The Reading / Listening - Online Disinformation - Level 6

Social media is awash with information and graphics about the ongoing events in Israel and Gaza. There are concerns about how much of the content posted online is fake. The European Union has just opened an investigation into the social media site X, formerly known as Twitter. The EU says there is an alarming volume of posts containing false information on X. EU officials have expressed concern that X was, "being used to disseminate illegal content and disinformation". X has until the end of next week to answer a series of EU questions about this content. Failure to satisfactorily address these issues could lead the EU to impose a fine on X of up to five per cent of the company's daily global turnover.

The EU probe into X comes under the bloc's Digital Services Act. This was established to monitor how large tech companies deal with the hate speech posted on their platforms, and how they police the Internet. An EU spokesperson advised X to introduce, "proportionate and effective mitigation measures" to identify and delete disinformation. He added: "We have, from qualified sources, reports about potentially illegal content circulating on X, despite flags from relevant authorities." Hundreds of bogus accounts have been flooding the Internet with harmful and inflammatory content. The CEO of X said the site had removed hundreds of these accounts. A social media expert lamented this was, "a drop in the ocean".

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Online Disinformation - Level 4  or  Online Disinformation - Level 5

Sources
  • https://www.ft.com/content/a4ab23c7-977a-46b1-8d00-33923ceaee89
  • https://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory/musks-hundreds-hamas-linked-accounts-ceo-103916288
  • https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/telegram-fueling-israel-hamas-war-misinformation-1234854300/


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice activities, drag and drop activities, sentence jumbles, which word activities, text reconstructions, spelling, gap fills and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Warm-ups

1. ONLINE DISINFORMATION: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about online disinformation. Change partners often and share your findings.
2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, talk about these topics or words from the article. What will the article say about them? What can you say about these words and your life?
       social media / information / graphics / online / fake / investigation / illegal / fine /
       the EU / tech companies / Internet / mitigation / hate speech / bogus accounts
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. FINES: Students A strongly believe social media sites should face heavy fines if disinformation is posted on their platforms; Students B strongly believe the opposite. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. ONLINE DANGERS: How dangerous are these things? How can we deal with them? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

How Dangerous

How To Deal with It

Disinformation

 

 

Hate Speech

 

 

Cyberbullying

 

 

Phishing

 

 

Online grooming

 

 

Viruses

 

 
MY e-BOOK
ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers
See a sample

5. FAKE: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "fake". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. SOCIAL MEDIA: Rank these with your partner. Put the best sites at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • X
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • TikTok
  • SnapChat
  • LinkedIn

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. awash a. A number of events, objects, or people of a similar or related kind coming one after another.
      2. alarming b. An amount or quantity of something, especially when great.
      3. volume c. Worrying or disturbing.
      4. disseminate d. The amount of money taken by a business in a particular period.
      5. series e. Containing large numbers or amounts of someone or something.
      6. impose f. Spread (something, especially information) widely.
      7. turnover g. Require a duty, charge, or penalty to be undertaken or paid.

    Paragraph 2

      8. probe h. The action of reducing the severity, seriousness, or painfulness of something.
      9. established i. Of speech or writing arousing or intended to arouse angry or violent feelings.
      10. proportionate j. Moving continuously or freely through a closed system or area.
      11. mitigation k. Set up on a permanent basis.
      12. circulating l. Expressed regret or disappointment about something.
      13. inflammatory m. A thorough investigation into a crime or other matter.
      14. lamented n. In a way that corresponds in size or amount to something else.

 

Before reading / listening

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if 1-8 below are true (T) or false (F).

  1. Social media is full of disinformation over Israel and Gaza.     T / F
  2. The EU has just opened an investigation into events in Gaza.     T / F
  3. The EU gave X a month to answer a series of questions.     T / F
  4. The EU could fine X 5% of its annual global turnover.     T / F
  5. The Digital Services Act in the EU looks into hate speech online.     T / F
  6. The EU wants X to introduce mitigation measures.     T / F
  7. The article says a million fake accounts are uploading disinformation.     T / F
  8. A social media expert called removing sites a drop in the bucket.     T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

  1. awash
  2. ongoing
  3. investigation
  4. alarming
  5. turnover
  6. bloc
  7. police
  8. circulating
  9. inflammatory
  10. lamented
  1. complained about
  2. frightening
  3. continuing
  4. revenue
  5. provocative
  6. regulate
  7. flooded
  8. union
  9. spreading
  10. inquiry

