Impact of social media

    AQA
    GCSE

    The sociological study of social media necessitates an analysis of the shift from traditional mass media to new media (Web 2.0), focusing on interactivity, convergence, and accessibility. Candidates must evaluate the impact of digital communication on socialisation, identity construction, and stratification. The scope includes the tension between democratic potential (Neophiliacs) and corporate surveillance/control (Cultural Pessimists/Marxists). Mastery requires applying theoretical frameworks—Postmodernism, Marxism, Feminism—to contemporary digital phenomena, assessing whether social media represents a fundamental rupture in social relations or a continuation of existing inequalities.

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    Objectives
    4
    Exam Tips
    3
    Pitfalls
    4
    Key Terms
    4
    Mark Points

    What You Need to Demonstrate

    Key skills and knowledge for this topic

    • Credit application of 'labelling theory' when discussing social media's role in creating folk devils or moral panics
    • Award marks for linking social media usage to the 'digital divide' and its impact on life chances and educational achievement
    • Candidates must distinguish between positive functions (connectivity, globalization) and dysfunctions (cyberbullying, unrealistic body standards)
    • Responses must integrate specific sociological studies (e.g., Palmer, Postman) rather than relying on anecdotal evidence of internet usage

    Marking Points

    Key points examiners look for in your answers

    • Credit application of 'labelling theory' when discussing social media's role in creating folk devils or moral panics
    • Award marks for linking social media usage to the 'digital divide' and its impact on life chances and educational achievement
    • Candidates must distinguish between positive functions (connectivity, globalization) and dysfunctions (cyberbullying, unrealistic body standards)
    • Responses must integrate specific sociological studies (e.g., Palmer, Postman) rather than relying on anecdotal evidence of internet usage

    Examiner Tips

    Expert advice for maximising your marks

    • 💡In 12-mark questions, explicitly use the phrase 'As shown in Item A...' to secure AO2 application marks
    • 💡Structure evaluation by contrasting Functionalist views (integration) with Marxist views (commercialization/control)
    • 💡Allocate 15 minutes strictly for the 12-mark essay to ensure a conclusion is reached
    • 💡Use 'chains of reasoning' (Point -> Explain -> Evidence -> Impact) rather than listing disconnected facts

    Common Mistakes

    Pitfalls to avoid in your exam answers

    • Presenting generalized, common-sense arguments about 'screen time' without sociological terminology
    • Failing to explicitly reference the provided 'Item' (source text) in 12-mark questions
    • Confusing 'social media' with 'mass media' generally, lacking focus on the interactive/user-generated aspect

    Key Terminology

    Essential terms to know

    Likely Command Words

    How questions on this topic are typically asked

    Identify
    Describe
    Explain
    Discuss
    Evaluate
    To what extent

    Ready to test yourself?

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