Looking for an engaging way to introduce your students to the relationship between social media and journalism? This animated explainer video does the heavy lifting for you. I created this video because I needed something visual and student-friendly to kick off my social media ethics unit. It's about 6.5 minutes long—the perfect length to introduce key concepts without losing your students' attention. The animation style is eye-catching (NotebookLM production quality), and the content hits all the important points about how social media has changed the news landscape. PERFECT FOR: Middle School, High School, and College Journalism or Media Literacy Classes VIDEO LENGTH: 6 minutes, 23 seconds FORMAT: MP4 (1280×720 HD) WHAT THE VIDEO COVERS: The video walks students through the intersection of social media and news, including: – How social media has transformed journalism and news consumption – The challenges of sensationalism and misinformation in online spaces – The tension between speed and accuracy in digital reporting – Ethical principles for journalists using social media – The importance of accountability and transparency – How algorithms shape what news we see The visual storytelling approach makes abstract concepts concrete.
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There's a particularly effective animated sequence showing how misinformation spreads—it really resonates with students. HOW TO USE THIS VIDEO: – As a unit introduction for social media ethics or media literacy – As a discussion starter about news consumption habits – Paired with the Social Media Ethics for Student Journalists unit (sold separately) – As a bell-ringer or warm-up activity – For substitute teacher lessons (add discussion questions and you're set) – In advisory or homeroom for digital citizenship discussions WHY THIS VIDEO WORKS: – It's visually engaging with professional-quality animation – The pacing keeps middle and high school students interested – Complex concepts are broken down into digestible chunks – The tone is informative without being preachy – It's short enough to leave plenty of class time for discussion – Students can watch it independently or as a whole class – Works great with Google Classroom or any LMS DISCUSSION STARTER IDEAS: After watching, you might ask students: – How do you currently get your news? Has that changed over the past few years? – Can you think of a time when you saw something on social media that turned out to be false? – What responsibilities do you think journalists have when posting on social media? – How do algorithms affect what news you see? – What's the difference between a news story and a viral post?
TECHNICAL DETAILS: File Format: MP4 Resolution: 1280×720 (HD) Duration: 6:23 File Size: ~14 MB Compatibility: Works with Google Drive, Canvas, Schoology, and all major LMS platforms You can: – Project it in class – Share the file with students digitally – Embed it in your LMS – Download and use offline social media, news literacy, journalism, media literacy, misinformation, digital citizenship, fake news, news consumption, student journalism, journalism ethics, middle school journalism, high school journalism, animated video, educational video, social media ethics, fact-checking, online news, journalism lesson, media bias, algorithm awareness GRADE LEVELS: 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th, Higher Education SUBJECT AREAS: English Language Arts, Journalism, Life Skills, Media Literacy, Social Studies RESOURCE TYPE: Video, Multimedia
Designed for grades 8th – 12th.
Starmaker English and Journalism Tools 
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