Aufgabe 3.1 · Abitur NRW Englisch LK · Jones: Live Today Always 2026

3.1 Taking the excerpt as a starting point, discuss whether social media lead to the brutalization of society. (40 %)

Lösung: Reference to the excerpt: - a video of an influencer's racist behavior is widely spread on the Internet, causing it to meet manifold user disapproval - incident is dealt with in an online meeting of influencer's PR firm - manager determined to minimize the negative effect on a successful client; staff reluctant to take a stand and make suggestions about how to handle the situation Social media lead to brutalization of society: - allows users to remain anonymous, facilitating expression of aggressive or rude opinions without facing real-world consequences and creating a toxic environment - exposes users to negative or aggressive content, making it more likely that other users consider such attitudes normal and adopt similar views - creates echo chambers which increase polarization and reduce openness to different perspectives - encourages sensationalism over thoughtful discourse, can lead to a culture where extreme views are amplified - contributes to less face-to-face interaction, thereby reducing chances of developing empathy and understanding through direct human contact Social media does not lead to brutalization of society: - allows people to connect across geographical and socio-economic boundaries, promoting understanding and collaboration among diverse groups - provides a platform for marginalized voices and communities fostering dialogue and empathy - can raise awareness of social injustices, encouraging activism and positive change as well as facilitating interaction, e.g. between like-minded people over great distances - reflects existing societal issues rather than causes them