GM23: The Internet and Social Media
Online activities, social networks, cyberbullying; advantages and risks; internet safety
📱 The Internet and Social Media
Online activities, social networks, cyberbullying; advantages and risks; internet safety
Key Fact: This topic covers key vocabulary and structures for the internet and social media. You need to know topic vocabulary, use it in all four skills, and express opinions with reasons.
📋 Key Vocabulary and Structures
- Topic-specific vocabulary (nouns, verbs, adjectives)
- Key grammar structures for this topic area
- How to express and justify opinions (ich finde... weil...)
- How to describe past, present and future related to this topic
- Cultural knowledge about German-speaking countries (DACH)
❓ Practice Questions
Q1: Write 4 sentences in German about the internet and social media.
Q2: Write a paragraph (40-60 words) giving your opinion on the internet and social media.
Q3: Translate into German: "I think the internet and social media is important because..."
✅ Answers
- Four sentences using topic vocabulary with correct case endings, verb position and adjective endings. Include at least two different tenses for Higher tier.
- A structured paragraph: Meiner Meinung nach... (in my opinion), ich finde... weil... (I think... because...), aber/allerdings... (however), zusammenfassend... (in summary). Use connecting words and varied vocabulary.
- "Ich finde, dass the internet and social media wichtig ist, weil..." — ensure correct word order (verb at end after dass), correct case endings, and give a specific reason.
🎯 Exam Tips
- Use a range of tenses (present, past, future) to access higher marks
- Include opinions with reasons (ich finde... weil... / meiner Meinung nach...)
- Check case endings (nominative, accusative, dative) before finishing
- Get word order right: verb-second in main clauses, verb-at-end after dass/weil/wenn
- Use complex structures: subordinate clauses, modal verbs, separable verbs
- Include cultural references to German-speaking countries (DACH)
📝 Exam Technique
German Exam Tips — The Internet and Social Media:
1. For The Internet and Social Media, use a range of vocabulary and complex grammatical structures to access higher marks
2. Check verb tenses, agreements and word order carefully in your written work
3. In translation tasks, translate meaning rather than word-for-word
4. When writing about The Internet and Social Media, include opinions and justifications, not just descriptions
5. For listening and reading, focus on key words and cognates to extract meaning
1. For The Internet and Social Media, use a range of vocabulary and complex grammatical structures to access higher marks
2. Check verb tenses, agreements and word order carefully in your written work
3. In translation tasks, translate meaning rather than word-for-word
4. When writing about The Internet and Social Media, include opinions and justifications, not just descriptions
5. For listening and reading, focus on key words and cognates to extract meaning
⚠️ Common Errors
Watch Out!
Students often translate English phrases word for word. Wrong: Ich bin einverstanden = literal "I am in agreement." Wrong: "Ich bin einverstanden mit" should be used correctly. Correct: Ich bin einverstanden / Ich stimme zu / Ich bin der gleichen Meinung.
✍️ Model Answer
Full-Mark Response
Writing task: Write about online activities, social networks, cyberbullying; advantages and risks; internet safety.
A grade 9 answer will: use at least three tenses accurately; include complex structures (subordinate clauses, modal verbs, separable verbs); show precise grammar (cases, word order, adjective endings); express and justify opinions; include cultural knowledge about DACH countries; use a wide range of vocabulary; be well-organised with connecting words (außerdem, jedoch, trotzdem, zusammenfassend).
Mark scheme: Content (relevance and detail) + Quality of language (accuracy and range) = total marks
📊 AO Deep Dive
Assessment Objective Focus: The Internet and Social Media
AO1 — Knowledge: Show understanding of The Internet and Social Media by demonstrating accurate vocabulary and grammatical structures in the target language.
AO2 — Application: Apply your knowledge of The Internet and Social Media to understand and produce language in listening, reading, speaking and writing contexts.
