60 ESL Debate Topics on Technology for Engaging All CEFR Levels

Are you looking for fresh and practical debate topics on technology for your ESL class? This post gives you 60 carefully designed debate prompts, all focused on the theme of technology and organized by CEFR levels from A1 to C2.

Debating in the ESL classroom is a great way to boost speaking, critical thinking, and vocabulary skills. But many teachers struggle to find level-appropriate topics—especially on a modern and complex subject like technology. That’s why this list was created: to make your job easier and your classes more engaging.

Each topic is built with ESL learners in mind. You’ll find simple, clear yes/no questions, useful vocabulary, sentence starters, and follow-up questions. This structure helps students speak more confidently, stay focused, and learn how to express opinions.

Whether you teach beginners or advanced learners, this post has something for you. Use these ready-made prompts for class discussions, speaking assessments, or even writing practice. Let your students explore, argue, and have fun with the world of tech—one debate at a time!

Level A1 – ESL Debate Topics on Technology

1. Should students use mobile phones in class?

Yes/No Question: Can students use phones in class?
Vocabulary: mobile phone, school, class, teacher, lesson
Sentence Starters:

Yes, because phones help students…
No, because phones are…
Follow-up Question: When is a good time to use a phone at school?

2. Is watching YouTube good for learning English?

Yes/No Question: Do you learn English from YouTube?
Vocabulary: YouTube, video, English, learn, fun, easy
Sentence Starters:

I think YouTube helps because…
I don’t think it helps because…
Follow-up Question: What kind of videos do you like to watch?

3. Should children have their own tablet?

Yes/No Question: Is a tablet good for kids?
Vocabulary: tablet, children, games, school, learn, play
Sentence Starters:

Children should have tablets because…
Children should not have tablets because…
Follow-up Question: How do children use tablets?

4. Is using a computer every day good for you?

Yes/No Question: Is it okay to use a computer every day?
Vocabulary: computer, every day, eyes, health, games, study
Sentence Starters:

Yes, because it helps with…
No, because it is bad for…
Follow-up Question: How long do you use a computer each day?

5. Are books better than smartphones?

Yes/No Question: Do you like books more than phones?
Vocabulary: book, phone, read, call, internet, fun
Sentence Starters:

I like books better because…
I like phones more because…
Follow-up Question: What do you use your phone for?

6. Should we watch TV at dinner time?

Yes/No Question: Do you watch TV during dinner?
Vocabulary: dinner, TV, family, talk, eat, quiet
Sentence Starters:

Yes, because it is fun to watch…
No, because it is better to…
Follow-up Question: What do you like to watch on TV?

7. Is using Google better than asking a friend?

Yes/No Question: Do you use Google when you don’t know something?
Vocabulary: Google, search, question, friend, fast, help
Sentence Starters:

I use Google because…
I ask my friend because…
Follow-up Question: What do you usually search for online?

8. Should young kids have a phone?

Yes/No Question: Is it good for a 6-year-old to have a phone?
Vocabulary: kid, young, phone, call, game, safety
Sentence Starters:

Yes, it helps kids to…
No, kids are too…
Follow-up Question: What age is good for a first phone?

9. Are online games better than outdoor games?

Yes/No Question: Do you like online games more than outside games?
Vocabulary: online game, play, outside, run, fun, phone
Sentence Starters:

I like online games because…
I like outdoor games because…
Follow-up Question: What is your favorite game?

10. Is it okay to take pictures of everything?

Yes/No Question: Do people take too many photos?
Vocabulary: picture, photo, phone, memory, share, camera
Sentence Starters:

Yes, because it is fun to…
No, we should take fewer photos because…
Follow-up Question: When do you like to take pictures?

Level A2 – ESL Debate Topics on Technology

11. Should children play video games every day?

Yes/No Question: Is it okay for kids to play video games every day?
Vocabulary: video games, screen time, fun, eyes, learning, time limit
Sentence Starters:

I think children should play every day because…
I believe they should not because…
Follow-up Question: What is a good time limit for playing games?

12. Is it better to read books or use the internet for learning?

Yes/No Question: Do you learn more from books or the internet?
Vocabulary: read, book, internet, learn, fast, easy, screen
Sentence Starters:

I like using the internet more because…
I prefer books because…
Follow-up Question: When do you usually use books or the internet?

