Unit 5 Teens’ ives ive or -ing form / Connectors / Question tags (oS) No, Class Date Read the text. Online friendships Looking for a new friend or two? The days when the cafeteria and extracurricular school clubs were the places to meet friends are over. The Internet has always been a global platform for new relationships with cool people who share similar interests, and social media has only made it easier to find future Best Friends Forever. Connecting online is something normal now, and for some it’s even a favourite meeting place for finding friends. “Being online actually gives you the chance to make a friendship happen faster than it would in real life because you have constant access to each other,” explains 15-year-old Samuel. But where do you even start? The options seem limitless. Teens like Facebook because they can ask mutual friends for information when someone they don’t know contacts them, This possibility makes them feel safer when they want to friend someone, Other platforms like Tumblr, Instagram, Twitter and personal blogs are also popular among teens because they can meet people with the same hobbies or interests. Teens prefer virtual platforms to make friends because they feel less nervous than when they ‘meet someone face-to-face for the first time, Moreover they aren’t so worried about the risk of rejection, “It feels like there’s a lot less pressure,” says 16-year-old Justina, “Online friendships can grow quicker and deeper because they're based on mutual interests. It's different than slowly getting to know someone just because they happen to be in the same class as you, You can talk about your favourite things and it seems they are much more understanding. At school you sometimes find it difficult to be so open because they can put you down for watching this or that show, listening to this or that band. If you share the same interests with the people you talk to online, you will feel more at ease and confident.” It is always important to remember safety when using social media, as they can be dangerous pl teenagers. There are golden rules to follow: never give ‘out petsonal information to anybody, and don’t always believe people are who they say they are. It can be good idea to use a false name. Never give out your email address or your school. Choose your password carefully and never give it to anyone. Social media is ‘great, but only when it is used safely. for ‘wor teervogue.com (abridged and adapted) accessed in November 2014 dable and photocopiable © Texto | Move on 263264 ‘A. What do the following words refer to in the text? 1. them (1,10) 2. they (126) 3.it (1.29) 4. it (1.30) B. Find synonyms in the first, second and third paragraphs for the following: 1. alike 3. opportunit 2. in fact 4.in person C. Complete the sentences according to the text. 1. If you share the same leisure activities, then you can 2. Making friends online is great. However, D. Answer the questions. 1. Where did teens meet friends in the past? 2. Why do teens feel safe when they make friends on Facebook? 3, What are the differences between a friend and an online friend? 4, Do you follow any of the safety measures mentioned? Do you think they are important? ‘A. Complete the text with the words in the box. Not all are necessary. hangout mobile phones addiction text addictedto screen Most teens are not talking on their a. ‘They are texting. A good majority of teenagers text all day and half the night. This shows how much they are b. them. They take their phone with them everywhere. It is always close by and many even sleep with their phone right next to them, so if they get ac. in the middle of the night, they can hear it and read it. Many teens would rather text and use Facebook to d. than to actually e. in person and have a conversation dable and photocopiable © Texto | Move onB, Complete the sentences with the correct form (to-infi ive or -ing form) of the verb in brackets. 1. My older son never forgets. {send) me a message when he gets to school. 2.1 really don’t mind (spend) time with my friends after school 3. The student promised (make) a PowerPoint presentation about the school trip. 4.We enjoy (play) online games. C. Join the sentences using the connector in brackets. 1. | always have my mobile phone. | don’t sleep with it next to me. (even though) 2, She can’t go online. She has access to the Internet. (in spite of) 3. My favourite TV show is Modern Family. | watch it every day. (so) D. Complete the sentences with the correct question tag. 1.Let’s go to the cinema, ? 2. Teens are spending too much time online, 2 3.Justina bought her mobile phone last year, ? 4, She's not posting this picture, ? 5. She usually meets her friends online, 2 ut ‘Write a text about the following topic: ‘The impact of technology on teens’ lives Suggestions: Introduction ~ identify the topic; Development - mention the positive aspects (e.g.: do research for school projects...) and the negative aspects (spend too much time online..); Conclusion ~ give your own opinion. dable and photocopiable © Texto | Move on 265