130 Best Social Media Expressions to Teach ESL Conversations

If you’re teaching ESL and want to help your students talk confidently about social media, this post is exactly what you need. Packed with the ultimate list of social media expressions, it’s designed to make your lessons fun, useful, and full of real-life language.

This resource covers 13 important categories, giving you a wide range of vocabulary to use. Whether your students want to start conversations, ask questions, or share opinions, they will find the right expressions here. You can easily build activities like role-plays, debates, and vocabulary games around these expressions.

Using this list, you’ll save time planning and have a clear way to guide your learners step-by-step. Plus, it’s perfect for all levels because the expressions are practical and easy to understand. This makes your ESL class more engaging and helps students speak about social media naturally.

Don’t miss out on this all-in-one tool to teach social media language. Keep reading to find the best social media expressions for your classroom, and watch your students gain confidence and fluency!

Expressions about Creating an Account and Logging In

Before learners can fully engage in conversations about social media, they need to know how to talk about getting started—like signing up, logging in, or dealing with password issues. The expressions below are commonly used when creating or accessing an account and are essential for everyday digital communication.

Common Expression	Situation
I just signed up for Facebook.	You’ve created a new social media account and want to share it with others.
I’m trying to create a profile.	You’re setting up your account and filling in your details.
Can you help me set up my account?	You need assistance registering or navigating the sign-up process.
I can’t log in.	You’re having trouble accessing your account.
I forgot my password.	You can’t remember the password and need to recover access.
I clicked ‘forgot password.’	You followed the steps to reset your password.
They sent me a verification code.	You received a code to confirm your identity (usually via email or phone).
I need to verify my account.	You have to prove it’s your account before continuing.
I agreed to the terms and conditions.	You accepted the rules of the platform during sign-up.
Don’t forget to log out.	You’re reminding someone to exit their account, especially on shared devices.

Expressions about Posting and Sharing Content

Once students have access to a social media platform, the next step is knowing how to talk about what they post, share, and react to online. Whether they’re updating their status, posting photos, or tagging friends, these expressions help learners describe their online activity clearly and naturally.

Common Expression	Situation
I just posted a photo.	You’ve uploaded a picture to your feed or profile.
I shared it on my story.	You added something (a photo, video, or thought) to your temporary story.
I updated my status.	You posted a short message or update about what you’re doing or feeling.
I tagged you in the photo.	You identified someone in a picture you posted.
Check out my latest post.	You’re inviting someone to look at your recent content.
I uploaded it this morning.	You added content earlier in the day and are referring to it.
I posted it by mistake.	You accidentally shared something online.
I deleted the post right away.	You removed something you posted.
I added a caption.	You wrote a short text under a photo or video.
I made it public.	You changed your post settings so that everyone can see it.

Expressions about Interacting with Posts (Likes, Comments, and Reactions)

Social media is not just about posting—it’s about engaging with others. These expressions help learners talk about liking posts, leaving comments, and reacting to content. They’re essential for describing how they interact with friends and what they think about what others share online.

Common Expression	Situation
I liked your post.	You clicked the “like” button to show appreciation for someone’s post.
I left a comment.	You wrote a response under a post.
I replied to your comment.	You responded directly to someone’s comment on a post.
I love this!	You reacted very positively to a post (often with a heart emoji).
I laughed so hard at that video.	You found a post or video very funny.
I reacted with a sad face.	You used a sad emoji or reaction to respond to something emotional.
I got so many likes on that photo.	You’re talking about how many people liked your post.
People are commenting like crazy.	Your post is getting a lot of responses.
I pinned your comment.	You highlighted a comment so it appears at the top.
I turned off the comments.	You disabled comments on your post.

Expressions about Following, Unfollowing, and Friend Requests

Making connections is a key part of social media. Whether learners are adding friends, following influencers, or choosing to unfollow someone, they need natural expressions to describe these common actions. The phrases below are perfect for helping students talk about who they connect with—and why.

Common Expression	Situation
I just followed you.	You started following someone to see their posts and updates.
I sent you a friend request.	You invited someone to connect as a friend.
I got a friend request from him.	Someone asked to connect with you.
She accepted my request.	Someone agreed to be your friend or follower.
I unfollowed her.	You stopped seeing someone’s posts in your feed.
I removed him from my friend list.	You took someone off your list of social media connections.
I’m following all her updates.	You’re regularly seeing someone’s new content.
He never accepted my request.	Someone ignored or didn’t approve your friend request.
I don’t follow celebrities.	You’re saying you don’t subscribe to famous people’s content.
I declined the request.	You chose not to connect with someone who sent a request.

Expressions about Messaging and Chatting

Social media isn’t just for posting—it’s also about private conversations. Learners need to know how to talk about sending messages, chatting in real-time, and handling conversations online. These expressions will help students describe their digital communication clearly and naturally.