3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)

  1. Social media is awash
  2. much of the content posted online
  3. an alarming volume
  4. being used to disseminate
  5. five per cent of the company's daily
  6. how large tech companies
  7. potentially illegal content circulating
  8. Hundreds of bogus
  9. flooding
  10. a drop
  1. accounts
  2. illegal content
  3. global turnover
  4. the Internet
  5. is fake
  6. in the ocean
  7. with information
  8. on X
  9. deal with the hate speech
  10. of posts

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
investigation
concern
turnover
awash
satisfactorily
alarming
concerns
series

graphics about the ongoing events in Israel and Gaza. There are (2) _____________________ about how much of the content posted online is fake. The European Union has just opened an (3) _____________________ into the social media site X, formerly known as Twitter. The EU says there is an (4) _____________________ volume of posts containing false information on X. EU officials have expressed (5) _____________________ that X was, "being used to disseminate illegal content and disinformation". X has until the end of next week to answer a (6) _____________________ of EU questions about this content. Failure to (7) _____________________ address these issues could lead the EU to impose a fine on X of up to five per cent of the company's daily global (8) _____________________.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
proportionate
circulating
deal
drop
inflammatory
bloc's
sources
flooding

The EU probe into X comes under the (9) _____________________ Digital Services Act. This was established to monitor how large tech companies (10) _____________________ with the hate speech posted on their platforms, and how they police the Internet. An EU spokesperson advised X to introduce, "(11) _____________________ and effective mitigation measures" to identify and delete disinformation. He added: "We have, from qualified (12) _____________________, reports about potentially illegal content (13) _____________________ on X, despite flags from relevant authorities." Hundreds of bogus accounts have been (14) _____________________ the Internet with harmful and (15) _____________________ content. The CEO of X said the site had removed hundreds of these accounts. A social media expert lamented this was, "a (16) _____________________ in the ocean".

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  Social media is awash with information and graphics about ______
     a.  the upgoing events
     b.  the ongoing events
     c.  the oncoming events
     d.  the incoming events
2)  There are concerns about how much of the content posted ______
     a.  inline is fake
     b.  online were fake
     c.  online are fake
     d.  online is fake
3)  EU officials have expressed concern that X was, "being used to ______
     a.  disseminate illegally content
     b.  disseminate illegal contents
     c.  disseminate illegal content
     d.  disseminate illegal contented
4)  Failure to satisfactorily address these issues could lead the EU to ______
     a.  pose a fine
     b.  impose a fine
     c.  depose a fine
     d.  impose a fine
5)  a fine on X of up to five per cent of the company's ______
     a.  daily global turnaround
     b.  daily global turnover
     c.  daily global turncoat
     d.  daily global turnabout

6)  This was established to monitor how large tech companies deal with ______
     a.  the hated speech
     b.  the hates speech
     c.  the hate speech
     d.  the hating speech
7)  An EU spokesperson advised X to introduce proportionate and ______
     a.  effective migration measures
     b.  effective immigration measures
     c.  effective emigration measures
     d.  effective mitigation measures
8)  We have, from qualified sources, reports about potentially illegal content ______
     a.  circulation on X
     b.  circulating on X
     c.  circulatory on X
     d.  circling on X
9)  Hundreds of bogus accounts have been ______
     a.  flooring the Internet
     b.  rippling the Internet
     c.  splashing the Internet
     d.  flooding the Internet
10)  A social media expert lamented this was a drop ______
     a.  in that ocean
     b.  in the ocean
     c.  in this ocean
     d.  in their ocean

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Social media (1) ____________________ information and graphics about the ongoing events in Israel and Gaza. There are concerns about how much of the content posted (2) ____________________. The European Union has just opened an investigation into the social media site X, formerly known as Twitter. The EU says there is (3) ____________________ of posts containing false information on X. EU officials have expressed concern that X was, "being used (4) ____________________ content and disinformation". X has until the end of next week to answer a series of EU questions about this content. (5) ____________________ address these issues could lead the EU to impose a fine on X of up to five per cent of the company's (6) ____________________.

