The Reading / Listening - Sharenting - Level 6

A child protection charity in the UK is urging parents to ask their children for permission before uploading photos and videos of them on social media. This follows a study by Ofcom, a communications watchdog, revealing that parents are divided on whether it is right to post photos of their children online. The practice of parents uploading photos and videos of their kids is termed "sharenting". This is a combination of the words "share" and "parenting". Ofcom said the biggest reason for parents not sharing photos of their kids is to protect the privacy of under-18s. The NSPCC said: "Each time a photo or video is uploaded, it creates a digital footprint of a child which can follow them into adult life."

The website theatlantic.com highlighted how prevalent sharenting is in the USA. It said: "In the United States, the vast majority of 2-year-olds…already have an online presence. More than 80 per cent of babies younger than that are already on social media." The website said there is a conflict between a parent's pride in their children and his or her desire to share photos of them, and the potential dangers of sharing photos of their kids. Parents often include personal information about their children along with the photos they upload. This could put kids at risk of identity theft and digital kidnapping. There is also the danger of parents publishing real-time information about their children's whereabouts.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Sharenting - Level 4  or  Sharenting - Level 5

Sources
  • http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/whats-on/family-kids-news/parents-told-ask-childs-permission-13426198
  • https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/aug/03/the-sharenting-divide-half-uk-parents-do-not-post-childrens-pictures
  • https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2016/10/babies-everywhere/502757/


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice, drag and drop activities, crosswords, hangman, flash cards, matching activities and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Warm-ups

1. SOCIAL MEDIA: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about social media. Change partners often and share your findings.

2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, talk about these topics or words from the article. What will the article say about them? What can you say about these words and your life?

       child / protection / permission / social media / watchdog / parenting / share / privacy
       website / online / conflict / pride / personal information / identity theft / kidnapping

Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.

3. NO PHOTOS: Students A strongly believe parents should not upload photos of their children; Students B strongly believe it is OK for parents to upload photos of their children on social media.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.

4. ONLINE PHOTOS: What do you think about these online photos? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Good things

Bad things

Friends' babies

 

 

Cats

 

 

Food

 

 

People drinking

 

 

People running

 

 

Flowers

 

 
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ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers
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5. PARENTS: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "parents". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.

6. DANGERS: Rank these online dangers with your partner. Put the best at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • sexting
  • grooming
  • bad eyesight
  • lack of exercise
  • identity theft
  • digital kidnapping
  • phishing
  • cyber-bullying

 

Before reading / listening

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if a-h below are true (T) or false (F).

  1. A charity said parents should ask children's permission to post photos.    T / F
  2. The article says parents are split on the idea of posting kids' photos.     T / F
  3. "Sharenting" comes from the words "shark" and "resenting".     T / F
  4. Digital footprints can follow children into their adult life.     T / F
  5. Most 2-year-olds in the USA have an online presence.     T / F
  6. Fewer than 80% of US babies are already on social media.     T / F
  7. The article says parents never include personal details about children.   T / F
  8. Posting the real-time whereabouts of kids is not dangerous.     T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

  1. urging
  2. permission
  3. divided
  4. termed
  5. combination
  6. prevalent
  7. vast
  8. conflict
  9. potential
  10. whereabouts
  1. split
  2. possible
  3. mix
  4. widespread
  5. consent
  6. location
  7. called
  8. encouraging
  9. clash
  10. huge

3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)

  1. ask their children for
  2. a communications
  3. uploading photos and videos of their kids
  4. protect the privacy
  5. a digital
  6. the vast majority of
  7. have an
  8. the potential dangers of
  9. put kids at risk of identity
  10. information about their children's
  1. is termed "sharenting"
  2. sharing photos
  3. footprint
  4. theft
  5. watchdog
  6. whereabouts
  7. permission
  8. online presence
  9. 2-year-olds
  10. of under-18s

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
termed
divided
privacy
protection
footprint
uploading
reason
right

A child (1) ____________ charity in the UK is urging parents to ask their children for permission before (2) ____________ photos and videos of them on social media. This follows a study by Ofcom, a communications watchdog, revealing that parents are (3) ____________ on whether it is (4) ____________ to post photos of their children online. The practice of parents uploading photos and videos of their kids is (5) ____________ "sharenting". This is a combination of the words "share" and "parenting". Ofcom said the biggest (6) ____________ for parents not sharing photos of their kids is to protect the (7) ____________ of under-18s. The NSPCC said: "Each time a photo or video is uploaded, it creates a digital (8) ____________ of a child which can follow them into adult life."

