In today’s world, most teenagers interact with social media daily. Platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat shape not only how students communicate, but also how they think, compare themselves, and understand the world. Given its powerful influence, schools should begin teaching social media literacy as a regular part of the curriculum.
Many students learn how to use apps, but few learn how to navigate them critically. They are exposed to idealized images, persuasive content, and emotionally charged videos, often without understanding the algorithms behind them. Studies show that excessive social media use is linked to increased anxiety, depression, and poor self-esteem—especially among teens who compare their lives to carefully edited posts.
Social media literacy would not mean banning social media or discouraging creativity. Instead, it would teach students how to recognize misleading information, identify emotional manipulation, and reflect on the mental health impact of their online habits. It’s not just about screen time—it’s about screen awareness.
Critics argue that schools are already overwhelmed with academic requirements and limited time. However, just as schools teach students how to read books and write essays, they must also prepare students for the digital texts they see every day. Ignoring the role of social media in students' lives would be like ignoring the water fish swim in.
In conclusion, social media isn’t going away. Instead of leaving students to figure it out on their own, schools should give them the tools to think clearly, act responsibly, and maintain mental well-being in a connected world. In the age of influence, literacy must go beyond paper.
Q1: What is the author's main claim in the passage?
Q2: How does the author respond to the concern about limited time in school schedules?
Q3: What rhetorical device is used in the phrase, 'Ignoring the role of social media in students’ lives would be like ignoring the water fish swim in'?
Q4: What abstract idea is expressed in the final sentence, 'In the age of influence, literacy must go beyond paper'?
Q5: Which piece of evidence from the passage best supports the author's argument?
Printable Comprehension Practice
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Q1: What is the author's main claim in the passage?
✅ Correct Answer: B
💡 Reasoning: The passage argues that students need formal instruction in how to think critically about social media and manage its effects.
Q2: How does the author respond to the concern about limited time in school schedules?
✅ Correct Answer: C
💡 Reasoning: The author addresses the counterargument by saying that just as students are taught to read and write, they should be taught to analyze online content.
Q3: What rhetorical device is used in the phrase, 'Ignoring the role of social media in students’ lives would be like ignoring the water fish swim in'?
✅ Correct Answer: B
💡 Reasoning: The phrase uses a simile to show that social media is an environment students are immersed in, just like water for fish.
Q4: What abstract idea is expressed in the final sentence, 'In the age of influence, literacy must go beyond paper'?
✅ Correct Answer: C
💡 Reasoning: The phrase broadens the concept of literacy to include digital and media fluency, emphasizing the evolving definition of being 'literate.'
Q5: Which piece of evidence from the passage best supports the author's argument?
✅ Correct Answer: C
💡 Reasoning: This statistic-based claim strengthens the author’s position that social media literacy is necessary for mental health.