Social media: how does it influence our views on religion and belief?
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain how social media influences understanding of religion and belief and why using critical awareness is important when evaluating online messages
Key learning points
- Social media is used by a majority of people under 24.
- Social media has the power to amplify particular voices in society.
- Social media can help people explore different religious and non-religious beliefs.
- Social media can also be a place where misconceptions about religions and beliefs are spread.
- It is important to be critical of messages about religion and belief seen on social media.
Keywords
Engagement - how people interact with a post online, such as liking, commenting or sharing
Influence - when someone’s thoughts or behaviour are shaped by the content they see; an influencer is a person who aims to shape someone’s thinking
Social media - online platforms where people create, share, and interact with content and communities
Common misconception
If a post about religion is widely shared on social media it is likely to be true.
Just because a post is popular doesn’t mean it is accurate; a post can be popular because it is surprising, emotional or entertaining. Widely shared content can still be misleading or false.
Teacher tip
Show students current examples of widely shared social media posts about religion or belief. Ask them to discuss why the posts might be popular and how to apply critical awareness to check their accuracy. Please note Lewis Kent is a fictional character based on case studies and not a real person.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
5 Questions
Q1.Media coverage sometimes lacks when discussing religion.
Q2.How can search engines reinforce stereotypes?
Q3.Religions contain great internal ...
Q4.What does underrepresentation mean?
Q5.Religious communities want coverage.
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Social media is widely used by people under ...
Q2.Social media can certain voices.
Q3.What do algorithms often reward?
Q4.Why do emotional posts often gain attention?
Q5.Social media can spread about religions.
Q6.What does critical thinking help us prevent?
To help you plan your 10 religious education lesson on: Social media: how does it influence our views on religion and belief?, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 10 religious education lesson on: Social media: how does it influence our views on religion and belief?, 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 religious education lessons from the Religion and the Media: how can we live online together? unit, dive into the full secondary religious education curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.