The EU probe into X comes (7) ____________________ Digital Services Act. This was established to monitor how large tech companies deal with the (8) ____________________ on their platforms, and how they police the Internet. An EU spokesperson advised X to introduce, "proportionate and effective mitigation measures" to (9) ____________________ disinformation. He added: "We have, (10) ____________________, reports about potentially illegal content circulating on X, despite flags from relevant authorities." Hundreds (11) ____________________ have been flooding the Internet with harmful and inflammatory content. The CEO of X said the site had removed hundreds of these accounts. A social media (12) ____________________ was, "a drop in the ocean".

Comprehension questions

  1. What does the article say social media is awash with?
  2. What has the EU just opened?
  3. What did the EU say there was an "alarming volume" of?
  4. By when must X answer the questions asked by the EU?
  5. How much of X's daily global turnover could the EU fine X?
  6. What legislation has the EU used to start a probe into X?
  7. Who does the article say needs to police hate speech?
  8. Who has raised flags regarding illegal content circulating on X?
  9. What have hundreds of bogus accounts been doing on the Internet?
  10. What did a social media expert call the removal of bogus accounts?

Multiple choice quiz

1)  What does the article say social media is awash with?
a) cyberbullying
b) information and graphics
c) concerns
d) maps of Gaza

2) What has the EU just opened?
a) a charity to help the victims
b) a helpline
c) a refugee camp
d) an investigation

3) What did the EU say there was an "alarming volume" of?
a) complaints
b) noise
c) posts containing false information
d) social media platforms

4) By when must X answer the questions asked by the EU?
a) the end of next week
b) the end of the year
c) the end of the month
d) Friday

5) How much of X's daily global turnover could the EU fine X?
a) up to 3%
b) up to 5%
c) up to 8%
d) up to 10%

6) What legislation has the EU used to start a probe into X?
a) the Digital Services Act
b) the Human Rights Act
c) the Cyberbullying Act
d) the Disinformation Act

7) Who does the article say needs to police hate speech?
a) the police
b) Interpol
c) large tech companies
d) website hosts

8) Who has raised flags regarding illegal content circulating on X?
a) relevant authorities
b) flag bearers
c) people in Gaza
d) people in Israel

9) What have hundreds of bogus accounts been doing on the Internet?
a) phishing
b) advertising
c) trying to collect money
d) flooding it with harmful and inflammatory content

10) What did a social media expert call the removal of bogus accounts?
a) a start
b) a move in the right direction
c) a drop in the ocean
d) a shot in the dark

Role play

Role  A – X
You think X is the best social media site. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their sites. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): TikTok, Facebook or Instagram.

Role  B – TikTok
You think TikTok is the best social media site. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their sites. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): X, Facebook or Instagram.

Role  C – FaceBook
You think Facebook is the best social media site. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their sites. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): TikTok, X or Instagram.

Role  D – Instagram
You think Instagram is the best social media site. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their sites. Also, tell the others which is the least useful of these (and why): TikTok, Facebook or X.

After reading / listening

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words...

'fake'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • and 'news'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • • Share your findings with your partners.

    • Make questions using the words you found.

    • Ask your partner / group your questions.

    2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.

    •Share your questions with other classmates / groups. •Ask your partner / group your questions.

    3. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise. Check your answers. Talk about the words from the activity. Were they new, interesting, worth learning…?

    4. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups, pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.

    5. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try to recall how they were used in the text:

    • awash
    • opened
    • volume
    • officials
    • series
    • fine
    • under
    • hate
    • introduce
    • sources
    • flooding
    • expert

    Student survey

    Write five GOOD questions about this topic in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper. When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

    (Please look at page 12 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

    Discussion - Online Disinformation

    STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

    1. What did you think when you read the headline?
    2. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'online'?
    3. What do you think of online disinformation?
    4. Who is posting disinformation online about Israel and Hamas?
    5. What do you know about the Israel and Hamas crisis?
    6. How can we rid the Internet of fake news?
    7. How has fake news affected our lives?
    8. What do you think of the social media platform X?
    9. What do you think leaders in the Middle East should do?
    10. What do you think will happen in the Middle East in the coming weeks?

    STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

    1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
    2. What do you think of when you hear the word 'disinformation'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What regulations do social media platforms need?
    5. What hate speech have you seen online?
    6. How worried are you about events in Israel and Gaza?
    7. What is your advice for people in the region?
    8. How much faith do you have in the truth of what you read online?
    9. What should happen to people who post inflammatory content?
    10. What questions would you like to ask a social media boss?