AO3 — Analysis & Evaluation: Analyse and evaluate linguistic features related to The Internet and Social Media, demonstrating critical awareness of meaning, context and cultural references.
Detailed Notes
Social Media Vocabulary and Usage
Social media is a core GCSE topic. Key vocabulary: die sozialen Medien (social media), der Beitrag (post), der Kommentar (comment), teilen (to share), liken (to like), abonnieren (to subscribe/follow), der Follower (follower), der Influencer (influencer), der Chat (chat), die Nachricht (message), das Profil (profile), privat (private), öffentlich (public), der Filter (filter), der Algorithmus (algorithm).
German teenagers use similar platforms to British ones — Instagram, TikTok and WhatsApp are the most popular. However, there are differences: WhatsApp is even more central to daily communication in Germany than in the UK. Germans use WhatsApp groups for everything from school projects to sports club organisation. YouTube is also hugely popular, with German creators like Julien Bam and Bibi H. having millions of subscribers.
Germany has strict laws about social media content. The NetzDG (Network Enforcement Act, 2017) requires platforms to remove illegal content within 24 hours or face fines up to €50 million. This law is unique to Germany and reflects the country's historical sensitivity to hate speech. In the exam, mentioning der Datenschutz (data protection) and das NetzDG shows strong cultural knowledge.
Beispiel
Ich benutze jeden Tag Instagram und WhatsApp. In Deutschland gibt es strenge Gesetze für soziale Medien, zum Beispiel das NetzDG, das Hassrede verbieten soll.
I use Instagram and WhatsApp every day. In Germany there are strict laws for social media, for example the NetzDG, which is supposed to ban hate speech.
The Dangers of Social Media
Discussing the dangers of social media is important for GCSE German. Key vocabulary: Cybermobbing (cyberbullying), der Hasskommentar (hate comment), die Fake News (fake news), die Desinformation (disinformation), die Sucht (addiction), der Bildschirm (screen), die Bildschirmzeit (screen time), die Privatsphäre (privacy), persönliche Daten (personal data), gefährden (to endanger), verletzen (to hurt/offend).
To discuss dangers, use phrases like: Social Media kann süchtig machen (Social media can be addictive), Viele Jugendliche werden im Internet gemobbt (Many young people are bullied online), Fake News können gefährlich sein (Fake news can be dangerous), Man sollte keine persönlichen Daten teilen (One should not share personal data). The passive voice (wird/werden + participle) is useful here: Viele Jugendliche werden online gemobbt (Many young people are bullied online).
Germany's approach to online safety is more regulated than the UK's. The Medienanstalten (media authorities) monitor social media platforms, and children under 16 need parental permission to use many platforms. In Austria, the Rat auf Draht (advice on the wire) helpline supports young people affected by cyberbullying. Switzerland's Pro Juventute offers similar services.
Beispiel
Cybermobbing ist ein großes Problem. Viele Jugendliche werden online beleidigt. Ich finde, man sollte den Eltern davon erzählen und die Polizei rufen, wenn es schlimm wird.
Cyberbullying is a big problem. Many young people are insulted online. I think one should tell one's parents about it and call the police if it gets bad.
The Future of Digital Media
Discussing the future of digital media is excellent for using the future tense (werden + infinitive). In der Zukunft werden die sozialen Medien noch wichtiger werden (In the future social media will become even more important). Künstliche Intelligenz wird die Art verändern, wie wir Informationen finden (Artificial intelligence will change the way we find information). Ich glaube, dass jeder Mensch einen digitalen Ausweis haben wird (I believe that everyone will have a digital identity card).
Germany is at the forefront of digital regulation in Europe. The EU's Digital Services Act (der Digitale-Dienste-Gesetz) and Digital Markets Act were strongly supported by Germany. The concept of digitale Souveränität (digital sovereignty) — the idea that Europe should control its own digital infrastructure — is a key policy goal. In the exam, discussing these issues shows mature understanding of the digital world.
