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EMA | Speak Your Mind: Social Media Age Limits
EMA Β· ENGLISH MIND ACADEMY
Leaders / Mastermind Β· B2–C1 Warm-Up
EMA
40-Minute Lesson Β· Discourse Markers for Feelings

Speak Your Mind:
Social Media Age Limits

Learn how to express frustration, anger, disagreement, and concern with real chunks β€” then use them in a live discussion on one of today's most controversial topics.

⏱ 40 minutes πŸ‘₯ Virtual Β· Breakout Rooms 🎯 16 Chunks Β· 4 Categories
"Cambia tu mentalidad. Habla inglΓ©s."
Phase 1 Β· Warm-Up

Let's Start With Your Gut Reaction

Ask students to react with just one word first β€” don't introduce the chunks yet. The goal here is curiosity and activating prior knowledge, not accuracy.
05:00

If social media apps required your ID to prove your age... would you be okay with that?

Turn on your camera and share in one sentence: What's your first reaction? Have you heard about any new laws like this?

Phase 2 Β· Input

Why This Topic, Right Now

In 2026, countries and U.S. states are passing new laws to limit how β€” and whether β€” teens under 16 can use social media. The UK, Australia, and Virginia have all taken action this year. It's one of the most talked-about issues of the year, and everyone has an opinion.

Today, you'll learn 16 chunks in 4 categories to express your opinion β€” clearly, naturally, and with feeling.

Phase 2 Β· Input β€” Category 1 of 4

Frustration

"I can't take it anymore."
"I can't take it anymore β€” every app wants my ID now."
"This is driving me up the wall."
"All these new rules are driving me up the wall."
"I've had it up to here."
"I've had it up to here with these pop-up age checks."
"I'm at my wit's end."
/wΙͺts Ι›nd/
"I'm at my wit's end trying to explain this law to my kids."
Phase 2 Β· Input β€” Category 2 of 4

Anger / Outrage

"That's outrageous."
/aʊtˈreΙͺdΚ’Ι™s/
"That's outrageous β€” they knew the apps were harmful and did nothing."
"It really gets under my skin."
"The way these companies avoid responsibility really gets under my skin."
"That's got me hot under the collar."
"This whole debate has got me hot under the collar."
"Enough is enough."
"Enough is enough β€” it's time for real regulation."
Phase 2 Β· Input β€” Category 3 of 4

Disagreement

"I see where you're coming from, but..."
"I see where you're coming from, but I think the real problem is the content, not the age."
"I hear what you're saying, but..."
"I hear what you're saying, but banning apps won't stop teens from finding them."
"I'd have to respectfully disagree."
"I'd have to respectfully disagree β€” I think the law is a good first step."
"Let's agree to disagree."
"We're never going to see eye to eye on this β€” let's agree to disagree."
Phase 2 Β· Input β€” Category 4 of 4

Concern / Empathy

"I'm worried about..."
"I'm worried about how much time teens already spend online."
"That must be tough."
"That must be tough, explaining this new law to your daughter."
"That sounds really challenging."
"That sounds really challenging β€” enforcing an age ban is harder than it looks."
"I can only imagine how that feels."
"I can only imagine how that feels, losing access to friends overnight."
Phase 3 Β· Controlled Practice

Complete the Conversation

Give students 1–2 minutes to try each exercise silently, then reveal answers together. Correct gently β€” celebrate the attempt before the fix.
08:00
A: Did you hear? The UK just announced kids under 16 will be banned from TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram.
B: ______ I've tried explaining internet rules to my nephew three times this week and he still finds a way around them.
A: In Australia, 7 out of 10 parents say their kids still have accounts, even after the ban.
B: ______ They passed this whole law and it's barely working.
A: I think banning social media for teens is the right call β€” it protects their mental health.
B: ______ I think the real problem is what's ON the apps, not who's allowed to use them.
A: My daughter cried when I told her she might lose her Instagram because of this new law.
B: ______ That's a hard conversation to have with a teenager.
Phase 4 Β· Free Practice β€” Reading

Should Teens Under 16 Be Banned From Social Media?

03:00

In June 2026, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced a sweeping ban on social media for anyone under 16 β€” including TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, and Snapchat. "Social media is making our children unhappy and unsafe," he said. More than 90% of parents who responded to the government's survey supported the idea.

The UK is following Australia, which banned under-16s from social media back in December 2025. But it hasn't been easy to enforce. This year, Australia's own internet regulator found that 7 out of 10 parents said their child still had an account on a "banned" platform.

Here in the U.S., Virginia passed a similar law this year, limiting kids under 16 to one hour a day on social apps without parental consent β€” and more states are following.

Supporters say something has to change. Critics say bans don't work β€” kids just find a way around them, and the real problem is what's on the apps, not who's using them.

Read silently. Underline any chunk from today's lesson that comes to mind as you read.

Phase 4 Β· Free Practice β€” Breakout Rooms

Small Group Discussion

Send students to breakout rooms now (groups of 3–4). Share this screen link with them if possible, or read the questions aloud before splitting the room. Drop in to each room once during the 8 minutes.
08:00

Rule: each person must use at least 2 chunks from today during the discussion.

1. What's your first reaction to this law β€” does it make sense to you?
2. Do you agree with the parents who say "enough is enough"? Why or why not?
3. What worries you most about how teens use social media today?
4. Someone in your group disagrees with you β€” practice saying "I see where you're coming from, but..." before you respond.
Phase 4 Β· Free Practice β€” Whole Group

Back Together: Share It Out

04:00

One person from each group shares: What was the most interesting disagreement in your group?

Other groups: respond using a disagreement or empathy chunk before adding your own opinion.

Phase 5 Β· Closing

Your Takeaway

Which chunk will you use this week?

Say one full sentence using it β€” about anything in your real life, not just social media.

Phase 6 Β· Feedback

Coach Feedback

Give positive feedback first, then 1–2 points of improvement, max. If there's time left, run a 2-minute Fluency Sprint: "What's your opinion on this law, and why?" β€” student speaks non-stop, you don't interrupt, feedback at the end.

Great work today. πŸŽ‰

Optional extension if time allows: 2-minute Fluency Sprint β€” "What's your opinion on this law, and why?"

"Cambia tu mentalidad. Habla inglΓ©s." β€” Philippians 4:13
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Chunk Reference Sheet

Frustration

  • I can't take it anymore.
  • This is driving me up the wall.
  • I've had it up to here.
  • I'm at my wit's end.

Anger / Outrage

  • That's outrageous.
  • It really gets under my skin.
  • That's got me hot under the collar.
  • Enough is enough.

Disagreement

  • I see where you're coming from, but...
  • I hear what you're saying, but...
  • I'd have to respectfully disagree.
  • Let's agree to disagree.

Concern / Empathy

  • I'm worried about...
  • That must be tough.
  • That sounds really challenging.
  • I can only imagine how that feels.