LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Read about the lives of several young people who have experienced social media fame; evaluate the benefits and drawbacks of having a career as an influencer

HEALTH ED STANDARDS

NHES 1: Analyze the ways that social media can influence behavior

CASEL COMPETENCY: Social awareness; responsible decision-making

KEY VOCAB

spontaneous, monetize, lucrative, viral, aspiring

Lesson Plan: Social Media Stars Tell All

Influencers on social media have it all—or do they? Six content creators dish about the pros and cons of viral fame.

ESSENTIAL QUESTION

How do the real lives of social media influencers compare with my perceptions of them?

 CLOSE-READING QUESTIONS

  1. What is an influencer? An influencer is a person who has a big enough following on their social media platform to influence what their followers think and buy.
  2. What are some of the positives of being a social media content creator? List at least two positives that you read about in the article. Mitchell says he enjoys making people laugh; Justina says she loves using her platform to discuss race.
  3. What does Justina mean when she says that there’s no such thing as free products? She means that when companies offer “free” products, the influencer who receives them has to market those products, and that can take a lot of time.

 CRITICAL-THINKING QUESTIONS

  1. Before reading this article, what was your perception of influencers? Did reading the article change anything? Answers will vary.
  2. Do you have a favorite influencer or content creator on social media? Describe the account and tell why you like to follow it. Answers will vary.
  3. Do you think being an influencer on social media is a good career path to follow? Why or why not? Possible answers: Yes, you can raise awareness of causes you believe in and help people feel connected; no, you don’t get to lead a “normal” teen’s life, and you might make other teens feel bad if they compare their lives with what they think your life is like.

CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES

DIGGING DEEPER

NHES 2

CASEL Competency: Social awareness

The article showcases the impact of viral fame on young influencers, but what impact do famous influencers have on young people? Have groups research an influencer. Then have them explain whether their chosen influencer is WORTH A FOLLOW or not based on that person’s overall impact. (Click here to see all your Skill Builders.)

EXTENSION ACTIVITY

NHES 2

CASEL Competency: Responsible decision-making

The job title “influencer” was at one time futuristic. Have students research popular up-and-coming jobs. Then, have them choose one and share ideas in a FUTURISTIC CAREER DAY presentation. (Note: For virtual classrooms, try collaborative apps like Padlet or Prezi for this activity.)

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