Social media shaped public opinion, amplified political messages and provided a platform for debate.
- Influencers can increase voter engagement, raise awareness of political issues and encourage public debate.
- Influencers can reduce informed decision-making, spread misinformation and raise concerns about financial motivation.
Keywords
Election - the voting process to select a person for a public position
Engagement - the level of interest, attention, or involvement someone shows in an activity, interaction, or relationship
Influence - the power to affect or change someone’s thoughts, actions, or decisions
Common misconception
Pupils might believe that infleuncers can only ever positively influence.
Although influencers can have positive impacts, when posting about politics there can also be negative impacts if they are posting incorrect information or simplifying issues.
Teacher tip
You may wish to search for and display social media posts in the run up to the 2024 or 2019 election. However, ensure suitability and polical impartiality.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
Depiction or discussion of serious crime
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Content shared or created using technology is known as what?
Q2.A principle or belief that guides how people behave and treat others is known as a what?
Q3.Which of these in not a democratic value?
Q4.Which is not an example of digital media dividing communities?
Q5.What symbol can be used on social media to draw attention to specific topics and get things trending?
Q6.Working together to achieve shared goals or values is known as what?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What does it mean for an election to be "free and fair"?
Q2.Match each term to its correct definition.
the process of choosing leaders by voting
openness and honesty in sharing information
the ability to have an effect on others' opinions or decisions
online platforms where people share and engage with content
Q3.Which of the following is not a way social media impacted the 2024 UK general election?
Q4.What role can influencers play in an election?
Q5.Match each social media feature to its possible impact during an election.
makes it easier for echo chambers to be created
helps ensure the credibility of information
allows candidates to engage directly with voters
Q6.Celebrities can have a lot of over their followers because of their personal connection and large audiences.
To help you plan your 10 citizenship lesson on: Is digital media causing the end of free and fair elections?, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 10 citizenship lesson on: Is digital media causing the end of free and fair elections?, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 citizenship lessons from the How is social media changing our view of democracy? unit, dive into the full secondary citizenship curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.