13. Should students use smartphones at school?

Yes/No Question: Should students bring phones to school?
Vocabulary: smartphone, school, class, teacher, cheat, useful
Sentence Starters:

Students should use phones because…
Phones in school are not good because…
Follow-up Question: When can phones help students in school?

14. Is online shopping better than going to a store?

Yes/No Question: Do you like shopping online more than in a store?
Vocabulary: online, shop, buy, store, easy, wait, return
Sentence Starters:

I like online shopping because…
I prefer real stores because…
Follow-up Question: What do you usually buy online?

Yes/No Question: Is it okay to share everything on Facebook or Instagram?
Vocabulary: post, share, social media, private, photo, friend
Sentence Starters:

Yes, because it’s fun to share…
No, because some things are…
Follow-up Question: What kind of things should stay private?

16. Is it good to learn from YouTube?

Yes/No Question: Can YouTube help people learn new things?
Vocabulary: YouTube, learn, video, English, free, easy
Sentence Starters:

I think YouTube is good for learning because…
It’s not always good because…
Follow-up Question: What have you learned from YouTube?

17. Should we take a break from technology every day?

Yes/No Question: Is it healthy to stop using phones and computers sometimes?
Vocabulary: break, rest, healthy, phone, computer, relax
Sentence Starters:

Yes, because too much screen time is…
No, because I need it every day for…
Follow-up Question: How many hours do you use your phone?

18. Is it better to talk face-to-face or chat online?

Yes/No Question: Do you prefer talking in person or texting?
Vocabulary: talk, face-to-face, message, online, friend, easy
Sentence Starters:

I like face-to-face because…
I like chatting online because…
Follow-up Question: When do you use chat apps most?

19. Should parents control children’s internet use?

Yes/No Question: Do parents need to check what kids do online?
Vocabulary: parent, child, control, safe, internet, danger
Sentence Starters:

Parents should check because…
Parents don’t need to check because…
Follow-up Question: What are safe websites for children?

20. Is it good to use translation apps when learning English?

Yes/No Question: Do translation apps help with learning English?
Vocabulary: app, translate, English, learn, meaning, easy
Sentence Starters:

Yes, because it helps me understand…
No, because it’s better to learn without…
Follow-up Question: When do you use a translation app?

Level B1 – ESL Debate Topics on Technology

Yes/No Question: Does technology make people talk less face-to-face?
Vocabulary: social, communication, face-to-face, message, connect, lonely
Sentence Starters:

I think technology makes people less social because…
I don’t think so because…
Follow-up Question: How do you stay connected with your friends?

22. Should schools use only digital textbooks?

Yes/No Question: Should schools stop using printed books?
Vocabulary: digital, textbook, screen, carry, update, environment
Sentence Starters:

Digital books are better because…
Printed books are still important because…
Follow-up Question: What do you prefer—reading on a screen or paper?

Yes/No Question: Should people share personal info on websites?
Vocabulary: personal information, privacy, safe, account, profile, risk
Sentence Starters:

It’s okay to share some things because…
It’s not safe because…
Follow-up Question: What kind of information should you keep private?

24. Should people be allowed to use AI to write essays?

Yes/No Question: Can students use AI tools like ChatGPT to write essays?
Vocabulary: AI, tool, essay, write, help, cheat
Sentence Starters:

AI is helpful because…
It’s not fair to use AI because…
Follow-up Question: How can AI help without doing all the work?

25. Do smartphones make life better or worse?

Yes/No Question: Are smartphones good or bad for daily life?
Vocabulary: smartphone, useful, distraction, connect, alarm, work
Sentence Starters:

Smartphones improve life because…
They make life harder because…
Follow-up Question: What do you use your phone for most?

26. Should people take a digital detox once a week?

Yes/No Question: Is it a good idea to stop using screens once a week?
Vocabulary: digital detox, screen time, relax, habit, mental health
Sentence Starters:

A digital detox is useful because…
I don’t think it’s necessary because…
Follow-up Question: When do you feel tired from using technology?

27. Is working from home better than working in an office?

Yes/No Question: Is remote work better than office work?
Vocabulary: work, office, home, quiet, team, travel, flexible
Sentence Starters:

Working from home is better because…
Offices are better for work because…
Follow-up Question: What job would you prefer to do from home?