For Higher tier, use the conditional to discuss hypothetical scenarios: Wenn es keine sozialen Medien gäbe, würden die Menschen mehr face-to-face kommunizieren (If there were no social media, people would communicate more face-to-face). The subjunctive II (Konjunktiv II) with wenn + würden is a high-level structure.
Beispiel
In der Zukunft wird Künstliche Intelligenz noch wichtiger werden. Wenn es kein Internet gäbe, würden wir anders leben. Ich hoffe, dass der Datenschutz besser wird.
In the future artificial intelligence will become even more important. If there were no internet, we would live differently. I hope that data protection will improve.
Key Vocabulary
| German | English | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| die sozialen Medien | social media | Ich verbringe zu viel Zeit auf sozialen Medien. |
| der Beitrag / der Post | post | Sie hat einen neuen Beitrag veröffentlicht. |
| der Kommentar | comment | Dieser Kommentar war sehr unhöflich. |
| Cybermobbing | cyberbullying | Cybermobbing ist ein ernstes Problem. |
| der Datenschutz | data protection | Der Datenschutz ist in Deutschland gesetzlich geregelt. |
| die Fake News | fake news | Man muss auf Fake News achten. |
| süchtig nach | addicted to | Er ist süchtig nach Social Media. |
| das NetzDG | Network Enforcement Act | Das NetzDG verbietet Hassrede im Internet. |
| abonnieren / folgen | to subscribe / follow | Ich abonniere viele YouTube-Kanäle. |
| die Bildschirmzeit | screen time | Meine Bildschirmzeit ist zu hoch. |
| teilen / liken | to share / to like | Bitte teile und like diesen Beitrag! |
| die Privatsphäre | privacy | Jeder hat ein Recht auf Privatsphäre. |
Additional Practice Questions
Q1: Diskutiere die Vor- und Nachteile von sozialen Medien. Welche Gefahren gibt es und wie kann man sich schützen? (Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of social media. What dangers are there and how can one protect oneself?)
Q2: Übersetze ins Deutsche: I use WhatsApp every day. Cyberbullying is a big problem among young people. In Germany there are strict data protection laws. One should not share personal data online.
Model Answers
- Soziale Medien haben viele Vorteile: man kann mit Freunden auf der ganzen Welt in Kontakt bleiben, Informationen schnell finden und neue Leute kennenlernen. Aber es gibt auch große Nachteile. Cybermobbing ist ein ernstes Problem — viele Jugendliche werden online beleidigt. Fake News können auch gefährlich sein, weil sie Desinformation verbreiten. Außerdem sind viele Menschen süchtig nach Social Media und verbringen zu viel Zeit vor dem Bildschirm. In Deutschland gibt es das NetzDG, das Hassrede verbietet, und strenge Datenschutzgesetze. Ich finde, man sollte seine Bildschirmzeit begrenzen und keine persönlichen Daten mit Fremden teilen.
(Social media has many advantages: one can stay in contact with friends all over the world, find information quickly and meet new people. But there are also big disadvantages. Cyberbullying is a serious problem — many young people are insulted online. Fake news can also be dangerous because they spread disinformation. Moreover, many people are addicted to social media and spend too much time in front of the screen. In Germany there is the NetzDG which bans hate speech, and strict data protection laws. I think one should limit one's screen time and not share personal data with strangers.) - Ich benutze jeden Tag WhatsApp. Cybermobbing ist ein großes Problem unter Jugendlichen. In Deutschland gibt es strenge Datenschutzgesetze. Man sollte keine persönlichen Daten online teilen.
📝 Exam Questions by Topic
- AQA Past Papers - Topic Questions -- AQA
- Edexcel Past Papers - Topic Questions -- Edexcel
- Eduqas Past Papers - Topic Questions -- Eduqas
- CCEA Past Papers - Topic Questions -- CCEA
🎬 Video Resources
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