Discuss the impact of using social media platforms on society, referring to both positive and negative effects.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme. The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. Positive impact 1 (B1): Enhanced communication / connectivity.
2. Discussion: Connects people globally, helps maintain relationships, facilitates instant information sharing (B1).
3. Positive impact 2 (B1): Information dissemination / awareness.
4. Discussion: Spreading news rapidly, raising awareness for causes, citizen journalism (B1).
5. Positive impact 3 (B1): Business/economic opportunities.
6. Discussion: Marketing, e-commerce, networking, direct customer engagement (B1).
7. Negative impact 1 (B1): Privacy concerns.
8. Discussion: Personal data collection, data breaches, targeted advertising, surveillance (B1).
9. Negative impact 2 (B1): Cyberbullying / online harassment.
10. Discussion: Impact on mental health, reputational damage, safety concerns (B1).
11. Negative impact 3 (B1): Spread of misinformation / fake news.
12. Discussion: Undermining trust, influencing public opinion negatively, polarization (B1).
13. Negative impact 4 (B1): Addiction / mental health issues.
14. Discussion: FOMO (Fear of Missing Out), anxiety, depression, body image issues (B1).
15. Award up to 3 marks for positive impacts and up to 3 marks for negative impacts, ensuring a balanced discussion. Max 6 marks.