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
upload
conflict
vast
whereabouts
prevalent
theft
potential
presence

The website theatlantic.com highlighted how (9) ____________ sharenting is in the USA. It said: "In the United States, the (10) ____________ majority of 2-year-olds…already have an online (11) ____________. More than 80 per cent of babies younger than that are already on social media." The website said there is a (12) ____________ between a parent's pride in their children and his or her desire to share photos of them, and the (13) ____________ dangers of sharing photos of their kids. Parents often include personal information about their children along with the photos they (14) ____________. This could put kids at risk of identity (15) ____________ and digital kidnapping. There is also the danger of parents publishing real-time information about their children's (16) ____________.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  A child protection charity in the UK is ______ ask
     a.  urge in parents to
     b.  urges in parents to
     c.  urged in parents to
     d.  urging parents to

2)  a communications watchdog, revealing that parents are divided on ______ right
     a.  whether it is
     b.  weather it is
     c.  whither it is
     d.  wetter it is

3)  The practice of parents uploading photos and videos of their ______ "sharenting"
     a.  kids is teamed
     b.  kids is timed
     c.  kids is tamed
     d.  kids is termed

4)  not sharing photos of their kids is to protect the privacy ______
     a.  of under-18 is
     b.  of under-80s
     c.  of under-8s
     d.  of under-18s

5)  it creates a digital footprint of a child which can follow them ______
     a.  into adult live
     b.  into adult life
     c.  onto adults life
     d.  onto adult life

6)  In the United States, the vast majority of 2-year-olds…already have ______
     a.  an online pretense
     b.  an online presents
     c.  an online presence
     d.  an online prescience

7)  More than 80 per cent of babies younger than that are already ______
     a.  on social medium
     b.  on social media
     c.  on social nadir
     d.  on social median

8)  pride in their children and his or her desire to share photos of them, and the ______
     a.  potential dangerous
     b.  potentially dangers
     c.  potentially dangerous
     d.  potential dangers

9)  include personal information about their children along with the ______
     a.  photos that upload
     b.  photos they uploads
     c.  photos they upload
     d.  photo they upload

10)  the danger of parents publishing real-time information about their ______
     a.  children's thereabouts
     b.  children's knockabouts
     c.  children's kickabouts
     d.  children's whereabouts

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

A child protection charity in the UK (1) ___________________ to ask their children for permission before uploading photos and videos of them on social media. This (2) ___________________ by Ofcom, a communications watchdog, revealing that parents are (3) ___________________ it is right to post photos of their children online. The practice of parents uploading photos and videos of their (4) ___________________ "sharenting". This is a combination of the words "share" and "parenting". Ofcom said the biggest reason for parents not sharing photos of their (5) ___________________ protect the privacy of under-18s. The NSPCC said: "Each time a photo or video is uploaded, it (6) ___________________ footprint of a child which can follow them into adult life."

The website theatlantic.com highlighted how prevalent sharenting is in the USA. It said: "In the United States, the (7) ___________________ 2-year-olds…already have an online presence. More than 80 per cent of babies younger than that (8) ___________________ social media." The website said there is a conflict between a parent's (9) ___________________ children and his or her desire to share photos of them, and the potential dangers of sharing (10) ___________________ kids. Parents often include personal information about their children along with the photos they upload. This could put (11) ___________________ of identity theft and digital kidnapping. There is also (12) ___________________ parents publishing real-time information about their children's whereabouts.

Comprehension questions

  1. What did a charity urge parents to ask children for?
  2. What kind of watchdog is Ofcom?
  3. Which two words is the term 'sharenting' from?
  4. What did Ofcom say must be protected?
  5. What kind of footprint is left when a photo is uploaded?
  6. How many 2-year-olds in the USA have an online presence?
  7. How many babies younger than two are on social media?
  8. What parental feeling is in conflict with wanting people to see their kids?
  9. What danger was mentioned besides identity theft?
  10. What real-time information do some parents upload about children?

