B2 First Reading and Use of English (Exam 1)

Choose the best word for each numbered gap.

The Rise of Social Media

It is hard to (1) _______ that social media has only existed for around twenty years. Platforms such as Instagram and TikTok have become so deeply (2) _______ into daily life that many people check them the moment they wake up. Psychologists have raised (3) _______ about the effect this is having on young people in particular, pointing out that constant comparison with others can (4) _______ to lower self-esteem. However, others argue that social media provides young people with a powerful (5) _______ to express themselves and connect with communities they might never have found otherwise. The debate seems unlikely to be (6) _______ any time soon, as the technology continues to develop at a rapid (7) _______. What is clear is that both parents and schools need to play a more active (8) _______ in helping young people use these platforms responsibly.