Shadowing Practice: Is social media 'the new smoking'?: BBC Learning English from the News - Learn English Speaking with YouTube
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From BBC Learning English, this is Learning English from the News,
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From BBC Learning English, this is Learning English from the News,
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our podcast about the news headlines.
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In this programme, is social media the new smoking?
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Hello, I'm Georgie.
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And I'm Pippa.
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In this programme, we look at one big news story and the vocabulary in the headlines that will help you understand it.
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You can find all the vocabulary and headlines from this episode as well as a worksheet on our website bbclearningenglish.com.
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So, Pippa, let's hear more about this story.
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A group of senior doctors in the UK say that time spent on screens and social media harms children.
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The UK government is considering how to deal with concerns about the impact of social media on teenagers.
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Banning social media for under-16s,
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as has already happened in Australia,
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is one of the options being discussed.
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The senior doctors from the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges compared social media to smoking
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because they say the issue is a unifying force for the medical profession,
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or in other words, many doctors are worried about the impact of social media and the harm it could cause.
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It's difficult to prove that social media directly causes harm,
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but it has been linked to problems like anxiety and poor well-being in some studies.
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Let's have our first headline.
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This is from BBC News Overwhelming consensus that screen time harms children,
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top doctors say And that headline again from BBC News Overwhelming consensus that screen time harms children,
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top doctors say This headline is about what the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges have said about social media
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that there is an overwhelming consensus that using screens and social media harms children We're looking at this phrase, overwhelming consensus.
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Firstly, let's look at consensus.
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Consensus means an agreement or decision by a group of people.
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Yes, so let's say I ask everyone in the office about what time we should have our team meeting,
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and most people say we should have it on a Monday morning.
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I could say that the consensus is that Monday morning is the best time for the meeting.
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Yes, importantly, a consensus doesn't mean that every single person agrees,
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just that the opinion or decision is generally accepted.
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To use your example about the team meeting,
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Georgie, one or two people might have suggested a different time,
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but most people agree there's a consensus.
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Yes, now in the headline,
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it says that there is an overwhelming consensus that screen time harms children according to the doctors.
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An overwhelming consensus means that in a group of people,
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pretty much everyone agrees.
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Overwhelming is used to emphasise how strong the agreement is.
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Again, there may be some people who don't agree that screen time harms children,
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but lots of people believe it does.
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As well as overwhelming, you'll also hear the word general used to describe a consensus.
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And another phrase using consensus,
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if a group of people reach a consensus,
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they come to a decision or an agreement about something,
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perhaps by a vote or a debate.
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We've had overwhelming consensus, an opinion that almost everyone in a group agrees with.
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For example, there was an overwhelming consensus among the factory workers that they should be paid extra for working weekends.
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This is Learning English from the News,
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our podcast about the news headlines.
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Today we're talking about expert warnings about social media.
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As we've heard, leading UK doctors have compared social media to smoking,
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not because it has the same physical health impacts,
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but because they believe it's an important health issue that people need to take seriously.
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Yes, as well as smoking,
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the doctors also compared the issue to not wearing seatbelts in cars,
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which people in the UK previously didn't think was dangerous until attitudes about safety changed.
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Many people want the UK government to do more to protect children and young people from the potential harms of social media.
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Australia has banned social media apps for under-16s,
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and some European countries, such as Greece and France, are planning a ban.
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Former UK Health Secretary Wes Streeting has also compared the harms of social media to smoking.
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Let's have another headline.
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This is from The Guardian, a UK newspaper.
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Wes Streeting says Starmer behind the curve on under-16's social media ban.
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And that headline again.
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Wes Streeting says Starmer behind the curve on under-16's social media ban.
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And that's from The Guardian, a UK newspaper.
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This headline reports on what Wes Streeting,
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the UK's former health secretary,
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has said about social media.
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He says the UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is behind the curve Pippa,
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what does that mean?
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Well, if you are behind the curve,
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you are not acting quickly enough to deal with a particular change or trend.
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Yeah, so if you think about data and statistics,
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we might show the rise in a certain thing as a curve on a graph.
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Yes, and if you're behind the curve,
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you react more slowly than other people.
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You don't change direction to meet the curve on the graph quickly enough.
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Yeah, so another example, my local cafe is a bit behind the curve only take cash payments, not card.
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And in the story, Wes Streeting says the UK Prime Minister is behind the curve on a social media ban for under-16s,
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which means he believes the Prime Minister is not acting quickly enough.