    Discussion — Write your own questions

    STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

    (a) ________________

    (b) ________________

    (c) ________________

    (d) ________________

    (e) ________________

    STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

    (f) ________________

    (g) ________________

    (h) ________________

    (i) ________________

    (j) ________________

    Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

    Social media is (1) ____ with information and graphics about the ongoing events in Israel and Gaza. There are concerns about how much of the content posted online is fake. The European Union has just opened an investigation (2) ____ the social media site X, formerly known as Twitter. The EU says there is an alarming volume of posts (3) ____ false information on X. EU officials have expressed concern that X was, "being used to disseminate illegal content and disinformation". X has until the end of next week to answer a (4) ____ of EU questions about this content. Failure to satisfactorily address these issues could lead the EU to (5) ____ a fine on X of up to five per cent of the company's daily global (6) ____.

    The EU probe into X comes (7) ____ the bloc's Digital Services Act. This was established to monitor how large tech companies deal (8) ____ the hate speech posted on their platforms, and how they police the Internet. An EU spokesperson advised X to introduce, "proportionate and effective mitigation (9) ____" to identify and delete disinformation. He added: "We have, from qualified sources, reports about potentially illegal content circulating on X, despite flags (10) ____ relevant authorities." Hundreds of bogus accounts have been flooding the Internet with harmful and inflammatory content. The CEO of X said the site (11) ____ removed hundreds of these accounts. A social media expert lamented this was, "a drop in (12) ____ ocean".

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     abash     (b)     washed     (c)     swash     (d)     awash    
    2. (a)     unto     (b)     as to     (c)     onto     (d)     into    
    3. (a)     content     (b)     containing     (c)     contents     (d)     contains    
    4. (a)     serious     (b)     cereal     (c)     series     (d)     serial    
    5. (a)     impede     (b)     stampede     (c)     impose     (d)     suppose    
    6. (a)     turnover     (b)     turnaround     (c)     turnabout     (d)     turncoat    
    7. (a)     below     (b)     under     (c)     between     (d)     post    
    8. (a)     with     (b)     to     (c)     on     (d)     of    
    9. (a)     gauges     (b)     measures     (c)     evaluates     (d)     rates    
    10. (a)     in     (b)     at     (c)     from     (d)     as    
    11. (a)     did     (b)     was     (c)     had     (d)     get    
    12. (a)     that     (b)     watery     (c)     all     (d)     the

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. Social media is washa with information
    2. opened an inovgiaitsetn
    3. EU officials have epsexdres concern
    4. being used to iaetssinedm illegal content
    5. Failure to ifrisacloatsty address these issues
    6. the company's daily global rotnuver

    Paragraph 2

    1. This was deelihsbsta to monitor how
    2. effective iaomttigin measures
    3. illegal content lctaicgriun on X
    4. from lranveet authorities
    5. nltroaaifmym content
    6. tmdelean this was a drop in the ocean

    Put the text back together

    (...)   of X said the site had removed hundreds of these accounts. A social media expert lamented this was, "a drop in the ocean". 
    (...)   lead the EU to impose a fine on X of up to five per cent of the company's daily global turnover.
    (...)   measures" to identify and delete disinformation. He added: "We have, from qualified
    (...)   of posts containing false information on X. EU officials have expressed concern that X was, "being used to
    (...)   disseminate illegal content and disinformation". X has until the end of next week to answer a
    (...)   authorities." Hundreds of bogus accounts have been flooding the Internet with harmful and inflammatory content. The CEO
    (  1  )   Social media is awash with information and graphics about the ongoing events in Israel and Gaza. There are concerns
    (...)   about how much of the content posted online is fake. The European Union has just opened an investigation
    (...)   sources, reports about potentially illegal content circulating on X, despite flags from relevant
    (...)   monitor how large tech companies deal with the hate speech posted on their platforms, and how they
    (...)   into the social media site X, formerly known as Twitter. The EU says there is an alarming volume
    (...)   series of EU questions about this content. Failure to satisfactorily address these issues could
    (...)   police the Internet. An EU spokesperson advised X to introduce, "proportionate and effective mitigation
    (...)   The EU probe into X comes under the bloc's Digital Services Act. This was established to

