Introduction
Social media has become a big part of our everyday lives. We use platforms such as Facebook, Messenger, TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube to communicate with friends, get information, entertain ourselves, and sometimes even study. For Senior High School students, social media can be both helpful and challenging.
While social media can help students find educational materials, communicate with classmates, and discover new ideas, excessive use can also affect their studies, time management, relationships, and behavior. In this WebQuest, we will explore both the positive and negative effects of social media and think about how we can use it responsibly.
Task
Your task is to investigate how social media affects Senior High School students.
You will work individually or with a small group to:
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Research the positive effects of social media on students.
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Identify the negative effects of excessive social media use.
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Find examples of how social media can be used as an educational tool.
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Interview or survey a few students about their social media habits.
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Create a short presentation or infographic showing your findings.
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Give practical recommendations on how students can use social media responsibly.
At the end of the WebQuest, you should be able to explain how social media can influence students and how it can be used in a healthy and productive way.
Process
Step 1: Form Your Group
Form a group of 3–5 students. Assign different responsibilities to each member, such as researcher, writer, interviewer, designer, and presenter.
Step 2: Explore the Topic
Research the following questions:
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What is social media?
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What social media platforms are commonly used by students?
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How can social media help students in their education?
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What are the possible negative effects of excessive social media use?
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How can social media affect students' time management?
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How can students avoid becoming too dependent on social media?
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What are some responsible ways of using social media?
Step 3: Gather Information
Use reliable online sources such as educational websites, government websites, news organizations, and academic resources.
As you research, record important information and the sources where you found them. Do not simply copy information from websites. Read the information, understand it, and explain it using your own words.
Step 4: Conduct a Short Survey
Ask at least 10 Senior High School students about their social media habits.
You may ask questions such as:
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What social media platform do you use most?
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How many hours do you usually spend on social media each day?
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Do you use social media for studying?
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Has social media ever distracted you from your schoolwork?
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What is the biggest advantage of social media for you?
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What is the biggest disadvantage?
Organize the answers and identify the most common responses.
Step 5: Analyze Your Findings
Compare the information you gathered from online sources with the results of your survey.
Discuss questions such as:
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What are the most common benefits of social media?
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What problems are commonly experienced by students?
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Does social media help students more than it distracts them?
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What can students do to reduce the negative effects?
Step 6: Create Your Output
Create an infographic or presentation entitled:
“Using Social Media Wisely: A Guide for Senior High School Students”
Your output should include:
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Definition of social media
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At least three positive effects
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At least three negative effects
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Results of your survey
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Practical tips for responsible social media use
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Sources or references
Step 7: Present Your Work
Present your output to the class. Each member should participate in the presentation.
After presenting, be prepared to answer questions from your teacher and classmates.
Resources
You may use reliable online sources such as:
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Google Scholar
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DepEd official website
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UNICEF
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UNESCO
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World Health Organization
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Reputable educational websites
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Reliable news organizations
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Academic journals and research articles
Always check whether the information is reliable before using it in your work.
Evaluation
Your work will be evaluated using the following criteria:
| Criteria | Excellent (4) | Good (3) | Fair (2) | Needs Improvement (1) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Research | Information is accurate, relevant, and well-researched | Information is mostly accurate and relevant | Some information is incomplete | Information is limited or inaccurate |
| Analysis | Findings are clearly explained and connected to the topic | Findings are explained clearly | Analysis needs more explanation | Little or no analysis is presented |
| Creativity | Output is very creative and engaging | Output is creative | Output shows some creativity | Output lacks creativity |
| Organization | Ideas are clear and well-organized | Ideas are generally organized | Some ideas are unclear | Ideas are poorly organized |
| Presentation | Members present confidently and clearly | Presentation is clear | Some members have difficulty presenting | Presentation is unclear |
| Teamwork | All members participate actively | Most members participate | Some members participate | Very little teamwork is shown |
Total: 24 points
Conclusion
Social media is already a part of our daily lives, especially among young people. It can provide useful information, help us communicate with others, and support our learning. However, using it too much or using it irresponsibly can also create problems in our studies and daily activities.
Through this WebQuest, we learned that social media itself is not necessarily good or bad. What matters is how we use it. As Senior High School students, we should learn how to manage our time, choose reliable information, communicate respectfully, and use social media for purposes that can help us grow.
The goal is not necessarily to stop using social media, but to learn how to use it wisely, responsibly, and in a balanced way.
Credits
The content of this WebQuest was developed using information from reliable educational and informational sources, including:
- UNESCO – Information and resources related to media and information literacy
- UNICEF – Resources about children, adolescents, and digital technology
- Department of Education (DepEd) – Educational resources and materials
- World Health Organization (WHO) – Information related to digital well-being and healthy technology use
- Google Scholar – Academic studies and research articles related to social media and students
The information gathered from these sources was reviewed, summarized, and presented in a simplified form for Senior High School students.
Teacher Page
Learning Objectives
At the end of the WebQuest, students should be able to:
- Define social media and explain its role in students' daily lives.
- Identify the positive and negative effects of social media.
- Gather information from reliable online sources.
- Conduct and interpret a simple student survey.
- Analyze information and communicate findings clearly.
- Demonstrate responsible and appropriate use of social media.
Suggested Duration
2–3 class sessions
Target Learners
Senior High School Students
Subject Area
Media and Information Literacy / 21st Century Literature and related Senior High School subjects
Final Output
A group infographic or presentation entitled:
“Using Social Media Wisely: A Guide for Senior High School Students”