Everyone in this room uses digital tools every day. Today the class will take a real position on a hard question about them.
Do digital technologies, especially social media, do more good than harm for people your age?
- Hear both sides argued as strongly as possible.
- Defend a view, which may not be your own.
- Think again about where you stand, and notice whether anything you heard changed your mind.
In a debate, the motion is the statement that people argue for or against. This is today's motion.
Social media does more good than harm for people our age.
What steelmanning means
To steelman a side means to give its strongest honest version, even if you disagree with it. For example, you might think social media wastes time, but the strongest honest point on the other side is that it keeps friendships going when people cannot meet.
Your first position
Before you hear any arguments, decide whether you agree, disagree or are not sure, and be honest, because you will stand on the line in the next step.
- Read the motion one more time: Social media does more good than harm for people our age.
- Decide where you stand right now and go to that part of the room, with agree at one end, disagree at the other and not sure in the middle. Do not explain your choice yet.
- You do not move anything on a screen yourself. Your teacher moves markers on the line below to match the room, with one marker for each group standing together.
- Look at how the class is spread out, but do not try to persuade anyone yet.
After the debate, you will come back to this line and place yourself again.
Interactive activity
Your teacher splits the class into one side for and one side against the motion: Social media does more good than harm for people our age.
| Stage | Time | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Prepare | 5 min | Your side picks its two strongest points from its list below and finishes this sentence for each one: Our strongest point is… because… |
| 2. Opening statements | 2 min each | The For side speaks first, then the Against side. Nobody interrupts. |
| 3. Steelman | 90 seconds each | Each side explains the other side's argument so fairly that the other side would agree with how it was put. |
| 4. Open floor | About 20 seconds each | Anyone can make a short comment, up to four comments for the whole class. |
Argue against ideas, never people. If you give an example, use made-up names, and never point at anyone in the room.
| For the motion | Against the motion |
|---|---|
| Connection: keeps friendships going when people cannot meet, and helps new students find their group. | Comparison and pressure: highlight reels, which show only the best moments of people's lives, push people to compare themselves with edited versions of others. |
| Learning and interests: tutorials, hobby communities, language practice and exam tips that are hard to find offline. | Privacy and permanence: posts, screenshots and location data last long after the moment and can be used in ways the poster never meant. |
| Voice and creativity: people your age can make things and be heard without waiting for an adult to let them. | False or twisted claims: rumours travel faster than corrections, and angry content spreads especially well. |
| Support and information: reliable advice, and people who have been through the same thing, can be found quickly when something is hard. | Time, sleep and attention: feeds are designed to hold you, crowding out rest, schoolwork and face-to-face time. |
| Belonging: fans of the same music, sport or cause can find people like them online, even when there is nothing like it nearby. | Hurt and being left out: pile-ons, where lots of people gang up on one person, being left out of group chats, and mean comments all hurt and are hard to switch off. |
The debate is over, so take your stand on the line again.
- Think about the motion again: Social media does more good than harm for people our age.
- Go to the part of the room that matches where you stand now, and your teacher will move the markers to match.
- Compare the new spread with where the class started.
Today was not about finding a winner. It was about keeping two honest cases in mind. Social media has real benefits, like connection, learning, a voice and support. It also has real costs, like pressure, privacy, false claims, distraction and hurt. The skill is weighing both and saying why you end up where you do.
Interactive activity
Unlock the full learning experience
You're previewing this lesson. Get full access to this lesson and hundreds more — each one ready to teach, with interactive activities, printable resources and pupil progress tracking built in.
This lesson is copyright of Coding Ireland 2017 - 2026. Unauthorised use, copying or distribution is not allowed.