Common Expression	Situation
I sent you a message.	You’ve privately messaged someone.
Did you get my text?	You’re asking if someone received your message.
Let’s chat later.	You’re suggesting talking online at another time.
I’m typing…	You’re letting someone know you’re writing a message.
Sorry for the late reply.	You’re apologizing for responding slowly.
Can we video call?	You’re asking to talk via video chat.
I’m online now.	You’re telling someone you’re currently available.
I blocked him.	You stopped someone from messaging you.
I deleted our chat history.	You erased past messages.
I read your message but didn’t reply yet.	You want to explain why you haven’t answered.

Expressions about Privacy and Security

Talking about privacy and staying safe online is very important. These expressions help learners describe how they protect their information, control who sees their posts, and handle security concerns on social media platforms.

Common Expression	Situation
I set my profile to private.	You made your account visible only to approved followers.
Don’t share your password with anyone.	You’re giving advice about keeping passwords safe.
I changed my password.	You updated your login details for security.
Be careful what you post online.	You’re warning someone about sharing sensitive information.
I received a suspicious friend request.	You got a request from someone you don’t trust.
I enabled two-factor authentication.	You added an extra security step to your account.
I blocked that spam account.	You stopped a fake or annoying account from contacting you.
My account was hacked.	Someone accessed your account without permission.
I reported the suspicious activity.	You informed the platform about a security issue.
Check your privacy settings regularly.	You remind others to review who can see their info.

Expressions about Notifications and Updates

Understanding notifications is essential for staying connected on social media. These expressions help learners describe the alerts they receive, how they respond to them, and how they keep their accounts up to date.

Common Expression	Situation
I got a notification.	You received an alert about activity on your account.
Did you see the update?	You’re asking if someone noticed new changes or posts.
I turned off notifications.	You disabled alerts from the app or a specific person.
My app needs an update.	The social media app requires a newer version to work properly.
I’m getting too many notifications.	You’re overwhelmed by frequent alerts.
I checked the notification center.	You looked at all your recent alerts in one place.
There’s a new feature on the app.	You’re talking about an added function or tool.
I missed the notification.	You didn’t see or respond to an alert in time.
The update fixed the bugs.	The latest version solved previous problems.
I set notifications for my favorite pages.	You chose to get alerts from specific accounts or groups.

Expressions about Reporting and Blocking

Sometimes, social media users face problems like spam, harassment, or inappropriate content. This section includes useful expressions for reporting issues and blocking accounts to stay safe and comfortable online.

Common Expression	Situation
I reported that post.	You notified the platform about inappropriate content.
I blocked the user.	You stopped someone from contacting or seeing your profile.
This account is fake.	You’re identifying a profile as not genuine.
I’m being harassed online.	You’re experiencing unwanted and repeated negative behavior.
I reported the spam messages.	You alerted the platform about unwanted advertising or scams.
Can you block him for me?	You’re asking someone to stop a user from contacting you.
I’m tired of seeing those comments.	You want to avoid unwanted or annoying remarks.
The platform took the account down.	The social media site removed a problematic user.
I muted notifications from that person.	You stopped alerts without unfriending or blocking.
I appealed the ban.	You requested a review of your account suspension.

Expressions about Trends and Viral Content

Social media moves fast, with new trends and viral posts every day. These expressions help learners talk about what’s popular, what’s spreading quickly, and how they keep up with the latest social media crazes.

Common Expression	Situation
That video went viral.	The video became very popular and widely shared.
It’s trending right now.	A topic or hashtag is currently popular.
Everyone’s talking about it.	The subject is widely discussed online.
I joined the challenge.	You participated in a social media trend or activity.
That meme is everywhere.	The funny image or joke is very common.
I shared the viral post.	You reposted something popular.
It blew up overnight.	It became very popular very quickly.
I saw that hashtag on my feed.	You noticed a popular tag used in posts.
The trend is dying down.	The popularity of something is decreasing.
I want to create a viral post.	You hope your content becomes widely shared.

Expressions about Social Media Etiquette

Knowing how to behave respectfully on social media is important for building positive connections. These expressions help learners talk about good manners, what’s appropriate to post, and how to interact politely with others online.

Common Expression	Situation
Don’t post anything offensive.	Advising not to share hurtful or inappropriate content.
Always give credit to the original creator.	Reminding someone to acknowledge who made the content.
Don’t spam people with messages.	Warning against sending too many unwanted messages.
Be polite in the comments.	Encouraging respectful behavior when replying.
Think before you post.	Advising to consider the impact of your post.
Avoid arguing online.	Suggesting to not get into fights on social media.
Respect other people’s opinions.	Encouraging open-mindedness and tolerance.
Don’t share fake news.	Warning against spreading false information.
Use emojis to show tone.	Suggesting emojis help express feelings clearly.
Ask before tagging someone.	Advising to get permission before tagging others.

