Ejercicio Option A - II · Inglés PAU País Vasco Extraordinaria 2024

OPTION A

Cyberbullying, Social Media Use, and Teen Experiences

As social media platforms like Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok become more popular, teenagers spend more and more time online in a complicated virtual world. It can even be a dangerous world. In fact, they become exposed to the kind of intimidating online behaviour that is known as cyberbullying.

A study from Pew Research Centre shows that a big 59% of U.S. teens have personally faced different kinds of cyberbullying, like being insulted or having their pictures shared without permission. Other common cyberbullying behaviours are personal attacks, spreading false information, and pretending to be someone else.

According to the study, being mean online is easier not only because teenagers can hide who they are, but also because they can't see the person they hurt and, consequently, they might not feel bad about it. Wanting attention on social media is another possible reason why teenagers bully others online, as they might think that this behaviour will get more 'likes', shares, comments, and 'retweets'.

Research shows there is a connection between cyberbullying among teenagers and how often they use social media. Results from a study conducted by the University of Georgia indicate that teenagers who spend more than seven hours online each day and show signs of being addicted to social media are more likely to bully others online. Tutors should check if teenagers who cyberbully have a problem with being addicted to social media. If they do, specific treatment plans and support groups can help them to use social media less, to improve their self-confidence, and to realise what the consequences of their online behaviour are.

Teenagers are still learning and growing, and it can be hard for them to make good choices when they have technology that gives them access to the whole world. Openly discussing the challenges of social media may help them to avoid being too vulnerable to cyberbullying. Practical advice can consist in showing how to adjust privacy settings, block and report bullies, as well as in explaining the importance of taking breaks from online platforms.

Since technology is such a huge part of teenagers' lives, it is important to teach them early how to use it safely, and to help them when they have problems online. With guidance from educators, teenagers can learn to use technology safely and navigate the challenges of both online and offline worlds.

OPTION A

II.- Are these statements True or False? Justify your answers based on information from the text, rewriting the original sentences in your own words or quoting properly. (Choose 2 out of the 3 statements) (2 marks).

1.

Social media platforms make the virtual world safer for teenagers.

TRUE

FALSE

2.

More than half of U.S. teenagers have been victims to cyberbullying.

TRUE

FALSE

3.

Making good choices is easy with technology that connects you to the whole world.

TRUE

FALSE