Script: Digital Drama Dilemmas

Introduction & Warm-Up (5 minutes)

(Display Digital Drama Dilemmas Slide Deck - Slide 1: "Digital Drama Dilemmas")

"Good morning/afternoon, everyone! Today, we're going to talk about something that's a big part of many of our lives: social media. I know many of you use apps like Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, or even just messaging apps with your friends. Can I get a show of hands if you use any of these?"

"Great! Now, let's talk about the good stuff. What are some of the amazing things about social media or messaging with your friends? Why do you like using them?"

(Allow 2-3 students to share briefly)

"Those are all fantastic points! Social media can be a really fun way to connect, share, and learn. But, just like in real life, sometimes conflicts or tricky situations can pop up online. Today, we're going to learn how to navigate those 'digital drama dilemmas' in a way that's respectful and keeps our online spaces positive."

Understanding Social Media Conflicts (10 minutes)

(Display Digital Drama Dilemmas Slide Deck - Slide 2: "What is Social Media Conflict?")

"So, what kinds of conflicts are we talking about? Let's start with a serious one: bullying. Can anyone tell me what bullying means, even if it's not online?"

(Listen for keywords: repeated, intentional harm, power imbalance)

"Exactly. Online, bullying can look a little different. It could be sending mean messages repeatedly, posting embarrassing photos, or spreading rumors. Why do you think online bullying can sometimes feel even worse or harder to escape than in-person bullying?"

(Display Digital Drama Dilemmas Slide Deck - Slide 3: "Understanding Different Types of Digital Drama")

"Now, let's look at a couple of other tricky situations: harassment and gossip."

"Harassment is when someone repeatedly bothers or targets another person with offensive messages or actions. It's unwanted and makes the other person feel uncomfortable or unsafe. How is that different from bullying?"

"And then there's gossip. We all know what gossip is, right? Spreading rumors or personal information, whether it's true or not. Why is gossip so damaging, especially online where things can spread so quickly?"

(Display Digital Drama Dilemmas Slide Deck - Slide 4: "The Impact of Digital Drama")

"Finally, we have general drama. This can be any kind of argument, disagreement, or misunderstanding that happens online. It might not be as severe as bullying or harassment, but it can still cause a lot of hurt feelings and stress. Think about when you've seen or been part of online drama. How did it make you feel? How do you think it affected others involved?"

Small Group Activity: Scenario Solutions (10 minutes)

(Display Digital Drama Dilemmas Slide Deck - Slide 5: "Responding to Digital Drama: Your Power!")

"Okay, so we've talked about what these conflicts are. Now, let's talk about what you can do. When you see or experience digital drama, you have power in how you choose to respond. We have some strategies here: Pause and Think, Don't Engage, Block & Report, Talk to a Trusted Adult, and Be an Upstander."

"I'm going to divide you into small groups. Each group will get a Social Media Conflict Scenarios Worksheet. Your task is to read through the scenarios and, using these strategies we just discussed, decide how you would respond to each one. Think about what the best and most respectful action would be."

(Divide students into small groups. Distribute the Social Media Conflict Scenarios Worksheet. Circulate to support groups, using prompts from Discussion Guide: Navigating Digital Drama as needed.)

"Alright, let's bring it back together. Can one group share how they would respond to Scenario 1? What strategy did you use and why?"

(Allow 2-3 groups to share their responses to different scenarios, facilitating discussion with the Discussion Guide: Navigating Digital Drama.

Wrap-Up & Cool Down (5 minutes)

(Display Digital Drama Dilemmas Slide Deck - Slide 6: "Your Digital Promise")

"Excellent discussions, everyone! Remember, your words and actions online have power. Always think before you post, choose kindness and respect, and don't hesitate to reach out to a trusted adult if you need help or see someone else struggling."

"To wrap up today, I'm going to hand out a Cool Down: My Digital Promise. I want you to take a moment to reflect on what we've learned and make a personal promise about how you'll act online. When you're done, you can hand them in as you leave."

(Distribute Cool Down: My Digital Promise and collect as exit tickets.)

