Lesson

Social Media Influences

9-12th Grades

45 min

Summary

Whether it's native advertising, sponsored content, or in-timeline advertising, social media often influences spending. This lesson discusses data tracking, FOMO, and deceptive social media tactics that can influence online purchases.

Activities

Bellringer: Honest Opinion or Paid Ad?

Read the influencer unboxing prompt and give students 1–2 minutes to formulate an answer.
Reveal the stat that 49% of consumers rely on influencer recommendations—then explain most are paid ads.

5 min

Instruction

Cover native advertising, data tracking, the FOMO cycle, and micro-targeting as key tactics that trigger spending

15 min

Activity: Marketer's Toolkit

Analyze marketing tactics.
Identify tactics from an ad on social media, a website, or a magazine.

10 min

Discussion: Feeds Creating Wants

Open with the on-slide prompt about buying something solely because of a social media feed.
Walk through the 5-step framework: personal stories, algorithm mechanics, frictionless buying, social comparison, and a reflection question.

10 min

Wrap-Up & Assessment

Define native advertising.
Explain why a business would run an ad for a huge product discount—even if it seems like they'd lose money.

5 min

Est. Time	Activity	Description
5 min	Bellringer: Honest Opinion or Paid Ad?	Read the influencer unboxing prompt and give students 1–2 minutes to formulate an answer. Reveal the stat that 49% of consumers rely on influencer recommendations—then explain most are paid ads.
15 min	Instruction	Cover native advertising, data tracking, the FOMO cycle, and micro-targeting as key tactics that trigger spending
10 min	Activity: Marketer's Toolkit	Analyze marketing tactics. Identify tactics from an ad on social media, a website, or a magazine.
10 min	Discussion: Feeds Creating Wants	Open with the on-slide prompt about buying something solely because of a social media feed. Walk through the 5-step framework: personal stories, algorithm mechanics, frictionless buying, social comparison, and a reflection question.
5 min	Wrap-Up & Assessment	Define native advertising. Explain why a business would run an ad for a huge product discount—even if it seems like they'd lose money.

Lesson Prep

Marketer's Toolkit

Understand and identify common marketing tactics.

Marketer's Toolkit

Understand and identify common marketing tactics.

Worksheet

5 min

Class Presentation

Includes a 16-slide deck with teacher notes. Present from Banzai, download a PDF, or copy it to Google Slides.

Presentations, Ready to Go

Built-in PresentationPresent full screen, straight from Banzai
Copy to Google SlidesMake an editable copy for your class
Download or PrintSave as a PDF or print
Teacher NotesSlide-by-slide guidance, printable as one handout

Unit 2: Consumer Fundamentals

Marketing Influences

Marketing influences impact spending whether you realize it or not. Students learn to identify marketing influences, such as urgency, social proof, scarcity, freebies, and more.

6-12th Grades

45 Min

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