Common Core State Standard L.CCS.1/2/3/4 Grades 6-12: Video of a current news event is presented for discussion to encourage student participation, but also inspire the use of evidence to support logical claims using the main ideas of the video. Students must analyze background information provided about a current event, draw out the main ideas and key details, and review different opinions on the issue. Then, students should present their own claims using facts and analysis for support.
11/07/2016
Social media echo chambers trap Americans
Social media is creating a new kind of political divide. And when you unfriend someone over a political argument, you're making that divide even deeper. Facebook's algorithm promotes the types of posts that you like and share, and it hides away posts that put you off or that you don't interact with. This means you're unwittingly surrounding yourself with more people and news sites that just confirm your pre-existing views. This is called an "echo chamber."
■Class discussion: Do you listen to people with different viewpoints? Why or why not? Do you have friends that believe something you do not? Do you ever read news articles or editorials that you may not agree with? Are any of your family members or friends openly hostile to people that don’t agree with their political opinions? Does social media isolate you from different people and ideas? Are you comfortable just sticking with people who agree with you? Why or why not?