Read both texts and answer Question 1. Text A Sam, 42 years [Social Media Post Layout with 'Status', 'Photo', 'Log in' icons and 'Like', 'Comment', 'Share' buttons] Sam Social media apps are popular with young people, but should we allow our children to use them? As a parent, I am worried about the negative effects social media can have on young people and I don't let my children have social media accounts. These apps are designed to attract and keep users' interest. This means that hours can be lost looking at news feeds and videos, leaving important tasks like homework unfinished. When homework is not completed, children can fall behind at school. Being able to connect through social media apps is quick and easy, but it can make children less likely to meet up in real life, so their social skills don't develop. We also need to be careful to avoid social media intruding on family time, with children looking at their screens during family events or missing out on these occasions altogether. Seeing pictures of people's perfect lives on social media can make children feel that their own lives aren't good enough. Some people have linked the use of social media to mental health problems. Children can also accidentally see unsuitable content which I want to protect them from. For these reasons, my children will not be allowed any social media accounts until they are at least 16! Text B Ali, 15 years [Social Media Post Layout with 'Status', 'Photo', 'Log in' icons and 'Like', 'Comment', 'Share' buttons] Ali I understand some of the reasons why parents might not want their children to use social media, but there are some positive aspects to using it as well. For example, social media can provide a quick and easy way to communicate with other people. In the past, the only way to keep in touch with family and friends who lived far away was to write a letter and wait weeks to get a reply. A quick social media message is instant. Some people say that social media can have a negative effect on the development of our social skills, but this needn't be the case. For people who are less confident, it might be easier to talk to others online rather than face-to-face. This can help them to develop as a person and stop them from feeling lonely. As teenagers, we are often unsure of ourselves, so being able to socialise online helps us to build skills we can then use in the real world. Social media can help us to understand other people's lives. And for me, the biggest benefit of social media is that it's a great way to spread positivity and this can help to make the world a better place. So while I can see there are some problems with social media, in my experience there are more advantages than disadvantages, especially for younger people. You have read two texts about the impact of social media on young people. You decide to write an article for your school magazine, giving your own views on the advantages and disadvantages of social media for young people. Write your article. In your article you should: • evaluate the ideas and opinions in both texts • give your own views on the advantages and disadvantages of social media for young people, based on what you have read in the texts. Base your article on what you have read in both texts but be careful to use your own words. Address both of the bullet points. Begin your article with a suitable headline. Write about 250 to 350 words. Up to 10 marks are available for the content of your answer and up to 15 marks for the quality of your writing.

1. You have read two texts about the impact of social media on young people. You decide to write an article for your school magazine, giving your own views on the advantages and disadvantages of social media for young people. Write your article. In your article you should: • evaluate the ideas and opinions in both texts • give your own views on the advantages and disadvantages of social media for young people, based on what you have read in the texts. Base your article on what you have read in both texts but be careful to use your own words. Address both of the bullet points. Begin your article with a suitable headline. Write about 250 to 350 words. Up to 10 marks are available for the content of your answer and up to 15 marks for the quality of your writing.[25]

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