Multiple choice quiz

1) What did a charity urge parents to ask children for?
a) their passwords
b) pocket money
c) to go out
d) a permission to upload photos

2) What kind of watchdog is Ofcom?
a) a ticking watchdog
b) a communications watchdog
c) a barking one
d) a timely one

3) Which two words is the term 'sharenting' from?
a) 'shard' and ''cementing'
b) 'shark' and 'relenting'
c) 'share' and 'parenting'
d) 'sharp' and 'renting'

4) What did Ofcom say must be protected?
a) the privacy of under-18s
b) the Internet
c) combinations
d) photos

5) What kind of footprint is left when a photo is uploaded?
a) a muddy footprint
b) a carbon footprint
c) a digital footprint
d) an ecological footprint

6) How many 2-year-olds in the USA have an online presence?
a) a considerable minority
b) the vast majority
c) a sizeable minority
d) a tiny majority

7) How many babies younger than two are on social media?
a) just fewer than 80%
b) around 80%
c) exactly 80%
d) over 80%

8) What parental feeling is in conflict with wanting people to see their kids?
a) pride
b) anger
c) envy
d) confusion

9) What danger was mentioned besides identity theft?
a) cyber-bullying
b) phishing
c) digital kidnapping
d) electrocution

10) What real-time information do some parents upload about children?
a) phone numbers
b) their whereabouts
c) their lunch
d) what they are playing with

Role play

Role  A – Lack of Exercise

You think lack of exercise is the biggest online danger. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least dangerous of these (and why): identity theft, cyber-bullying or phishing.

Role  B – Identity Theft

You think identity theft is the biggest online danger. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least dangerous of these (and why): lack of exercise, cyber-bullying or phishing.

Role  C – Cyber-Bullying

You think cyber-bullying is the biggest online danger. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least dangerous of these (and why): identity theft, lack of exercise or phishing.

Role  D – Phishing

You think phishing is the biggest online danger. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least dangerous of these (and why):  identity theft, cyber-bullying or lack of exercise.

After reading / listening

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words...

'share'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • and 'parents'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • • Share your findings with your partners.

    • Make questions using the words you found.

    • Ask your partner / group your questions.

    2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.

    •Share your questions with other classmates / groups. •Ask your partner / group your questions.

    3. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise. Check your answers. Talk about the words from the activity. Were they new, interesting, worth learning…?

    4. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups, pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.

    5. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try to recall how they were used in the text:

    • how
    • vast
    • conflict
    • often
    • theft
    • also
    • urging
    • follows
    • divided
    • right
    • words
    • adult

    Student survey

    Write five GOOD questions about this topic in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper. When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

    (Please look at page 12 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

    Discussion - Charity warns against uploading photos of children

    STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

    1. What did you think when you read the headline?
    2. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'share'?
    3. Why do parents upload so many photos of their children?
    4. Is it wrong to upload photos of babies on social media?
    5. What are the dangers of parents posting photos of their children?
    6. Do you get fed up with photos of small children on social media?
    7. What do you think of the term 'sharenting'?
    8. Are parents who post photos of their children violating their privacy?
    9. How is your digital footprint?
    10. How much stuff do you upload on social media?

    STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

    1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
    2. What do you think of when you hear the word 'parenting'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. Would you be happy if you found photos of you as a kid online?
    5. Why might children be angry with parents when they grow up?
    6. What do you know about staying safe online?
    7. How important is social media for you?
    8. What happens in cases of identity theft?
    9. How dangerous is uploading a child's whereabouts?
    10. What questions would you like to ask 'sharenting' parents?

