Reflection on the video ‘Can gen z break free from social media addiction? 🎞️📹

 

https://edpuzzle.com/media/67c598c5f468daecc1a88d9b

My reasons for choosing the video

I selected this video because social media is a huge part of teenagers’ daily lives. It directly affects their emotions, self-esteem, and mental health, making it a relevant and engaging topic for my students. The video presents real-life experiences of young people, expert opinions on social media addiction, and insights into how platforms like Instagram can negatively impact users, especially teenagers. This combination of perspectives helps students reflect critically on their own social media habits.

Learning objectives

The main objectives of this activity were:

• To develop students’ listening comprehension skills by exposing them to authentic spoken English.

• To encourage critical thinking and discussion about the effects of social media.

• To improve students' ability to express opinions and arguments in English.

• To raise awareness of how social media influences emotions, mental health, and self-perception.

Flipping the classroom

To enhance engagement, I flipped the classroom by assigning the video as homework before the lesson. Students watched it at home and noted key points they found interesting or surprising. This allowed us to focus class time on discussion, analysis, and interactive activities rather than spending too much time watching the video in class.

High points of the experience

The discussion generated by the video was highly engaging with the open questions I proposed in class. Students shared personal experiences, debated the benefits and dangers of social media, and expressed concerns about the role of platforms in shaping their self-image. Many students connected with the experiences mentioned in the video and reflected on their own habits. The use of open-ended questions helped deepen the conversation, making it more meaningful.

Ways to improve the activity

Although the activity was successful, I identified a few areas for improvement:

Some students needed more vocabulary support to fully express their ideas. They often used their own language 

While the discussion was engaging, it could benefit from a more structured debate format to ensure all students participate equally. Also, I had to give time to outline their speech previously.

Conclusion

Overall, the activity was a success in terms of engagement and discussion. It encouraged students to think critically about their social media use and provided a valuable opportunity for language development. With minor adjustments, it can become an even more effective learning experience in future lessons.