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Year 10

What is the social impact of digital media within a democracy?

I can explain the positive and negative societal impact that digital media has within a democracy.

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New
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Year 10

What is the social impact of digital media within a democracy?

I can explain the positive and negative societal impact that digital media has within a democracy.

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Share activities with pupils
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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. A democracy includes democratic values as well as being able to vote in elections, eg. respect, tolerance, rule of law.
  2. Digital media unites communities by coordininating support during crisis, supporting campaigns and celebrating culture.
  3. Digital media divides communities by the sharing of disinformation and hate speech, echo chambers and polarisation.

Keywords

  • Digital media - any content shared or created using technology

  • Communities - groups of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common

  • Value - a principle or belief that guides how people behave and treat others

Common misconception

Digital media can only be good or bad in relation to community cohesion.

Digital media can both unite and divide communities.


To help you plan your year 10 citizenship lesson on: What is the social impact of digital media within a democracy?, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Many of the hashtags referred to in the lesson are still trending on social media, you may wish to carefully check these for suitability prior to the lesson and share with pupils.
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Equipment

content-guidance

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
  • Depiction or discussion of serious crime
  • Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
  • Depiction or discussion of sexual violence
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Supervision

Adult supervision required

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This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which is the correct definition for algorithms?
Correct answer: a set of rules or steps used by computers to make decisions
a set of rules or steps made by people to make decisions
a set of rules or steps used by computers to make products
Q2.
To look into something carefully to find out the facts is to do what?
Correct Answer: Investigate it, Investigate
Q3.
If information is targeted, it is what?
created to be consumed by all citizens
not directed to any particular group
Correct answer: directed at a specific person or group
Q4.
When did the UK Undercover Voters project take place?
2022
Correct answer: 2024
2014
2009
Q5.
The UK Undercover Voters Project was run by ...
ITV
Correct answer: BBC
the Government
Channel 4
Q6.
The UK Undercover Voters project came to the conclusion that targeted information likely did voting behaviour.
Correct Answer: influence

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
How can digital media help unite communities?
Correct answer: by promoting community cohesion and encouraging democratic values
by spreading misinformation and increasing polarisation
by limiting access to diverse viewpoints
by creating echo chambers where people only hear similar opinions
Q2.
Digital media can divide communities by creating where people only interact with those who share similar opinions, leading to greater polarisation.
Correct Answer: Echo chambers
Q3.
Which of the following is an example of digital media promoting community cohesion?
social media users arguing over political issues
Correct answer: a neighbourhood group using a hashtag to organise a local clean-up
algorithms showing people content they already agree with
a celebrity blocking people with differing opinions
Q4.
Match each statement to the concept it describes.
Correct Answer:critical thinking,when people are able to listen to and learn from the views of others
tick

when people are able to listen to and learn from the views of others

Correct Answer:democratic values,encourages open dialogue and equal participation
tick

encourages open dialogue and equal participation

Correct Answer:polarisation,leads to people becoming more divided and extreme in their views
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leads to people becoming more divided and extreme in their views

Q5.
The use of on social media platforms can help raise awareness about issues and bring communities together around a shared cause.
Correct Answer: hashtags, #, hash tags, hashtag, hash tag
Q6.
What is a potential negative impact of digital media on communities?
It allows people to share important information quickly.
Correct answer: It can create echo chambers, leading to polarisation.
It can promote community cohesion through shared goals.
It encourages democratic participation.