Social Media Conflict Scenarios

Instructions: Read each scenario with your group. Discuss the best way to respond to the situation, using the strategies we talked about (Pause & Think, Don't Engage, Block & Report, Talk to a Trusted Adult, Be an Upstander). For each scenario, explain why you chose that response.

Scenario 1: The Misunderstood Post

Your friend, Alex, posts a picture with a caption that seems to be making fun of another classmate, Sam. You know Alex probably didn't mean it maliciously, but Sam comments publicly, "That's not cool, Alex. You're making fun of me." Other people start commenting, some agreeing with Sam, others defending Alex.

How would you respond to this situation, either as Alex, Sam, or a bystander?

Scenario 2: The Exclusionary Group Chat

You find out there's a group chat among your close friends where they are constantly making plans and sharing inside jokes, but you've been deliberately left out. You see screenshots of the chat where they are talking about you behind your back, making you feel hurt and isolated.

What would you do in this situation?

Scenario 3: The Persistent Harassment

A classmate, Taylor, keeps sending you annoying and sometimes slightly mean direct messages, even after you've asked them to stop. They don't use truly offensive language, but their messages are making you feel uncomfortable and stressed when you see notifications from them.

How would you handle Taylor's persistent messages?

Scenario 4: The Heated Online Argument

You see two classmates having a very public and heated argument in the comments section of a popular social media post. They are using strong language and making personal attacks. Other students are piling on, taking sides and adding fuel to the fire.

What actions could you take as a witness to this online argument?

Discussion Guide: Navigating Digital Drama

This guide provides prompts and questions to facilitate a deeper discussion during the small group activity and the whole-class sharing session.

Before Group Sharing:

• As groups are working, circulate and listen to their discussions. Use these prompts to encourage deeper thinking:
  • "What makes this scenario particularly challenging because it's online?"
  • "What are the potential consequences of each response option?"
  • "How might the person being targeted feel in this situation?"
  • "What if the situation doesn't improve after your initial response? What's your next step?"
  • "How does being an 'upstander' differ from being a 'bystander' in this scenario?"

During Whole-Class Sharing:

• When groups share their scenario solutions, use these questions to broaden the discussion and connect to the lesson's key takeaways:
  • "Why was that particular strategy the best choice for this scenario?"
  • "Did any other groups have a different approach? What were your reasons?"
  • "How important is it to consider the intention behind an action versus the impact it has?"
  • "What role does empathy play when you're dealing with online conflicts?"
  • "When should you definitely involve a trusted adult, even if the conflict seems small?"
  • "What are some ways we can create a more positive and respectful online environment in our school community?"
  • "What's one thing you learned today about handling social media conflicts that you'll try to remember?"

Role Play Activity: Respond with Respect

Instructions: After discussing the scenarios on your Social Media Conflict Scenarios Worksheet, choose one scenario from the worksheet or create a new one with your group. Assign roles to each group member (e.g., the person affected, the person causing the conflict, a bystander, a trusted adult).

Act out the scenario, focusing on practicing respectful and constructive ways to respond to the conflict.

Role Play Prompts:

• Person affected: How do you calmly express how you feel and what you want to happen?
• Person causing conflict: How do you listen to feedback and apologize or explain your intentions respectfully?
• Bystander/Upstander: How do you intervene safely and support the person being targeted?
• Trusted Adult: How do you offer support and guidance?

Reflection Questions (after role play):

• What felt easy about responding constructively? What was challenging?
• How did the different responses impact the situation and the feelings of those involved?
• What did you learn about being an upstander or seeking help?
• How might this practice help you in a real-life online conflict?

Cool Down: My Digital Promise

Instructions: Think about what we discussed today regarding social media conflicts. In the space below, write a short personal promise to yourself about how you will interact online and handle challenging situations in the future. What commitment will you make to be a positive presence in your digital community?

I promise to (check all that apply and add your own):

• Pause and think before I post or react online.
• Not engage with digital drama that doesn't involve me.
• Block and report inappropriate content or behavior.
• Talk to a trusted adult if I see or experience online conflict.
• Be an upstander and support others who are being targeted.
• Use kind and respectful language online.
• Think about how my posts might make others feel.
• _________________________________________________________________

My Signature: ____________________________ Date: _______________