Write for an Academic Discussion

A professor has posted a question about a topic and students have responded with their thoughts and ideas. Make a contribution to the discussion.
You will have 10 minutes to write.

Your professor is teaching a class on social studies.

In your response, you should do the following.

• • Express and support your opinion.
• • Make a contribution to the discussion in your own words.

An effective response will contain at least 100 words.

Professor’s question:

Social media platforms allow us to stay connected with friends and family from all over the world. Some argue that these tools strengthen social bonds by making communication easier and more frequent. Others claim that online interactions are superficial and can weaken real-life relationships. In your opinion, does social media generally help or harm our friendships? Please explain why.

Student response 1:

I think social media often harms friendships because it encourages shallow interactions instead of meaningful conversations. People focus on posting perfect pictures rather than truly connecting. In other words, the quality of our friendships suffers, even though the quantity of our online "friends" might increase.

Student response 2:

I disagree, I believe social media is a fantastic tool for maintaining friendships, especially with people who live far away. For example, I can easily share important moments with my friends in other countries. However, it is a supplement to, not a replacement for, real-world interaction.