Social media and conflict
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain how social media can escalate conflicts, describe ways to avoid this, and explain where to go for help and advice.
Key learning points
- Social media can lead to escalations in conflicts.
- There are different ways to avoid these escalations.
- There are different sources available to pupils for help and advice.
Keywords
Conflict - a disagreement between two or more people
Escalate - to make a situation become more serious, intense or dangerous, often by increasing conflict or tension
Common misconception
When a person's friend gets into an argument or fight on social media, the person should join in to back them up.
Joining in a conflict on social media doesn't usually make things better; it usually makes them worse. Young people can support their friends in safer ways, like encouraging them to stay calm, to report it or to speak to a trusted adult.
Teacher tip
You should speak to your RSHE Lead or DSL before delivering this lesson. You may also want to adapt the lesson to explain how pupils should report harmful or upsetting online content in your educational setting.
Content guidance
Depiction or discussion of sexual violence
Depiction or discussion of peer pressure or bullying
Depiction or discussion of peer pressure or bullying
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which word describes an assumption that influences how you act?
Q2.Which of these best describes what happens when a disagreement between two people gets worse and involves more people?
Q3.If you saw a friend being treated unfairly online, what would be the most helpful response?
Q4.What do we call it when certain groups of people are not fairly shown or included in media and online content?
Q5.Why might the content you see on social media not represent everyone in society fairly?
Q6.Match each online behaviour with its likely consequence.
arguments get worse and spread further
conflicts are less likely to get bigger
trust between friends gets damaged
misunderstandings can be cleared up
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match the word to the definition.
a disagreement between two or more people
to make a situation become more serious, intense or dangerous
to use actions or words to calm a situation down or reduce tension
Q2.What is one way to avoid the escalation of conflict on social media?
Q3.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?
Q4.Knowing for de-escalation can help people avoid conflict on social media.
Q5.Where can you get help if online conflict is upsetting or threatening?
Q6.Match each online platform feature with how it might affect disagreements.
anyone can see and join the argument
arguments can be saved and shared
people respond quickly without thinking
multiple people can get involved at once
To help you plan your 10 RSHE (PSHE) lesson on: Social media and conflict, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 10 RSHE (PSHE) lesson on: Social media and conflict, 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 RSHE (PSHE) lessons from the Our online lives: How can being online impact my life? unit, dive into the full secondary RSHE (PSHE) curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.