B2 – Upper Intermediate
When people go through tough times in childhood, it can sometimes lead to patterns in how they use social media later on. Short-form video apps, like TikTok, might feel especially comforting or addictive to those who’ve faced challenges early in life. Factors like how we handle stress and how satisfied we feel in life can also play a role in shaping these habits.
This article dives into how these early experiences connect to our social media behaviors. To read the full article, follow the link below.
Vocabulary Questions:
- What does “mediating role” mean? “Therefore, our research primarily examines the association between adverse childhood experiences and short-form video addiction, while also exploring the potential mediating roles of resilience and life satisfaction in this relationship.” Use it in a sentence.
- What does “buffer” mean in the sentence, “Essentially, resilience and life satisfaction acted as buffers: higher levels of these factors appeared to protect students from relying excessively on short videos as a coping mechanism.”? Use it in a sentence.
- What does the phrase “longitudinal approach” mean? “To build on these findings, future research could take a longitudinal approach to observe how childhood experiences affect online behaviors over time.” Use it in a sentence.
Discussion Questions:
- Do you use social media? What do you use them for?
- Why do you think people with difficult past experiences may be drawn to social media?
- How can social media influence your mood or habits?
- Should there be more support for young people to use social media in healthy ways? Explain.
- What are some positive ways to manage stress without relying on social media?