What a feed is optimised for · seed 1 · A4, ink-friendly. The answer key prints on its own page for grown-ups.

Your feed is ranked, not neutral

Personal & Social Development · Responsible Decision-Making · ages 15-16
Name ______________________   Date ____________

  1. A platform uses predicted viewing time as one ranking factor. Which goal does that factor support?

    • Keeping people watching the feed
    • Checking every factual claim before displaying a post
    • Giving every post exactly the same number of viewers

  2. How does an advertising-funded social media platform earn money?

    • Every reader pays a fee whenever they view a post
    • Advertisers pay for placements that reach audiences
    • Every account receives payment whenever it opens the feed

  3. Every angry post gets more reach than every careful post.

    Circle one:   True   False

  4. A widely shared scandal post makes you angry. What helps you decide whether its claim is accurate?

    • Assume the anger proves the claim must be false
    • Assume the share count proves the claim must be true
    • Check its evidence, context and other reliable sources

  5. A made-up feed ranks posts only by reply count. Post A has 7 replies; post B has 25. Why does B rank higher?

    • Its larger reply count proves that every claim is accurate
    • Its reply count is higher under the stated rule
    • Its reply count shows that all readers agree with the author

  6. You want to compare app use before and after muting nonessential notifications. Which recording plan gives the most comparable notes?

    • Record time spent only after muting, then guess the earlier week from memory
    • Record app openings before muting, then record only time spent afterwards
    • Record app openings and time spent the same way during both weeks

  7. One angry post reaches more people than two careful posts. What can you conclude about accuracy from reach alone?

    • Reach alone does not establish accuracy
    • The angry post must contain the most accurate account
    • Both careful posts must contain inaccurate accounts

  8. Mia says, 'Only direct shares affect a post's reach.' What else can matter in an engagement-based feed?

    • Every viewer's reaction proves agreement with the post
    • Recommendations can show the post to more people
    • Posts with careful wording can never receive recommendations
LightMySky · lightmysky.comW1-mt_kzhPakduam-s1

Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

Your feed is ranked, not neutral W1-mt_kzhPakduam-s1

  1. Keeping people watching the feed · Predicted viewing time concerns attention. It does not itself check truth or give equal reach.
  2. Advertisers pay for placements that reach audiences · In this business model, advertisers pay for ad placements that reach audiences.
  3. False · Reactions can affect reach, but angry posts do not always outperform careful ones.
  4. Check its evidence, context and other reliable sources · Evidence and context help assess accuracy. Neither anger nor popularity settles it.
  5. Its reply count is higher under the stated rule · 25 is greater than 7, so B ranks higher under this reply-only rule. Replies do not prove accuracy or agreement.
  6. Record app openings and time spent the same way during both weeks · Recording the same measures in the same way supports comparison. Missing baseline notes or changing measures makes comparison harder.
  7. Reach alone does not establish accuracy · Reach shows how widely a post was seen. Accuracy requires checking evidence and context.
  8. Recommendations can show the post to more people · Recommendations can bring a post to additional viewers. Direct sharing is not the only route to reach.
Worksheet · LightMySky