How to practice: This set collects only the Speaking Sample question type from the real DET (Duolingo English Test), covering DET Speaking questions. No grading and no timer, so solve it yourself, then tap each question to reveal the answer or model response.
Q1
Do you think social media has had a net positive or negative effect on society? Use specific examples and reasoning to support your view.
30s to prepare · 3:00 to speak · 1 take only
Useful Expressions
I'd argue that social media has... · On one hand... · On the other hand... · Weighing both sides... · My overall conclusion is...
Show Model Response
I'd argue that social media has had a genuinely mixed effect on society, and honestly, I don't think it's accurate to label it as purely positive or purely negative, since the reality seems to depend heavily on how it's actually used.
On one hand, social media has created unprecedented opportunities for connection and access to information. People can maintain relationships with friends and family across the world, marginalized communities have found spaces to organize and amplify their voices, and small businesses have gained access to audiences that would have been completely unreachable before platforms like these existed. During certain crises, social media has also proven incredibly valuable for rapidly spreading important safety information or coordinating relief efforts when traditional channels were too slow.
On the other hand, there's substantial evidence pointing to real harms, particularly around mental health. Numerous studies have linked heavy social media use, especially among teenagers, to increased rates of anxiety, depression, and poor self-esteem, often driven by constant social comparison and the pressure to present an idealized version of one's life. Beyond individual mental health, social media has also been widely criticized for accelerating the spread of misinformation, since sensational or emotionally charged content tends to spread far faster than accurate, nuanced information ever does.
Weighing both sides, I think the core issue isn't necessarily the technology itself, but rather how platforms are designed, particularly the algorithms that prioritize engagement and time spent scrolling over the genuine well-being of users. A platform optimized purely to maximize attention will almost inevitably produce some of these negative side effects, regardless of the good intentions behind the original idea of connecting people.
My overall conclusion is that social media's net effect really depends on the choices made by both platforms and individual users. With better regulation, more responsible design, and more mindful personal habits, I believe the genuinely positive aspects of social media, connection, access to information, and community-building, could meaningfully outweigh the harms, but that outcome certainly isn't guaranteed under the current environment.
On one hand, social media has created unprecedented opportunities for connection and access to information. People can maintain relationships with friends and family across the world, marginalized communities have found spaces to organize and amplify their voices, and small businesses have gained access to audiences that would have been completely unreachable before platforms like these existed. During certain crises, social media has also proven incredibly valuable for rapidly spreading important safety information or coordinating relief efforts when traditional channels were too slow.
On the other hand, there's substantial evidence pointing to real harms, particularly around mental health. Numerous studies have linked heavy social media use, especially among teenagers, to increased rates of anxiety, depression, and poor self-esteem, often driven by constant social comparison and the pressure to present an idealized version of one's life. Beyond individual mental health, social media has also been widely criticized for accelerating the spread of misinformation, since sensational or emotionally charged content tends to spread far faster than accurate, nuanced information ever does.
Weighing both sides, I think the core issue isn't necessarily the technology itself, but rather how platforms are designed, particularly the algorithms that prioritize engagement and time spent scrolling over the genuine well-being of users. A platform optimized purely to maximize attention will almost inevitably produce some of these negative side effects, regardless of the good intentions behind the original idea of connecting people.
My overall conclusion is that social media's net effect really depends on the choices made by both platforms and individual users. With better regulation, more responsible design, and more mindful personal habits, I believe the genuinely positive aspects of social media, connection, access to information, and community-building, could meaningfully outweigh the harms, but that outcome certainly isn't guaranteed under the current environment.