New
New
Year 10

Social media and communities

I can explain how communities can be affected by social media.

New
New
Year 10

Social media and communities

I can explain how communities can be affected by social media.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Social media can be a powerful force to help people organise events and share news quickly.
  2. People are more likely to believe misinformation if it is shared by someone they know and trust.
  3. Online misinformation can lead to discrimination and hatred that affects communities.

Keywords

  • Community - a group of people brought together by shared beliefs, attitudes, interests or location

  • Discrimination - when people are treated unfairly or differently because of things like their race, gender or beliefs

  • Misinformation - false or inaccurate information, getting the facts wrong

  • Echo chamber - a place or situation where people only hear ideas they already agree with, so their beliefs are repeated and not challenged

Common misconception

Misinformation is easy to spot.

Misinformation is difficult to spot because it is designed to manipulate our emotions. It may be produced by sites that look real.


To help you plan your year 10 RSHE (PSHE) lesson on: Social media and communities, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Share some appropriate examples of social media content containing misinformation and demonstrate how to check its validity.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour

Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

Licence

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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Prior knowledge starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Match the words to the definition.
Correct Answer:socialise,to talk or spend time with friends, family or new people

to talk or spend time with friends, family or new people

Correct Answer:distort,to twist or change reality

to twist or change reality

Correct Answer:comparison,to look at how similar or different we are to someone else

to look at how similar or different we are to someone else

Q2.
Social media helps people to stay ...
Correct Answer: connected, in touch, together
Q3.
Which of the following statements about social media are not accurate?
Social media can distort our view of reality.
Correct answer: Social media gives us an accurate reflection of other people's lives.
Social media can make it easy to compare ourselves to others.
Correct answer: Social media always makes us feel good about ourselves.
Q4.
Match the missing word to the sentence.
Correct Answer:Not everything we see online is,reality.

reality.

Correct Answer:People might post online to make others,jealous.

jealous.

Correct Answer:Social media can be part of a,balanced life.

balanced life.

Q5.
If this is the definition, what is the word: trying to change or affect something?
manipulation
Correct answer: influence
communication
Q6.
How can we respond effectively to online bullying?
respond and retaliate to the bully
Correct answer: speak to a trusted adult
just log out from our digital device
Correct answer: reach out to the victim to offer support
report the instance to the site

Assessment exit quiz

Download quiz pdf

6 Questions

Q1.
Match the words to the definitions.
Correct Answer:community,a group of people with something in common

a group of people with something in common

Correct Answer:discrimination,unfair treatment of a person or group based on characteristics

unfair treatment of a person or group based on characteristics

Correct Answer:misinformation,false or inaccurate information

false or inaccurate information

Q2.
Social media can help people to quickly and easily.
Correct Answer: organise
Q3.
How do online communities benefit people?
They permit and encourage discrimination.
Correct answer: They help people to raise awareness.
Correct answer: They allow people to share their experiences.
They create isolation for people within them.
Q4.
Misinformation can appear as which of the following?
Correct answer: photos
Correct answer: reels
verified documents
Correct answer: written posts
Q5.
How can misinformation harm communities?
Correct answer: Misinformation can cause fear and panic to spread.
Misinformation stops discrimination in real life.
Misinformation can combat distrust in authority.
Q6.
How can we check for misinformation online?
Correct answer: check the source
ask your older sibling
message the creator to ask
Correct answer: check the date
share it with others and see what they say