ESL WORKSHEET - Psychology, health and well-being

LESSON PLAN FOR ENGLISH TEACHERS

SOCIAL PRESSURE

LinguaHouse

Aug. 10, 2025

Level: Upper-intermediate (B2-C1)
Type of language: General English
Tags: Psychology; Health and Well-being; Science and Technology; Using Computers and the Internet; Society and Change; Society and Wealth; People and Places; Socializing; Article Based; Useful Vocabulary; 13-15 Years Old; 16-18 Years Old; 18+ Years Old
Publication date: 08/10/2025

In this lesson, students will explore the impact of social media, with a focus on the pressure it can put on young people. The lesson begins with a listening task in which students hear a discussion about how different platforms can affect mental health. Following this, there is a section on relevant phrasal verbs. The lesson continues with a reading comprehension exercise based on an article about social media addiction. Finally, students will write an essay, using vocabulary from the lesson. (by Joey Vaughan-Birch)

• CLICK HERE to download the student’s worksheet in American English.
• CLICK HERE to download the teacher’s lesson plan in American English.
• CLICK HERE to download/listen to the audio in American English.
• CLICK HERE to download the student’s worksheet in British English.
• CLICK HERE to download the teacher’s lesson plan in British English.
• CLICK HERE to download/listen to the audio in British English.

AUDIO TRANSCRIPT

Host: Welcome back to Tech Crunch. Today, we’re looking at the impact of social media on teenagers. Here to tell us about a new study is psychologist, Dr. Alan Knight.
Dr. Alan Knight: Good morning.
Host: What can you tell us about the study and its findings?
Dr. Alan Knight: Well, the key point is that almost half of British teenagers say that they feel addicted to social media. It comes at an important time, as there is increasing pressure on big tech companies to be held accountable for the impact their platforms have on users.
Host: How was the study carried out?
Dr. Alan Knight: A team at the University of Cambridge used data from the Millennium Cohort study, which is tracking the lives of about 19,000 people born in 2000-2002 across the UK. When the group were aged 16-18, they were asked about social media use. Of the 7,000 people who responded, 48% said they agreed or strongly agreed with the statement: “I think I am addicted to social media”.
Host: Are there any groups who might be particularly susceptible to social media addiction?
Dr. Alan Knight: Absolutely, a whopping 57% of girls agreed with the statement, while this figure was 37% in boys. I must point out however that self-perceived social media addiction is not necessarily the same as other diagnosed addictions. However, it’s not a nice sensation to feel you don’t have control over your own behavior. It’s quite worrying that so many young people feel like this.
Host: So, is anything going to be done to tackle this problem?
Dr. Alan Knight: There has been growing concern about the potential for digital technologies to drive compulsive behaviors. I mean, the US Surgeon General even issued a public health warning on the risks that social media may present to young people’s mental health and wellbeing. However, progress has been slow so far.
Host: Why is there not more pressure on technology companies to clean up their act?
Dr. Alan Knight: Well, for a start, it’s big business. Then there’s the fact that it’s difficult to prove. What I find most worrying is that algorithms that are designed to increase sales tend to be particularly harmful and can put vulnerable people in danger.
Host: What would you suggest?
Dr. Alan Knight: Well, abstinence probably wouldn’t work, as the Internet is too important to everyday life. People won’t log off from these platforms, even if they are aware of the dangers. I think the only real solution is regulation, but, as I said, governments need the support of these companies, so that’s unlikely to happen overnight. Hopefully enough support will grow so that they have to act…

Adapted from: https://www.linguahouse.com/esl-lesson-plans/general-english/social-pressure. Accessed on August 18, 2025. LinguaHouse.com © 2008–2025. All rights reserved.