    Put the words in the right order

    1. media   is   awash   with   graphics   .   Social   and   information
    2. content   online   is   fake   .   of   Much   the   posted
    3. false   volume   An   posts   of   information   .   alarming   containing
    4. of   series   about   Answer   this   .   a   EU   questions
    5. global   daily   per cent   company's   of   the   turnover   .   Five
    6. companies   hate   How   this   deal   tech   speech   .   with
    7. to  mitigation  and  disinformation . identify  delete  measures  Effective
    8. Reports   on   potentially   circulating   content   illegal   X   .   about
    9. flooding   Internet   .   the   Hundreds   are   bogus   of   accounts
    10. was   in   simply   a   This   ocean   .   drop   the

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    Social media is washing / awash with information and graphics about the ongoing / upcoming events in Israel and Gaza. There are concerns about how much of the content posted online is faking / fake. The European Union has just opened an investigation into the social media site X, firmly / formerly known as Twitter. The EU says there is an alarming / sounding volume of posts containing false / falsely information on X. EU officials have expressed concern that X was, "being used to assimilate / disseminate illegal content and disinformation". X has until the end / over of next week to answer a series of EU questions about this content. Failure to satisfactorily label / address these issues could lead the EU to impose a fine on X of up to five per cent of the company's daily globally / global turnover.

    The EU probe / prove into X comes under the bloc's Digital Services Act. This was established to monitor / maintain how large tech companies deal to / with the hate speech posted on / in their platforms, and how they police the Internet. An EU spokesperson advised X to introduce, "proportionate and infective / effective mitigation measures" to identify and delete disinformation. He added: "We have, from qualified sources / sauces, reports about potentially illegal content circulating on / in X, despite flags from relevant authorities." Hundreds / Hundred of bogus accounts have been flooding the Internet with harmful and inflammatory content. The CEO of X said the site had removed / removal hundreds of these accounts. A social media expert lamented this was, "a drape / drop in the ocean".

    Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct. Look up the definition of new words.

    Insert the vowels (a, e, i, o, u)

    S_c__l  m_d__  _s  _w_sh  w_th  _nf_rm_t__n  _nd  gr_ph_cs  _b__t  th_  _ng__ng  _v_nts  _n  _sr__l  _nd  G_z_.  Th_r_  _r_  c_nc_rns  _b__t  h_w  m_ch  _f  th_  c_nt_nt  p_st_d  _nl_n_  _s  f_k_.  Th_  __r_p__n  _n__n  h_s  j_st  _p_n_d  _n  _nv_st_g_t__n  _nt_  th_  s_c__l  m_d__  s_t_  X,  f_rm_rly  kn_wn  _s  Tw_tt_r.  Th_  __  s_ys  th_r_  _s  _n  _l_rm_ng  v_l_m_  _f  p_sts  c_nt__n_ng  f_ls_  _nf_rm_t__n  _n  X.  __  _ff_c__ls  h_v_  _xpr_ss_d  c_nc_rn  th_t  X  w_s,  "b__ng  _s_d  t_  d_ss_m_n_t_  _ll_g_l  c_nt_nt  _nd  d_s_nf_rm_t__n".  X  h_s  _nt_l  th_  _nd  _f  n_xt  w__k  t_  _nsw_r  _  s_r__s  _f  __  q__st__ns  _b__t  th_s  c_nt_nt.  F__l_r_  t_  s_t_sf_ct_r_ly  _ddr_ss  th_s_  _ss__s  c__ld  l__d  th_  __  t_  _mp_s_  _  f_n_  _n  X  _f  _p  t_  f_v_  p_r  c_nt  _f  th_  c_mp_ny's  d__ly  gl_b_l  t_rn_v_r.

    Th_  __  pr_b_  _nt_  X  c_m_s  _nd_r  th_  bl_c's  D_g_t_l  S_rv_c_s  _ct.  Th_s  w_s  _st_bl_sh_d  t_  m_n_t_r  h_w  l_rg_  t_ch  c_mp_n__s  d__l  w_th  th_  h_t_  sp__ch  p_st_d  _n  th__r  pl_tf_rms,  _nd  h_w  th_y  p_l_c_  th_  _nt_rn_t.  _n  __  sp_k_sp_rs_n  _dv_s_d  X  t_  _ntr_d_c_,  "pr_p_rt__n_t_  _nd  _ff_ct_v_  m_t_g_t__n  m__s_r_s"  t_  _d_nt_fy  _nd  d_l_t_  d_s_nf_rm_t__n.  H_  _dd_d:  "W_  h_v_,  fr_m  q__l_f__d  s__rc_s,  r_p_rts  _b__t  p_t_nt__lly  _ll_g_l  c_nt_nt  c_rc_l_t_ng  _n  X,  d_sp_t_  fl_gs  fr_m  r_l_v_nt  __th_r_t__s."  H_ndr_ds  _f  b_g_s  _cc__nts  h_v_  b__n  fl__d_ng  th_  _nt_rn_t  w_th  h_rmf_l  _nd  _nfl_mm_t_ry  c_nt_nt.  Th_  C__  _f  X  s__d  th_  s_t_  h_d  r_m_v_d  h_ndr_ds  _f  th_s_  _cc__nts.  _  s_c__l  m_d__  _xp_rt  l_m_nt_d  th_s  w_s,  "_  dr_p  _n  th_  _c__n".

