FR23: 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 the topic vocabulary, be able to use it in all four skills (listening, speaking, reading, writing), and express opinions with reasons.
📋 Key Vocabulary and Structures
For The Internet and Social Media, you must know:
- Topic-specific vocabulary (nouns, verbs, adjectives)
- Key grammar structures for this topic area
- How to express and justify opinions
- How to describe past, present and future related to this topic
- Cultural knowledge about French-speaking countries and communities
❓ Practice Questions
Q1: Write 4 sentences in French 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 French: "I think the internet and social media is important because..."
✅ Answers
- Four sentences using topic vocabulary, with correct adjective agreement, articles and verb conjugation. Include at least two different tenses for Higher tier.
- A structured paragraph with: introduction (à mon avis...), opinion with reason (je pense que... parce que...), a different viewpoint (cependant...), and a conclusion (en conclusion...). Use connecting words and varied vocabulary.
- "Je pense que [topic] est important(e) parce que..." — ensure adjective agreement (important vs importante depending on noun gender), correct verb form, and give a specific reason.
🎯 Exam Tips
- Use a range of tenses (present, past, future) to access higher marks
- Include opinions with reasons (je pense que... parce que...)
- Check adjective agreement (gender and number) before finishing
- Use complex structures: negation (ne...pas, ne...jamais), pronouns (le, la, les), conjunctions (cependant, donc, en plus)
- Include cultural references to French-speaking countries
- For writing: plan your response, check verb conjugations, re-read for errors
📝 Exam Technique
French 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: Je suis d'accord avec toi = I am of accord with you (literal but correct) vs wrong: "Je suis accord" (incorrect). Correct: Je suis d'accord avec toi / Je ne suis pas d'accord.
✍️ 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, pronouns, negation); show precise grammar (agreement, conjugation, spelling); express and justify opinions; include cultural knowledge; use a wide range of vocabulary; be well-organised with connecting words (cependant, en revanche, de plus, en conclusion).
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.
📝 Exam Questions by Topic
🎬 Video Resources
Notes Détaillées
Internet et les Réseaux Sociaux en France
Internet vocabulary: internet (the internet), le web (the web), un site web (a website), naviguer sur internet (to browse the internet), télécharger (to download), mettre en ligne (to upload/put online), un mot de passe (a password), un compte (an account), les données personnelles (personal data), la protection de la vie privée (privacy protection). France has strict data protection laws, aligned with EU RGPD (GDPR) regulations.
French internet culture is distinctive. The Minitel, launched in 1982, was a pre-internet online service that allowed French households to check train times, book tickets, and message each other — years before the World Wide Web. Today, France has a strong tech sector called la French Tech, with Paris's Station F being the world's largest startup campus. Le RGPD (Règlement Général sur la Protection des Données) gives Europeans control over their personal data — companies face heavy fines for breaches.
Discuss internet habits: Je passe environ deux heures par jour sur internet — je vérifie mes réseaux sociaux, je fais des recherches pour l'école et je regarde des vidéos sur YouTube. Use the conditional: Sans internet, ce serait difficile de communiquer avec mes amis (Without the internet, it would be difficult to communicate with my friends).
Exemple
La France a une longue histoire avec internet — le Minitel a précédé le web de dix ans. Aujourd'hui, le RGPD protège les données personnelles de tous les Européens. — France has a long history with the internet — the Minitel preceded the web by ten years. Today, the GDPR protects the personal data of all Europeans.
Les Dangers d'Internet et la Loi Française
Internet dangers vocabulary: le harcèlement en ligne (cyberbullying), la cyberviolence (cyberbullying/online violence), le phishing / l'hameçonnage (phishing), les fake news / les fausses informations (fake news), l'addiction aux écrans (screen addiction), le vol de données (data theft), un troll (an internet troll), le discours de haine (hate speech). France has some of the strictest internet laws in the world.
The loi contre les contenus haineux sur internet (2019) requires platforms to remove hateful content within 24 hours or face fines up to 1.25 million euros. Le cyberharcèlement is a criminal offence — up to 2 years in prison and a 30,000€ fine (3 years and 45,000€ if the victim is under 15). In 2023, France also banned social media accounts for children under 15 without parental consent — platforms must verify age using la vérification de l'âge.
Express opinions about online safety: À mon avis, la loi française est nécessaire pour protéger les jeunes contre le harcèlement en ligne. Cependant, il est difficile de tout contrôler sur internet. Les parents aussi ont une responsabilité — il faut surveiller l'utilisation d'internet par leurs enfants.
Exemple
En France, le cyberharcèlement est un délit puni de deux ans de prison. Les plateformes doivent supprimer les contenus haineux en 24 heures. La loi protège surtout les mineurs. — In France, cyberbullying is an offence punishable by two years in prison. Platforms must remove hateful content within 24 hours. The law especially protects minors.
