HASS · Year 10 · The Globalising World · Term 4

Mobile Technology and Social Media

Students will investigate the rise of mobile technology and social media platforms, and their effects on social interaction and political engagement.

• ACARA Content Descriptions
• AC9H10K09

About This Topic

Year 10 students examine the rapid rise of mobile technology and social media platforms since the 2000s, tracing their transformation of daily social interactions and political engagement. They analyze how smartphones enable instant connectivity through apps like TikTok and Instagram, often replacing face-to-face conversations with likes, shares, and emojis. Students also assess social media's amplification of political movements, such as the Arab Spring or Australia's #SchoolStrike4Climate, and evaluate influencer culture's role in shaping youth identities, values, and purchasing habits.

This content connects to AC9H10K09 by fostering critical analysis of globalising forces, media literacy, and ethical considerations in digital spaces. Students develop skills to discern biased algorithms, echo chambers, and misinformation, preparing them to participate thoughtfully in democratic processes.

Active learning benefits this topic greatly. When students simulate social media campaigns, debate platform regulations, or audit their own usage in pairs, they connect theory to personal experiences. These approaches build empathy, sharpen arguments, and make complex societal shifts feel immediate and relevant.

Key Questions

1. Analyze how mobile technology has reshaped daily life and social interactions.
2. Explain the role of social media in contemporary political movements.
3. Critique the impact of 'influencer culture' on youth identity.

Learning Objectives

• Analyze the evolution of mobile technology and social media platforms since the 2000s, identifying key innovations and their societal impact.
• Explain the mechanisms by which social media platforms facilitate and amplify contemporary political movements.
• Critique the influence of 'influencer culture' on the formation of youth identity, values, and consumer behavior.
• Compare and contrast the nature of social interaction before and after the widespread adoption of smartphones and social media.
• Evaluate the ethical implications of social media algorithms and their role in shaping public discourse.

Before You Start

The Nature of Historical Sources

Why: Students need to understand how to evaluate the reliability and bias of information to critically analyze social media content.

Globalisation and Interconnectedness

Why: This topic builds on the understanding of how societies are increasingly linked through technology and communication networks.

Key Vocabulary

Digital Divide	The gap between individuals and communities who have access to modern information and communication technology, such as mobile phones and the internet, and those who do not.
Echo Chamber	A situation, often created by social media algorithms, where a person only encounters information or opinions that reflect and reinforce their own.
Algorithmic Bias	Systematic and repeatable errors in a computer system that create unfair outcomes, such as prioritizing certain content or users over others on social media platforms.
Citizen Journalism	The collection, dissemination, and analysis of news and information by the general public, often facilitated by mobile technology and social media.
Virality	The tendency of an idea, message, or piece of content to be spread rapidly and widely from one internet user to another.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

Social media only strengthens friendships.

What to Teach Instead

Many students overlook how it fosters superficial connections and cyberbullying. Group audits of personal feeds reveal echo chambers and FOMO effects. Active sharing in class helps students reframe interactions as multifaceted, blending positives with harms.

Common Misconception

Social media has little influence on politics.

What to Teach Instead

Students often underestimate its power in mobilization, like in election campaigns. Analyzing real viral posts in debates shows rapid opinion shifts. Collaborative timelines of movements correct this by linking platform features to outcomes.

Common Misconception

Influencers authentically represent youth culture.

What to Teach Instead

Youth may view influencers as role models without questioning sponsorships. Peer critiques of profiles expose commercial motives. Role-plays as influencers build discernment through experiencing authenticity pressures.

Active Learning Ideas

Jigsaw: Platform Impacts

Divide class into expert groups on social interactions, political engagement, or influencer culture. Each group researches one area using provided articles, then reforms into mixed groups to share findings and create a class summary chart. Conclude with whole-class synthesis.

50 min·Small Groups

Debate Carousel: Regulation Pros and Cons

Set up stations with statements on social media regulation. Pairs rotate, debating for or against each in 5-minute rounds, recording key points. Switch roles midway to build balanced views.

40 min·Pairs

Case Study Simulation: Viral Campaign

In small groups, students design a mock social media campaign for a political cause, including posts, hashtags, and predicted reach. Present to class, then critique effectiveness and risks like misinformation.

60 min·Small Groups

Personal Audit Timeline: Tech Evolution

Individuals create timelines of their mobile tech use from childhood to now, noting social and identity shifts. Share in small groups, identifying patterns and discussing broader implications.

30 min·Individual

Real-World Connections

• Political campaigns, such as those for Australian federal elections, increasingly use targeted social media advertising and influencer partnerships to reach younger demographics and mobilize voters.
• Journalists and news organizations, like the ABC or Nine News, now integrate social media feeds and citizen-generated content into their reporting, often using mobile phones for on-the-ground coverage.
• Marketing departments in companies like Bunnings or Myer employ social media managers and digital strategists to collaborate with influencers, creating sponsored content to promote products and build brand awareness among Gen Z and Millennials.

Assessment Ideas

Discussion Prompt

Pose the question: 'How has the way you communicate with friends and family changed since you first started using mobile phones and social media?' Facilitate a class discussion, asking students to provide specific examples of replaced activities and new forms of interaction.

Quick Check

Provide students with a short news article or social media post about a recent political event. Ask them to identify one way social media may have influenced the event's visibility or public reaction, and one potential piece of misinformation or bias present.

Exit Ticket

On an index card, ask students to write down one social media influencer they follow and one way that influencer has impacted their own perceptions or purchasing decisions. Then, ask them to write one sentence about a potential downside of this influence.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does social media shape political engagement for Year 10 students?

Social media lowers barriers to activism, allowing quick mobilization via hashtags and shares, as seen in global youth climate strikes. However, algorithms create filter bubbles that polarize views. Teach this through case studies where students map a campaign's spread, evaluating reach, authenticity, and counter-narratives to build balanced civic understanding.

What is the impact of influencer culture on youth identity?

Influencers promote curated lifestyles that pressure teens toward consumerism and narrow beauty standards, affecting self-esteem. Students critique this by comparing sponsored content to real lives. Activities like group dissections of influencer posts reveal persuasion tactics, helping students form resilient identities amid digital ideals.

How can active learning help students understand mobile technology's effects?

Active methods like simulations and debates make abstract impacts tangible. Students running mock campaigns experience virality's power and pitfalls firsthand, while usage audits connect personal habits to societal trends. These foster ownership, critical thinking, and empathy, turning passive scrolling into reflective analysis that endures beyond the classroom.

What resources align with AC9H10K09 for teaching social media?

Use ABC News archives for Australian political campaigns, Pew Research for global stats, and Common Sense Media for platform reviews. Supplement with student-led Twitter threads on local issues. These scaffold inquiry, ensuring content relevance and source evaluation skills meet curriculum demands.