28. Should robots do jobs instead of people?

Yes/No Question: Is it okay if robots take human jobs?
Vocabulary: robot, job, factory, replace, cost, human
Sentence Starters:

Robots are useful because…
People should keep jobs because…
Follow-up Question: What jobs should only humans do?

Yes/No Question: Should kids under 13 use social media?
Vocabulary: social media, child, age, safe, control, rules
Sentence Starters:

It’s okay if parents help because…
It’s not okay because kids might…
Follow-up Question: What are the dangers of social media for kids?

30. Should people trust online reviews when buying things?

Yes/No Question: Are online reviews always honest?
Vocabulary: review, product, trust, fake, helpful, shopping
Sentence Starters:

I trust reviews because…
I don’t always trust them because…
Follow-up Question: What do you usually check before buying online?

Level B2 – ESL Debate Topics on Technology

31. Is artificial intelligence a threat to human jobs?

Yes/No Question: Will AI take away too many human jobs?
Vocabulary: artificial intelligence, automation, unemployment, efficiency, innovation
Sentence Starters:

AI could be a threat because…
I believe AI can create more jobs because…
Follow-up Question: What kind of jobs are most at risk from AI?

Yes/No Question: Should tech companies control what people post?
Vocabulary: fake news, misinformation, ban, freedom of speech, platform
Sentence Starters:

Social media should control fake news because…
It’s dangerous to limit speech because…
Follow-up Question: How can we tell if news is true or false online?

33. Are smartphones making people addicted to technology?

Yes/No Question: Do people use smartphones too much?
Vocabulary: addiction, screen time, habit, control, notification
Sentence Starters:

People are addicted because they…
I think people can control it if…
Follow-up Question: What are signs of phone addiction?

34. Is online learning as effective as classroom learning?

Yes/No Question: Can online classes replace in-person learning?
Vocabulary: remote learning, effectiveness, flexibility, motivation, interaction
Sentence Starters:

Online learning works well because…
Face-to-face learning is better because…
Follow-up Question: In what situations is online learning best?

35. Should governments limit the use of facial recognition technology?

Yes/No Question: Is it dangerous for governments to use face recognition?
Vocabulary: privacy, surveillance, security, identity, misuse
Sentence Starters:

It’s necessary for safety because…
It invades privacy because…
Follow-up Question: Where should facial recognition be allowed?

36. Do dating apps change the way people form relationships?

Yes/No Question: Are dating apps helpful or harmful for real connections?
Vocabulary: dating app, relationship, connection, meet, swipe
Sentence Starters:

Dating apps help people meet because…
They hurt relationships because…
Follow-up Question: What are the pros and cons of dating apps?

37. Should people have the right to delete their online data?

Yes/No Question: Can people truly erase their digital history?
Vocabulary: data privacy, personal information, control, rights, internet footprint
Sentence Starters:

People should control their data because…
It’s difficult to delete everything because…
Follow-up Question: What kind of data should be easier to delete?

38. Is it ethical to use AI-generated art or writing?

Yes/No Question: Should AI be used to create content like art or essays?
Vocabulary: creativity, originality, plagiarism, copyright, authorship
Sentence Starters:

AI can support creativity because…
It’s not ethical because…
Follow-up Question: How can we give credit when AI is involved?

39. Should children be allowed to use technology before age five?

Yes/No Question: Is early tech use harmful for young children?
Vocabulary: early childhood, brain development, screen exposure, parenting
Sentence Starters:

Tech can help children learn if…
It may harm development because…
Follow-up Question: What’s a healthy amount of screen time for kids?

40. Is virtual reality the future of entertainment and education?

Yes/No Question: Will VR become a normal part of daily life?
Vocabulary: virtual reality, immersive, experience, future, simulation
Sentence Starters:

VR will become common because…
It has limits because…
Follow-up Question: In which areas can VR be most useful?

Level C1 – ESL Debate Topics on Technology

41. Should tech companies be held legally responsible for user behavior?

Yes/No Question: Are social media platforms responsible for what users post or do?
Vocabulary: accountability, liability, regulation, platform moderation, user conduct
Sentence Starters:

Tech companies should be accountable because…
Users are responsible for their own actions because…
Follow-up Question: What limits should be placed on tech companies?

42. Is digital surveillance necessary for national security?

Yes/No Question: Should governments use technology to monitor citizens for safety?
Vocabulary: surveillance, national security, civil liberties, privacy, balance
Sentence Starters:

Surveillance is justified to protect the public because…
It risks violating rights because…
Follow-up Question: Where should we draw the line between safety and privacy?