Internet dans la Francophonie
Internet access varies greatly across the francophone world. In France, over 90% of the population is online and la fibre optique reaches most urban areas. The government's plan France Très Haut Débit aims for universal high-speed coverage. However, la fracture numérique (digital divide) persists in rural areas.
In Sénégal, internet is primarily mobile. Orange Sénégal and Free provide 4G coverage in cities, but rural connectivity remains limited. L'Orange Money and Wave have revolutionised financial transactions — mobile payments bypass traditional banking. Les cybercafés are still common in areas where home internet is unavailable. In Rwanda (francophone), the government provides free Wi-Fi in public spaces in Kigali, and drones deliver medical supplies to remote hospitals.
Compare digital access: Tandis qu'en France, 90% de la population a internet, au Sénégal, l'accès reste limité dans les zones rurales. Cependant, les services mobiles comme Orange Money compensent ce manque. This demonstrates cultural understanding and complex structures.
Exemple
Au Sénégal, Orange Money permet de tout payer avec le téléphone — c'est une révolution financière. Tandis qu'en France, on utilise les cartes bancaires, au Sénégal, le mobile money est la norme. — In Sénégal, Orange Money allows you to pay for everything with your phone — it's a financial revolution. Whereas in France, they use bank cards, in Sénégal, mobile money is the norm.
Vocabulaire Clé
| Français | English | Exemple |
|---|---|---|
| les données personnelles | personal data | Le RGPD protège les données personnelles — The GDPR protects personal data |
| le RGPD | GDPR (EU data regulation) | Le RGPD donne le contrôle des données — The GDPR gives data control |
| la fracture numérique | digital divide | La fracture numérique existe entre villes et campagnes — The digital divide exists between cities and rural areas |
| le cyberharcèlement | cyberbullying | Le cyberharcèlement est puni par la loi — Cyberbullying is punished by law |
| les fake news / les fausses informations | fake news | Il faut vérifier les informations — You must verify information |
| le Minitel | Minitel (French pre-internet service) | Le Minitel a précédé internet en France — The Minitel preceded the internet in France |
| la French Tech | French Tech initiative | La French Tech soutient les startups — French Tech supports startups |
| l'Orange Money | mobile payment (Africa) | Orange Money est très utilisé au Sénégal — Orange Money is widely used in Sénégal |
| la protection de la vie privée | privacy protection | La vie privée est un droit — Privacy is a right |
| un mot de passe | a password | Changez votre mot de passe régulièrement — Change your password regularly |
| l'addiction aux écrans | screen addiction | L'addiction aux écrans est un problème — Screen addiction is a problem |
| la vérification de l'âge | age verification | La vérification de l'âge est obligatoire — Age verification is compulsory |
Questions Supplémentaires
Q4: Quels sont les avantages et les dangers d'internet? Donnez votre opinion. (What are the advantages and dangers of the internet? Give your opinion.)
Q5: Comparez l'utilisation d'internet en France et dans un pays francophone. (Compare internet use in France and a francophone country.)
Réponses Supplémentaires
- Internet a beaucoup d'avantages — on peut communiquer avec le monde entier, faire des recherches pour l'école et accéder à la culture. Cependant, les dangers sont réels: le cyberharcèlement, les fake news et l'addiction aux écrans sont des problèmes graves. En France, la loi est stricte — le cyberharcèlement est puni de deux ans de prison et les plateformes doivent supprimer les contenus haineux en 24 heures. À mon avis, il faut éduquer les jeunes aux dangers d'internet tout en profitant de ses avantages. — The internet has many advantages — you can communicate with the whole world, do research for school and access culture. However, the dangers are real: cyberbullying, fake news and screen addiction are serious problems. In France, the law is strict — cyberbullying is punished by two years in prison and platforms must remove hateful content within 24 hours. In my opinion, we must educate young people about the dangers of the internet while benefiting from its advantages.
- En France, plus de 90% de la population a accès à internet et la fibre optique est disponible dans les grandes villes. Les Français utilisent surtout les cartes bancaires pour payer en ligne. Au Sénégal, l'internet est surtout mobile — Orange Money permet de tout payer par téléphone, même au marché. C'est une révolution pour ceux qui n'ont pas de compte bancaire. Tandis qu'en France, la fracture numérique concerne surtout les zones rurales, au Sénégal, l'accès reste limité dans tout le pays hors de Dakar. — In France, over 90% of the population has internet access and fibre optic is available in major cities. The French mainly use bank cards to pay online. In Sénégal, the internet is primarily mobile — Orange Money allows you to pay for everything by phone, even at the market. It's a revolution for those who don't have a bank account. Whereas in France, the digital divide mainly concerns rural areas, in Sénégal, access remains limited throughout the country outside Dakar.
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