The image you uploaded seems to portray a figure controlled by strings, symbolizing manipulation, likely in the context of social media.
Faglig kvalitetssikret av lærere og toppstudenter · Følger læreplanen (LK20) · Sist oppdatert 2026-10-03
Read the material below.
Using all the provided material, write a personal response where you reflect on the role of social media in raising young people’s awareness of important topics of debate.
Recommended length for task 2 is approximately 175–300 words.
Text A:
Text B:
Among adults, those aged 18 to 29 are most likely to say they regularly get news on TikTok. About a third of Americans in this age group (32%) say they regularly get news there, a higher share than in years before. This compares with 15% of those aged 30 to 49, 7% of those 50 to 64 and just 3% of those 65 and older.
More of TikTok’s U.S. adult users are getting news there as well. Currently, 43% of TikTok users say they regularly get news on the site, up from 33% who said the same in 2022. TikTok users are now just as likely to get news from TikTok as Facebook users are to get news from Facebook. Still, TikTok users are less likely than users of X, formerly Twitter, to get news on the site.
Text C:
In 2023, Associate Professor Jess McLean at McQuarie University in Sydney, Australia, conducted a study of teenagers' use of the social media platform TikTok. Below are comments she made on this study:
“To be exposed to [stories of injustice and entertainment] alongside each other is something that TikTok enables in a very constructive way,” she says.
“Also, the length of the TikTok [video] makes it really appealing to children and young people. They can engage with many different viewpoints quite quickly, in a way that centres entertainment, rather than more flat forms of communication that might be more text-based.”
References:
Text A: Illustration vector. Beware the strings attached to social media and smartphone use. VAZZEN/Shutterstock.com. https://theconversation.com/remember-youre-being-manipulated-on-social-media-4-essential-reads-106742
Text B: Matsa, K.E. (2023, 15 November). More Americans are getting news on TikTok, bucking the trend seen on most other social media sites. Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/11/15/more-americans-are-getting-news-on-tiktok-bucking-the-trend-seen-on-most-other-social-media-sites/
Text C: Conville, N. (2023, 12 July) The surprising benefits of TikTok for teenagers. The Lighthouse. https://lighthouse.mq.edu.au/article/july-2023/the-surprising-benefits-of-tiktok-for-teenagers
The image you uploaded seems to portray a figure controlled by strings, symbolizing manipulation, likely in the context of social media. This image connects with the broader topic of how social media can influence and shape the behavior of its users, particularly young people. Reflecting on the role of social media in raising awareness, we can see both positive and negative impacts.
From the texts provided, social media platforms like TikTok have become significant sources of news and awareness for younger generations. Text B highlights that 32% of young adults aged 18 to 29 regularly get news from TikTok, showing that social media is a primary source of information for them. Additionally, TikTok’s format, as mentioned in Text C, enables teenagers to engage quickly with multiple viewpoints, often blending entertainment with serious topics like social injustice. This dual nature—informative yet engaging—makes it easier for young people to stay informed and involved in discussions about current events.
However, as illustrated in the image and Text A, there is also a concern about how social media platforms manipulate users. The strings attached metaphor in the image suggests that users may not always be in control, and they could be influenced by algorithms that prioritize certain content over others, limiting the scope of what users are exposed to.
In conclusion, while social media, particularly TikTok, can be a valuable tool for raising awareness about important issues, it also carries risks of manipulation and shallow engagement. Young people must be taught to critically assess the news they encounter online, balancing convenience with deeper exploration of the topics that matter.
Del 3 - samhandling
Read the task, then the thread. Write the next post.
In the thread below you will find some different opinions on what knowledge is.
Write the next post in the thread. In your post, refer and respond directly to the other posts as well as contributing with your own perspectives. Comment on and question, agree and/or disagree, with what has already been written.
The recommended word limit for the text is approximately 200 - 250 words.
Message board -> Education/School bulletin board-> Raise your concerns here
I have a grandchild in your school and I am concerned that young people today are not learning any basic skills or knowledge. They do not learn how anything is built, or grown or developed. While I learned from my parents and bosses at work, I also learned things from textbooks and teachers. In my profession within manual labour, I have relied on knowledge based on my own experiences, of course, but I also had a knowledge foundation I could compare these experiences to. Like my grandchild, youngsters today have no understanding of how the world came to be as it is. I do appreciate my conveniences, but I know that what came before helped pave the way for me. They know no history, and think all information is found in their devices. They seem to think they can just google everything. How can I make my grandchildren understand my concerns? Am I just an old fogey?
Kind regards, Ben
Re. Ben: When I need to do something I don’t already know I usually find the solution on YouTube. Need to cut my own hair? I’ll find the video. Need to tile and grout? I’ll find ten tips in ten seconds. Grow an avocado tree (don’t ‘cause it’s bad for the environment)? -ask Siri. Stuck on a quiz about WW2 or something boring like that? Wikipedia is my go-to. If our toilet is blocked, there are tons of hacks on the net. (Dish soap and hot water will unclog it in 15 minutes!) As long as I know how to (sort of) spell something in English, I’ll find whatever I need. All the information in school is outdated in a couple of years anyway, so why bother going really? (I like hanging out with my friends IRL though...) No offence. Just my thoughts.
Arie
Answer
Re: Ben
Hi Ben,
I understand your concerns about how young people today seem to rely more on quick online searches than learning deep, foundational knowledge. However, I think it's important to recognize that while the way we access information has changed, this doesn't necessarily mean that young people aren't gaining valuable knowledge—they're just getting it in different ways.
Arie makes a valid point when they talk about using YouTube, Siri, and Wikipedia to solve problems quickly. These tools may not provide the same depth as textbooks, but they certainly offer immediate, practical solutions. In fact, this shift toward self-directed learning through technology encourages resourcefulness and adaptability, which are valuable skills in today’s fast-paced world.
That being said, I agree that there’s still a need for a solid foundation of knowledge, especially when it comes to history and understanding how things work. While it’s great to know how to fix a toilet, it’s also important to understand the historical context behind technology and how it has evolved. The challenge now is balancing the convenience of modern tools with a deeper understanding of the world.
Perhaps, instead of discouraging the use of technology, we could encourage young people to use it to complement their learning. For example, after watching a tutorial, they could dive deeper into the subject through books, articles, or discussions to get a fuller picture. It's not about replacing traditional learning; it's about integrating new methods with old wisdom.
Best,
[Your Name]
Read the task, then the thread. Write the next post.
In the discussion forum below, an ethical dilemma is presented.
Write the next post in the thread. In your post, refer and respond directly to the other posts and contribute with your own perspectives. Comment on and question, agree and/or disagree, with what has already been written.
The recommended word limit for the text is approximately 200 - 250 words.
Off the books
My boss wants me to work extra hours in the afternoon and some weekends off the books. As this is my first real job, I have no experience with this type of thing. Will it cause trouble for me in the future? My salary isn’t that great, and after taxes there is barely enough left to cover my monthly expenses, so I could really use some extra cash. But at the same time, I know undocumented work is illegal. I can’t remember having heard of anyone being punished for it though… I have just been at this job for a few months, and I'm afraid my boss will sack me if I refuse. And a small part of me is wondering if this is some sort of test, and that I will be fired if I say yes… I don’t know what to do? Am I screwed either way??
Max
@max re. off the books
I hear you, Max, but everyone has worked off the books at one time or another, haven’t they? I certainly did when I first started out, and on occasion still help out a friend at a “reduced rate”, if you get my drift… Cost of living is only going one way, and I’m sure your salary does not increase at the same speed, so you don’t really have too many other options, do you?
Pat
@max re. off the books …