    Discussion — Write your own questions

    STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

    (a) ________________

    (b) ________________

    (c) ________________

    (d) ________________

    (e) ________________

    STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

    (f) ________________

    (g) ________________

    (h) ________________

    (i) ________________

    (j) ________________

    Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

    A child protection charity in the UK is (1) ____ parents to ask their children for permission before uploading photos and videos of them on social media. This follows a study by Ofcom, a communications (2) ____, revealing that parents are divided on (3) ____ it is right to post photos of their children online. The practice of parents uploading photos and videos of their kids is (4) ____ "sharenting". This is a combination of the words "share" and "parenting". Ofcom said the biggest reason for parents not sharing photos of their kids is to protect the (5) ____ of under-18s. The NSPCC said: "Each time a photo or video is uploaded, it creates a digital footprint of a child which can follow them into (6) ____ life."

    The website theatlantic.com highlighted (7) ____ prevalent sharenting is in the USA. It said: "In the United States, the (8) ____ majority of 2-year-olds…already have an online presence. More than 80 per cent of babies younger than that are already on social media." The website said there is a conflict between a parent's (9) ____ in their children and his or her desire to share photos of them, and the potential dangers (10) ____ sharing photos of their kids. Parents often include personal information about their children (11) ____ with the photos they upload. This could put kids at risk of identity theft and digital kidnapping. There is also the danger of parents publishing real-time information about their children's (12) ____.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     purging     (b)     surging     (c)     urging     (d)     merging    
    2. (a)     watchdog     (b)     catnap     (c)     black sheep     (d)     cash cow    
    3. (a)     whether     (b)     whither     (c)     waiver     (d)     weather    
    4. (a)     termed     (b)     teamed     (c)     trimmed     (d)     timed    
    5. (a)     privation     (b)     privates     (c)     private     (d)     privacy    
    6. (a)     adulthood     (b)     adulterer     (c)     adultery     (d)     adult    
    7. (a)     how     (b)     what     (c)     which     (d)     when    
    8. (a)     baste     (b)     waste     (c)     vest     (d)     vast    
    9. (a)     pride     (b)     proud     (c)     prided     (d)     proudly    
    10. (a)     that     (b)     of     (c)     then     (d)     for    
    11. (a)     aloha     (b)     along     (c)     aloof     (d)     aloud    
    12. (a)     roundabouts     (b)     whereabouts     (c)     thereabouts     (d)     knockabouts

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. A child protection crayiht in the UK
    2. ask their children for isrmsienpo
    3. riaegnvel that parents are divided
    4. a anboinctoim of the words
    5. protect the cvryiap of under-18s
    6. it creates a gaidlit footprint

     

    Paragraph 2

    1. highlighted how rtpeenvla sharenting is
    2. the vast moaijyrt of 2-year-olds
    3. have an online eenpersc
    4. the etltaopin dangers of sharing photos
    5. put kids at risk of itynteid theft
    6. their children's ewohrbetaus

    Put the text back together

    (    )     younger than that are already on social media." The website said there is a conflict between a parent's

    (    )     of under-18s. The NSPCC said: "Each time a photo or video is uploaded, it creates a digital

    (    )     pride in their children and his or her desire to share photos of them, and the potential dangers of sharing photos of

    (    )     and "parenting". Ofcom said the biggest reason for parents not sharing photos of their kids is to protect the privacy

    (    )     parents are divided on whether it is right to post photos of their children online. The practice of parents

    (    )     footprint of a child which can follow them into adult life."

    (    )     The website theatlantic.com highlighted how prevalent sharenting is in the USA. It said: "In the United States, the vast

    (  1  )     A child protection charity in the UK is urging parents to ask their children for permission before uploading photos

    (    )     with the photos they upload. This could put kids at risk of identity theft and digital

    (    )     uploading photos and videos of their kids is termed "sharenting". This is a combination of the words "share"

    (    )     their kids. Parents often include personal information about their children along

    (    )     and videos of them on social media. This follows a study by Ofcom, a communications watchdog, revealing that

    (    )     kidnapping. There is also the danger of parents publishing real-time information about their children's whereabouts.

