🎯 Learning Objectives
Develop the Information Technology learning strand:
- Students can define peer pressure and give examples of how it can happen online
- Students can consider how a good friend should behave and assess if they are a good online friend
- Students can give advice to others about how to resist peer pressure online and offline
💬 Key Vocabulary
- peer pressure
- cyberbullying
- bystander
- to conform
- influence
📝 Starter Activity – Defining peer pressure
In pairs, write a definition of peer pressure in a Word document.
Then discuss and write answers to each of the following questions:
- How does peer pressure make you feel?
- What can you do if you feel peer pressure?
- Who can put peer pressure on you?
- What can peer pressure online look like?
- What is the difference between pressuring someone and encouraging them?
📝 Activity 1 – Myths Vs Truths
Your teacher will read out statements about peer pressure. If you think it is a myth, stick your thumb down, if you think it is a truth, do a thumbs up!
📝 Activity 2 – Back me up
Watch the video below and then answer the questions below it by yourself.
- Is this story realistic? Is it difficult sometimes to know what the right thing to do online is, especially when it comes to standing up for and to your friends?
- The title of this toolkit is called ‘Crossing the Line’. Leah says in the film that Charlie always goes “too far”. In this film, where do you think the line was crossed from harmless banter, to cyberbullying?
- This film is about how friends deal with online bullying. Which friend’s response do you relate to most? Jenna? Ben? Leah? Jack? Why?
How the different friends react
- Why does Jack go along with what Charlie is doing? Why is Charlie able to manipulate him?
- Are Jack and Charlie equally responsible for bullying Jason? eg. because Jack allowed Charlie to use his phone?
- If others like the pictures or share them, are they also joining in with the bullying?
- A bystander is someone who sees bullying happen and although they don’t get involved, they don’t speak out against it either. Can you name the bystanders in this film?
- Ben, Jenna and Leah are Jason’s friends. Why are they reluctant to stand up for Jason or want to get involved? Do you think they are bad friends? Would you expect your friends to stick up for you online?
- What would happen if Jenna, Leah and Ben wrote back on behalf of Jason and said something mean back to Charlie?
Taking action
- Why do you think the teacher, Ms Thomas, wants to speak to Jack?
- Do we know who stepped in to take action to report the cyberbullying to the school? Leah? Ben? Someone else anonymously? Why did they step in at that point? Was this the right thing to do?
- What do you think would happen if no one reported or said anything about the cyberbullying to the school. Is there a reason why you might not report to the school?
- What do you think happens at the end of the film? Does the situation improve?
- Charlie says the picture with the mean comments will ‘disappear in a second, no harm done’. Is this true?
📝 Activity 3 – What would you do quiz?
- In pairs, ask and then answer the quiz that you can find by clicking the link below. Be as honest as you can!
- Add the answers to your Word document.
Answers – Only check when both members of your pair have answered
- Scenario 1: A (2), B (1), C (0)
- Scenario 2: A (2), B (0), C (1)
- Scenario 3: A (1), B (2), C (0)
- Scenario 4: A (2), B (1), C (0)
- Scenario 5: A (0), B (2), C (1)
The numbers in brackets are the points you score for choosing that answer, add up your score.
0–4: You’ve got some work to do. It is difficult to know what the right thing is to do online. Try to chat to your friends about the pressures you feel while online and chat about what you expect from each other. Try not to give in to peer pressure and chat to a trusted adult if you are feeling stressed.
4–6: You’re on the way! You are on the right path and you have a good group of friends. You know what is right, but sometimes you allow yourself to be influenced by others. Speak to a trusted adult if you are feeling stressed.
6–10: You’re a good online friend! Well done, you are a really strong individual and you try to do the right thing online and offline. You try not to allow peer pressure affect you and you are well able to speak your mind. You have a strong friendship group who are supportive and don’t put unnecessary pressure on each other.
📝 Activity 4 – What advice would you give?
In pairs, come up with 3 examples of slogans to encourage others to resist peer pressure online (eg. Don’t share it! Choose friends wisely! Don’t give in!)
Then, individually design a poster on paper or in Publisher with your preferred slogan to put up on the wall.
📝 Plenary
📖 Signposting
Learn how to report and block offensive users and messages on different apps:
- Snapchat: www.snapchat.com/safety
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/safety/tools
- Instagram: https://help.instagram.com/285881641526716
- Twitter: https://support.twitter.com/articles/20169998
For more help
Childline: Call 0800 11 11 or chat with a counsellor online – For anonymous support and advice on dealing with cyberbullying and other issues – www.childline.org.uk
The Diana Award Anti-Bullying Campaign: A charity that helps people get involved to tackle all forms of bullying – www.antibullyingpro.com
YoungMinds: This website has lots of information for young people about their wellbeing and mental health, and also has information for teachers and parents – www.youngminds.org.uk
In this lesson, you…
- Defined peer pressure and gave examples of how it can happen online
- Considered how a good friend should behave and assessed if they are a good online friend
- Gave advice to others about how to resist peer pressure online and offline
In this topic, you have…
- Looked at the issues of cyberbullying, sexting and peer pressure and how to deal with them and help others.
🏅 Badge it
🥈 Silver Badge
- Complete the Starter Activity – Defining peer pressure? and upload the Word document to www.bournetolearn.com.
🥇 Gold Badge
- Complete Activity 2 – Back me up and upload the Word document to www.bournetolearn.com.
🥉 Platinum Badge
- Complete Activity 4 – What advice would you give? and upload the Word document to www.bournetolearn.com.