43. Can AI ever be truly creative?

Yes/No Question: Is artificial intelligence capable of original thought?
Vocabulary: creativity, originality, algorithm, inspiration, consciousness
Sentence Starters:

AI can be creative in its own way because…
True creativity requires human emotion and experience because…
Follow-up Question: How do we define creativity in the age of machines?

44. Should humans enhance their bodies with technology (e.g., brain chips)?

Yes/No Question: Is it ethical to use tech to improve human abilities?
Vocabulary: biohacking, augmentation, ethics, transhumanism, enhancement
Sentence Starters:

Body enhancements could benefit humanity because…
It’s dangerous to interfere with nature because…
Follow-up Question: Where should we stop when upgrading ourselves?

45. Is our reliance on technology weakening human memory and intelligence?

Yes/No Question: Does using technology make people mentally lazy?
Vocabulary: dependence, cognitive skills, memory retention, multitasking, intelligence
Sentence Starters:

We rely too much on tech because…
Tech supports rather than replaces thinking because…
Follow-up Question: What are some ways to keep our brains sharp?

46. Should deepfake technology be banned?

Yes/No Question: Is it too dangerous to allow deepfake videos and images?
Vocabulary: deepfake, manipulation, misinformation, consent, digital ethics
Sentence Starters:

Deepfakes can be harmful because…
They can be used responsibly if…
Follow-up Question: How can we detect and prevent harmful deepfakes?

47. Is technological progress always a sign of human advancement?

Yes/No Question: Does more technology always mean a better society?
Vocabulary: progress, advancement, innovation, ethical implications, human values
Sentence Starters:

Progress should be measured by quality of life because…
Technology helps, but it doesn’t solve every problem because…
Follow-up Question: What should be the real goal of innovation?

48. Can online activism lead to real-world change?

Yes/No Question: Is social media a powerful tool for social justice?
Vocabulary: activism, awareness, slacktivism, mobilization, impact
Sentence Starters:

Online activism is effective because…
It’s limited if people don’t act offline because…
Follow-up Question: What makes digital activism successful?

49. Should technology be used to monitor employee productivity?

Yes/No Question: Is it acceptable for companies to track workers digitally?
Vocabulary: monitoring, productivity, workplace ethics, surveillance, efficiency
Sentence Starters:

Monitoring can help improve work because…
It invades privacy and trust because…
Follow-up Question: How can companies find a fair balance?

50. Will human relationships suffer in a fully digital future?

Yes/No Question: Will people become more emotionally distant due to tech?
Vocabulary: emotional intelligence, connection, screen culture, empathy, isolation
Sentence Starters:

Technology might reduce emotional depth because…
People can still form strong bonds online because…
Follow-up Question: How can we stay emotionally connected in a digital world?

Level C2 – ESL Debate Topics on Technology

51. Should we grant rights to intelligent machines?

Yes/No Question: Should highly advanced AI have legal or moral rights?
Vocabulary: sentience, consciousness, moral agency, legal status, machine ethics
Sentence Starters:

If machines become sentient, they deserve rights because…
Rights are for living beings only because…
Follow-up Question: How do we determine if an AI is truly conscious?

52. Is the concept of digital immortality desirable or dangerous?

Yes/No Question: Should people upload their minds to live forever digitally?
Vocabulary: digital legacy, consciousness transfer, mortality, transhumanism, identity
Sentence Starters:

Digital immortality could preserve knowledge because…
It disrupts the natural cycle of life because…
Follow-up Question: Would a digital version of you still be “you”?

53. Should society reject technological determinism?

Yes/No Question: Does technology control human direction more than humans control it?
Vocabulary: determinism, autonomy, agency, socio-cultural impact, innovation trajectory
Sentence Starters:

Technology shapes society more than we realize because…
Humans always maintain the power to decide because…
Follow-up Question: Can we slow or reverse harmful tech developments?

54. Can ethical frameworks keep up with rapid technological change?

Yes/No Question: Are ethical systems evolving fast enough to handle new tech?
Vocabulary: ethics, regulation, innovation pace, moral lag, governance
Sentence Starters:

Ethics must evolve with technology because…
Tech outpaces our ability to regulate it because…
Follow-up Question: Who should be responsible for creating these frameworks?