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Other countries, such as Australia,
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have already introduced a ban,
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but the UK is still considering what to do to protect young people online.
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You can also be ahead of the curve,
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and this means you take action or respond to a particular change before everyone else.
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We've had behind the curve,
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slower than other people to change or react.
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For example, the company is behind the curve changing from paper forms to digital ones.
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This is Learning English from the News from BBC Learning English.
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We're talking about comparisons between social media and smoking.
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In the UK, the government is asking for opinions from experts,
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charities and parents about how to keep children safe online.
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UK Technology Secretary Liz Kendall has said new measures for under-16s will be brought in by the end of 2026.
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Campaigners don't all agree on whether a total ban on social
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media apps for children is the best way to keep them safe.
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As well as considering banning apps,
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the government is also thinking about curfews,
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where social media apps can't be used by children late at night.
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They're also considering stronger age checks,
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as well as stopping features such as autoplay and infinite scroll.
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Many young people say that social media can also have a positive impact on their life.
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Some experts also argue that a ban similar to the one in Australia will not work to prevent harm for children.
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Let's have another headline.
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This one is from ITN, a British news broadcaster.
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Government, nothing's off the table on social media ban.
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That headline again from ITN, a British news broadcaster.
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Government, nothing's off the table on social media ban.
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So this headline is about the UK government's plans to protect people from social media.
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We're interested in this phrase, nothing's off the table.
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Can you tell us more, Georgie?
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Yes, we can use off the table to talk about debates or negotiations.
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Right, off the table is a metaphorical phrase and it means that something is no longer being considered as an option.
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The opposite, on the table,
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means that something is being considered as an option.
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The phrase nothing is off the table means that all options are still on the table,
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they're still being considered and no decisions have been made yet.
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So, in the story, the government says
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that it is still deciding what action to take to prevent social media harming young people,
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and all options, including a ban or less extreme measures,
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are still being considered.
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Nothing's off the table.
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We have similar phrases, off the cards or on the cards,
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and these mean unlikely or likely to happen.
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We've had nothing's off the table.
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Everything is still being considered.
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For example, my cousin really doesn't know what she'll study at university.
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Nothing's off the table.
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That's it for this episode of learning English from the news.
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We'll be back next week with another news story.
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If you've enjoyed this program,
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you can find loads more programs about social media and how it affects us on our website.
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Follow the link in the notes below this program to our technology topic page.
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Goodbye for now.
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Bye you
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Context & Background
In the episode titled "Is social media 'the new smoking'?", BBC Learning English explores the significant impact of social media on children and teenagers, likening it to the well-known health dangers of smoking. The discussion features insights from senior doctors in the UK who express their concerns about the psychological effects and overall well-being of young individuals exposed to excessive screen time. As part of this debate, the UK government has been prompted to consider regulations, including the potential for restricting social media usage for those under 16. This vocabulary-rich segment not only sheds light on current health discussions but also provides helpful phrases and terms that can boost your english speaking practice.
Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication
- Overwhelming consensus: This phrase indicates a strong agreement among a group, crucial for communicating opinions in discussions.
- Screen time: Commonly used to refer to the time spent on digital devices, useful for conversations about technology and leisure.
- Harms children: A phrase that can be integrated into discussions about safety and health regarding various societal issues.
- Impact of social media: Vital for any dialogue concerning technology's effects on daily life, particularly for the younger population.
- Medical profession's opinion: A phrase that can be utilized to express authority and expertise in health-related discussions.
Step-by-step Shadowing Guide
If you wish to improve your speaking skills using this video as a resource, follow this step-by-step shadowing guide, ideal for those engaging in IELTS speaking practice, leveraging a shadowing app or a dedicated shadowing site:
- Watch and Listen: Begin by watching the video while paying attention to the pronunciation and intonation of each speaker. Focus particularly on how they emphasize key phrases.
- Pacing: Play the video at a slower speed, if possible. This will give you enough time to replicate the speakers' rhythm while shadowing.
- Repeat: Choose short sections of the dialogue to repeat aloud. Start with a sentence or two, focusing on mimicking the pronunciation and cadence.
- Recording: Use a voice recorder to capture your shadowing efforts. Listen back to compare your pronunciation with the original and identify areas for improvement.
- Active Use: Integrate the phrases you've practiced into your daily conversations. This not only reinforces your learning but also helps build your confidence in using the English language.
Through consistent practice and application of these techniques, you can enhance your english speaking practice and better navigate discussions about contemporary themes, such as the effects of social media on health and wellness.
What is the Shadowing Technique?
Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.
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