Controversy On Stage

Students explore a genuine controversy about whether social media platforms should regulate misinformation to balance free expression and public safety. In small groups, they will perform brief improv-based dialogues and a quick (mini) debate, representing three defensible positions: pro-regulation, anti-regulation, and a nuanced middle ground. They will grapple with an arguable question such as: To what extent should platforms regulate information to protect the public while preserving free speech? Each group will review 2–3 short sources to identify credible evidence and discuss how credibility affects argument strength. They will practice anticipating counterarguments and prepare defense lines to present to the class, linking ideas to how rhetoric shapes perception and public discourse.