55. Is the pursuit of technological perfection creating a flawed society?

Yes/No Question: Does our obsession with innovation cause social or moral problems?
Vocabulary: perfectionism, unintended consequences, inequality, innovation pressure, techno-elitism
Sentence Starters:

Striving for perfect tech can harm society because…
Perfection drives progress if managed wisely because…
Follow-up Question: What’s a healthy attitude toward imperfection in tech?

56. Should AI be allowed to make life-or-death decisions?

Yes/No Question: Can we trust machines in critical ethical scenarios, like warfare or healthcare?
Vocabulary: autonomous systems, ethics, responsibility, judgment, human oversight
Sentence Starters:

AI should never decide life or death because…
In some urgent cases, AI may be more accurate because…
Follow-up Question: How can we ensure accountability in such decisions?

57. Has technology eroded the meaning of human experience?

Yes/No Question: Are our lives less authentic due to constant digital interaction?
Vocabulary: authenticity, digital mediation, existentialism, emotional depth, self-perception
Sentence Starters:

Digital life reduces authentic human experience because…
It simply redefines experience, not erases it because…
Follow-up Question: What makes an experience meaningful in the digital age?

58. Is complete technological neutrality a myth?

Yes/No Question: Can technology ever be free of values, bias, or ideology?
Vocabulary: neutrality, bias, embedded values, design ethics, socio-political influence
Sentence Starters:

All tech reflects human values because…
It depends on how the tech is used because…
Follow-up Question: How can we recognize hidden bias in seemingly neutral tools?

59. Will future societies divide along digital intelligence lines?

Yes/No Question: Will access to AI and data create new social classes?
Vocabulary: digital divide, data capital, algorithmic inequality, techno-elitism, digital literacy
Sentence Starters:

Unequal access will deepen inequality because…
Societies can bridge this gap through education because…
Follow-up Question: What can governments do to prevent digital class divisions?

60. Is there a moral limit to technological curiosity?

Yes/No Question: Should some innovations be avoided, even if they are possible?
Vocabulary: ethics, boundaries, knowledge pursuit, responsibility, Pandora’s box
Sentence Starters:

Not everything we can do should be done because…
Innovation must always be pursued carefully because…
Follow-up Question: Who decides what counts as “going too far” in science?

Conclusion

Using debate topics on technology is a powerful way to bring energy and purpose into your ESL classroom. It helps students go beyond memorizing words and start using English to express real thoughts and opinions.

This post gives you a complete collection of 100 ready-to-use topics, organized by level, so you can easily find the right fit for your learners. Each topic is designed to support language growth, critical thinking, and class interaction.

Try one or two topics in your next class and see how your students respond. With the right structure and support, even shy learners can speak up and surprise you.

Technology is always changing—and so are your students. Give them the language to talk about it with confidence.

FAQs about ESL Technology Debate Topics

What are some good debate topics on technology for ESL students?
Good topics include questions about smartphones, robots, social media, AI, and how technology affects daily life. This post has 100 level-based examples.

How can I use debate topics in an ESL class?
You can use them as warm-up discussions, group activities, speaking practice, or even writing prompts. Just choose topics that match your students’ level.

Are these debate topics suitable for all English levels?
Yes, the topics are organized by CEFR levels from A1 to C2. Each topic is designed with vocabulary and questions that suit the learners’ abilities.

How do debate activities help ESL learners?
Debates help students practice speaking, listening, vocabulary, and thinking in English. They also learn how to explain opinions and respond to others.

Do I need to teach debate rules before using these topics?
It’s helpful but not always necessary. For lower levels, focus on simple speaking practice. For higher levels, you can teach formal debate structure.

Can I use these debate topics for writing practice too?
Yes! You can ask students to write short opinion paragraphs or essays using the same debate questions and sentence starters from this post.

What if my students are shy or afraid to speak?
Start with pair or small group discussions. Use sentence starters and simple vocabulary to make them feel more confident and ready to share.

How do I handle strong or sensitive opinions during debates?
Set clear classroom rules for respect and active listening. Encourage open-mindedness and focus on practicing English, not winning arguments.

Are these debate topics updated for modern technology?
Yes, the topics include current themes like AI, digital privacy, social media, and smart devices, which are all relevant to today’s learners.

Can I download or print these debate topics?
You can copy and paste them into a document for classroom use. Or bookmark this page so you can easily return whenever you need new topics.

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