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    social media is awash with information and graphics about the ongoing events in israel and gaza there are concerns about how much of the content posted online is fake the european union has just opened an investigation into the social media site x formerly known as twitter the eu says there is an alarming volume of posts containing false information on x eu officials have expressed concern that x was being used to disseminate illegal content and disinformation x has until the end of next week to answer a series of eu questions about this content failure to satisfactorily address these issues could lead the eu to impose a fine on x of up to five per cent of the companys daily global turnover

    the eu probe into x comes under the blocs digital services act this was established to monitor how large tech companies deal with the hate speech posted on their platforms and how they police the internet an eu spokesperson advised x to introduce proportionate and effective mitigation measures to identify and delete disinformation he added we have from qualified sources reports about potentially illegal content circulating on x despite flags from relevant authorities hundreds of bogus accounts have been flooding the internet with harmful and inflammatory content the ceo of x said the site had removed hundreds of these accounts a social media expert lamented this was a drop in the ocean

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Socialmediaisawashwithinformationandgraphicsabouttheongoinge
    ventsinIsraelandGaza.Thereareconcernsabouthowmuchoftheconte
    ntpostedonlineisfake.TheEuropeanUnionhasjustopenedaninvestiga
    tionintothesocialmediasiteX,formerlyknownasTwitter.TheEUsaysth
    ereisanalarmingvolumeofpostscontainingfalseinformationonX.EUof
    ficialshaveexpressedconcernthatXwas,"beingusedtodisseminateille
    galcontentanddisinformation".Xhasuntiltheendofnextweektoanswe
    raseriesofEUquestionsaboutthiscontent.Failuretosatisfactorilyaddr
    esstheseissuescouldleadtheEUtoimposeafineonXofuptofivepercent
    ofthecompany'sdailyglobalturnover.TheEUprobeintoXcomesundert
    hebloc'sDigitalServicesAct.Thiswasestablishedtomonitorhowlarget
    echcompaniesdealwiththehatespeechpostedontheirplatforms,andh
    owtheypolicetheInternet.AnEUspokespersonadvisedXtointroduce,"
    proportionateandeffectivemitigationmeasures"toidentifyanddelete
    disinformation.Headded:"Wehave,fromqualifiedsources,reportsab
    outpotentiallyillegalcontentcirculatingonX,despiteflagsfromrelevan
    tauthorities."HundredsofbogusaccountshavebeenfloodingtheIntern
    etwithharmfulandinflammatorycontent.TheCEOofXsaidthesitehadr
    emovedhundredsoftheseaccounts.Asocialmediaexpertlamentedthi
    swas,"adropintheocean".

    Free writing

    Write about online disinformation for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    Social media companies should be heavily fined for disinformation.  Discuss.

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    Homework

    1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.
    2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about this news story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
    3. X: Make a poster about the social media platform X. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. ONLINE DISINFORMATION: Write a magazine article about temporarily suspending social media sites who have disinformation on their sites. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against this.
    Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).
    5. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.
    6. LETTER: Write a letter to an expert on online disinformation. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your ideas on how to deal with it. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

    A Few Additional Activities for Students

    Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

    Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

    Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

    Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

    Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

    Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

    Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

    Also...

    Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

    • News
    • Warm ups
    • Pre-reading / Post-reading
    • Using headlines
    • Working with words
    • While-reading / While-listening
    • Moving from text to speech
    • Post-reading / Post-listening
    • Discussions
    • Using opinions
    • Plans
    • Language
    • Using lists
    • Using quotes
    • Task-based activities
    • Role plays
    • Using the central characters in the article
    • Using themes from the news
    • Homework

    Buy my book

    $US 9.99

    Answers

    (Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

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