Expressions about Using Hashtags and Mentions

Hashtags and mentions help users organize content and get attention on social media. These expressions will help learners explain how they use hashtags to join conversations and mention others to connect or give credit.

Common Expression	Situation
I added hashtags to my post.	You included hashtags to reach a wider audience.
Use #ThrowbackThursday to join the trend.	You suggest using a popular hashtag for themed posts.
Don’t forget to tag me!	Asking someone to mention you in their post.
I mentioned you in the comments.	You tagged someone to get their attention.
That hashtag is trending now.	The hashtag is popular at the moment.
I followed that hashtag.	You subscribed to see posts with that tag.
Hashtags help increase visibility.	Explaining why hashtags are useful.
Tag your friends in the photo.	Encouraging people to mention others in posts.
I got a notification from a mention.	You received an alert because someone tagged you.
Some hashtags are too long.	Commenting that certain hashtags can be complicated.

Expressions about Social Media and Mental Health

Social media can have a big impact on how people feel. Learners need expressions to talk about their emotions, stress, and the positive or negative effects social media can have on mental health. This helps them discuss important topics openly and clearly.

Common Expression	Situation
I feel overwhelmed by social media.	You’re stressed by too much online activity.
Sometimes, I compare myself to others.	You notice feelings of jealousy or insecurity.
I take breaks from social media.	You stop using platforms to protect your mental health.
Social media can be addictive.	You recognize it’s hard to stop using it.
Seeing negative comments affects me.	You’re hurt by mean or critical posts.
I try to limit my screen time.	You make an effort to use social media less.
I follow accounts that inspire me.	You choose to see positive and motivating content.
It’s important to disconnect sometimes.	You believe in stepping away from social media regularly.
I feel more connected online.	You find social media helps you stay in touch with others.
Social media affects my mood.	You notice your feelings change because of what you see online.

Expressions about Advertising and Influencers

Social media is full of ads and influencer promotions. Learners should know how to discuss sponsored content, product recommendations, and the role of influencers in marketing. These expressions help them describe what they see and share opinions about advertising online.

Common Expression	Situation
That’s a sponsored post.	The content is paid for by a brand or company.
I follow a lot of influencers.	You watch people who promote products or lifestyles online.
This ad keeps popping up.	You see the same advertisement repeatedly.
I bought this because of an influencer’s recommendation.	You made a purchase after seeing a promotion.
That product looks fake.	You’re suspicious about the authenticity of an item.
Influencers have a big impact on trends.	You notice influencers shape what’s popular.
I don’t trust all sponsored content.	You’re cautious about paid advertisements.
The brand paid them to post this.	Explaining that the influencer was compensated.
I saw a discount code in their story.	You found a promo code shared by an influencer.
Advertising is everywhere on social media.	Noting how common ads are online.

Conclusion

Teaching social media expressions is a great way to connect ESL learners with the language they use every day. These expressions help students feel confident joining conversations, asking questions, and sharing their thoughts online.

Using this ultimate list, you can create engaging lessons full of role-plays, debates, and practical vocabulary activities. Incorporating social media topics makes learning relevant and fun, motivating students to speak more naturally and fluently.

Use these expressions to bring your ESL classroom to life and prepare your learners for real-world communication.

FAQs About Using Social Media Expressions in ESL Class

Q: Why should I teach social media expressions in my ESL class?
A: Social media is a big part of daily life for many students. Teaching these expressions helps them communicate better, stay current, and use English in real situations.

Q: How can I use social media expressions to improve speaking skills?
A: You can design role-plays, conversations, and debates based on these expressions. This encourages students to practice speaking naturally and confidently.

Q: Are these expressions suitable for all English levels?
A: Yes! The list includes simple to more advanced expressions, so you can choose the right ones to match your students’ proficiency.

Q: Can these expressions help with writing skills too?
A: Absolutely. Knowing these phrases improves vocabulary and helps students write posts, comments, and messages on social media.

Q: How do I make lessons with these expressions engaging?
A: Use interactive activities like group discussions, quizzes, or simulated social media feeds. Encourage students to create their own posts using the expressions.

Q: Can social media expressions be used for cultural discussions?
A: Yes, they open up conversations about online behavior, privacy, and digital etiquette, helping students understand different cultures.

Q: What if my students don’t use social media much?
A: These expressions still teach useful everyday English. Plus, social media topics are motivating and help students connect with the world around them.

Q: How often should I include social media expressions in lessons?
A: You can integrate them regularly to keep lessons fresh and relevant, or dedicate special sessions focused on social media language.

Q: Can I adapt this list for different age groups?
A: Definitely. Choose expressions and examples that fit your learners’ ages and interests for the best engagement.

Q: Where can I find more resources to teach social media language?
A: Check ESL teaching websites, online forums, and language apps that focus on current, real-life vocabulary and expressions.