    (    )     majority of 2-year-olds…already have an online presence. More than 80 per cent of babies

    Put the words in the right order

    1. children   their   ask   to   parents   Urging   permission   for   .
    2. watchdog   a   Ofcom,   communications  follows   by   a   This   study  .
    3. it   to   divided   post   on   photos   is   Parents  right   are   whether   .
    4. parents   for   reason   biggest   The   photos   sharing   not   .
    5. which  child  a  of  footprint   digital  a  creates  It  them  follow   can   .
    6. have   year-   of  The   an   2-  vast   online   olds  majority  presence  .
    7. on   Eighty   of   already   media   cent   are   social   per   babies   .
    8. of   kids   sharing   The   photos   potential   of   dangers   their   .
    9. their   often  include   personal  information  about  Parents   children   .
    10. of   put   identity   kids   theft   at   This   risk   could   .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    A child protection charity in the UK is purging / urging parents to ask their children for permission before / after uploading photos and videos of them on social media. This follows a study by Ofcom, a communications catnap / watchdog, revealing that parents are divided / multiplied on whether it is right to post photos of their children online. The practice / perfect of parents uploading photos and videos of their kids is teamed / termed "sharenting". This is a combination of the words "share" and "parenting". Ofcom said the biggest reason from / for parents not sharing photos of their kids is to protect the privacy / private of under-18s. The NSPCC said: "Each time a photo or video is uploaded, it creates / creatives a digital footprint of a child which can follow them / they into adult life."

    The website theatlantic.com highlighted / heightened how prevalent sharenting is in the USA. It said: "In the United States, the waste / vast majority of 2-year-olds…already have an online presents / presence. More than 80 per cent of babies younger than that are already on / in social media." The website said there is a conflict / afflict between a parent's pride in their children and his or her reside / desire to share photos of them, and the potential / potentially dangers of sharing photos of their kids. Parents often include / inclusion personal information about their children along with the photos they upload. This could put kids at risky / risk of identity theft and digital kidnapping. There is also the endanger / danger of parents publishing real-time information about their children's whereabouts.

    Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct.

    Insert the vowels (a, e, i, o, u)

    _ ch_ld pr_t_ct__n ch_r_ty _n th_ _K _s _rg_ng p_r_nts t_ _sk th__r ch_ldr_n f_r p_rm_ss__n b_f_r_ _pl__d_ng ph_t_s _nd v_d__s _f th_m _n s_c__l m_d__. Th_s f_ll_ws _ st_dy by _fc_m, _ c_mm_n_c_t__ns w_tchd_g, r_v__l_ng th_t p_r_nts _r_ d_v_d_d _n wh_th_r _t _s r_ght t_ p_st ph_t_s _f th__r ch_ldr_n _nl_n_. Th_ pr_ct_c_ _f p_r_nts _pl__d_ng ph_t_s _nd v_d__s _f th__r k_ds _s t_rm_d "sh_r_nt_ng". Th_s _s _ c_mb_n_t__n _f th_ w_rds "sh_r_" _nd "p_r_nt_ng". _fc_m s__d th_ b_gg_st r__s_n f_r p_r_nts n_t sh_r_ng ph_t_s _f th__r k_ds _s t_ pr_t_ct th_ pr_v_cy _f _nd_r-18s. Th_ NSPCC s__d: "__ch t_m_ _ ph_t_ _r v_d__ _s _pl__d_d, _t cr__t_s _ d_g_t_l f__tpr_nt _f _ ch_ld wh_ch c_n f_ll_w th_m _nt_ _d_lt l_f_."

    Th_ w_bs_t_ th__tl_nt_c.c_m h_ghl_ght_d h_w pr_v_l_nt sh_r_nt_ng _s _n th_ _S_. _t s__d: "_n th_ _n_t_d St_t_s, th_ v_st m_j_r_ty _f 2-y__r-_lds…_lr__dy h_v_ _n _nl_n_ pr_s_nc_. M_r_ th_n 80 p_r c_nt _f b_b__s y__ng_r th_n th_t _r_ _lr__dy _n s_c__l m_d__." Th_ w_bs_t_ s__d th_r_ _s _ c_nfl_ct b_tw__n _ p_r_nt's pr_d_ _n th__r ch_ldr_n _nd h_s _r h_r d_s_r_ t_ sh_r_ ph_t_s _f th_m, _nd th_ p_t_nt__l d_ng_rs _f sh_r_ng ph_t_s _f th__r k_ds. P_r_nts _ft_n _ncl_d_ p_rs_n_l _nf_rm_t__n _b__t th__r ch_ldr_n _l_ng w_th th_ ph_t_s th_y _pl__d. Th_s c__ld p_t k_ds _t r_sk _f _d_nt_ty th_ft _nd d_g_t_l k_dn_pp_ng. Th_r_ _s _ls_ th_ d_ng_r _f p_r_nts p_bl_sh_ng r__l-t_m_ _nf_rm_t__n _b__t th__r ch_ldr_n's wh_r__b__ts.

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    a child protection charity in the uk is urging parents to ask their children for permission before uploading photos and videos of them on social media this follows a study by ofcom a communications watchdog revealing that parents are divided on whether it is right to post photos of their children online the practice of parents uploading photos and videos of their kids is termed "sharenting" this is a combination of the words "share" and "parenting" ofcom said the biggest reason for parents not sharing photos of their kids is to protect the privacy of under-18s the nspcc said "each time a photo or video is uploaded it creates a digital footprint of a child which can follow them into adult life"

    the website theatlanticcom highlighted how prevalent sharenting is in the usa it said "in the united states the vast majority of 2-year-olds…already have an online presence more than 80 per cent of babies younger than that are already on social media" the website said there is a conflict between a parent's pride in their children and his or her desire to share photos of them and the potential dangers of sharing photos of their kids parents often include personal information about their children along with the photos they upload this could put kids at risk of identity theft and digital kidnapping there is also the danger of parents publishing real-time information about their children's whereabouts

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    AchildprotectioncharityintheUKisurgingparentstoasktheirchildrenfo
    rpermissionbeforeuploadingphotosandvideosofthemonsocialmedia
    .ThisfollowsastudybyOfcom,acommunicationswatchdog,revealing
    hatparentsaredividedonwhetheritisrighttopostphotosoftheirchildre
    nonline.Thepracticeofparentsuploadingphotosandvideosoftheirkids
    istermed"sharenting".Thisisacombinationofthewords"share"and"pa
    renting".Ofcomsaidthebiggestreasonforparentsnotsharingphotosof
    theirkidsistoprotecttheprivacyofunder-18s.TheNSPCCsaid:"Eacht
    imeaphotoorvideoisuploaded,itcreatesadigitalfootprintofachildwhic
    hcanfollowthemintoadultlife."Thewebsitetheatlantic.comhighlighte
    dhowprevalentsharentingisintheUSA.Itsaid:"IntheUnitedStates,the
    vastmajorityof2-year-olds…alreadyhaveanonlinepresence.Mor
    ethan80percentofbabiesyoungerthanthatarealreadyonsocialmedia.
    "Thewebsitesaidthereisaconflictbetweenaparent'sprideintheirchildr
    enandhisorherdesiretosharephotosofthem,andthepotentialdangers
    ofsharingphotosoftheirkids.Parentsoftenincludepersonalinformatio
    nabouttheirchildrenalongwiththephotostheyupload.Thiscouldputki
    dsatriskofidentitytheftanddigitalkidnapping.Thereisalsothedangero
    fparentspublishingreal-timeinformationabouttheirchildren'swherea
    bouts.

    Free writing

    Write about sharenting for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    Parents should not post photos of their children on social media. Discuss.

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    Homework

    1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.

    2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about this news. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

    3. SOCIAL MEDIA: Make a poster about social media. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

    4. SHARENTING: Write a magazine article about sharenting. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against it.

    Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).

    5. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.

    6. LETTER: Write a letter to an expert on social media and sharenting. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your opinions on parents sharing photos of their children online. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

    A Few Additional Activities for Students

    Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

    Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

    Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

    Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

    Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

    Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

    Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

    Also...

    Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

    • News
    • Warm ups
    • Pre-reading / Post-reading
    • Using headlines
    • Working with words
    • While-reading / While-listening
    • Moving from text to speech
    • Post-reading / Post-listening
    • Discussions
    • Using opinions
    • Plans
    • Language
    • Using lists
    • Using quotes
    • Task-based activities
    • Role plays
    • Using the central characters in the article
    • Using themes from the news
    • Homework

    Buy my book

    $US 9.99

    Answers

    (Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

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