should smoking be banned persuasive essay

Should Smoking Be Illegal?

Should smoking be banned? What are the pros and cons of banning cigarettes in public places? If you’re writing an argumentative essay or persuasive speech on why smoking should be banned, check out this sample.

Smoking Should Be Banned: Essay Introduction

Reasons why smoking should be banned, why smoking should not be banned: essay arguments, why smoking should be banned essay conclusion.

Smoking involves burning a substance to take in its smoke into the lungs. These substances are commonly tobacco or cannabis. Combustion releases the active substances in them, like nicotine, which are absorbed through the lungs.

A widespread technique through which this is done is via smoking manufactured cigarettes or hand-rolling the tobacco ready for smoking. Almost 1 billion people in the majority of all human societies practice smoking. Complications directly associated with smoking claim the lives of half of all the persons involved in smoking tobacco or marijuana for a long time.

Smoking is an addiction because tobacco contains nicotine, which is very addictive. The nicotine makes it difficult for a smoker to quit. Therefore, a person will become used to nicotine such that he/she has to smoke to feel normal. Consequently, I think smoking should be banned for some reason.

One reason why smoking should be banned is that it has got several health effects. It harms almost every organ of the body. Cigarette smoking causes 87% of lung cancer deaths and is also responsible for many other cancer and health problems. 

Apart from this, infant deaths that occur in pregnant women are attributed to smoking. Similarly, people who stay near smokers become secondary smokers, who may breathe in the smoke and get the same health problems as smokers. Although not widely smoked, cannabis also has health problems, and withdrawal symptoms include depression, insomnia, frustration, anger, anxiety, concentration difficulties, and restlessness.

Besides causing emphysema, smoking also affects the digestive organs and the blood circulatory systems, especially heart arteries. Women have a higher risk of heart attack than men, exacerbating with time as one smokes. Smoking also affects the mouth, whereby the teeth become discolored, the lips blacken and always stay dry, and the breath smells bad.

Cigarette and tobacco products are costly. People who smoke are therefore forced to spend their money on these products, which badly wastes the income they would have otherwise spent on other things. Therefore, I think that smoking should be forbidden to reduce the costs of treating diseases related to smoking and the number of deaths caused by smoking-related illnesses.

However, tobacco and cigarette manufacturing nations would lose a lot if smoking was to be banned. I, therefore, think that it should not be banned. Some nations largely depend on exporting cigarettes and tobacco products to get revenue.

This revenue typically boosts the economy of such nations. If smoking were banned, they would incur significant losses since tobacco companies are multi-billion organizations. Apart from these, millions of people will be jobless due to the ban.

The process by which tobacco and cigarette products reach consumers is very complex, and it involves a chain process with several people involved in it. Banning smoking, therefore, means these people will lose their jobs, which most may depend on for their livelihoods.

In conclusion, the ban on smoking is a tough step to be undertaken, especially when the number of worldwide users is billions. Although it burdens nations enormously in treating smoking-related diseases, it may take a long time before a ban can work. Attempts by some nations to do this have often been met with failures.

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Persuasive Essay Writing

Persuasive Essay About Smoking

Craft an Engaging Persuasive Essay About Smoking: Examples & Tips

Published on: Jan 25, 2023

Last updated on: Jan 29, 2024

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Are you stuck on your persuasive essay about smoking? If so, don’t worry – it doesn’t have to be an uphill battle. 

What if we told you that learning to craft a compelling argument to persuade your reader was just a piece of cake? 

In this blog post, we'll provide tips and examples on writing an engaging persuasive essay on the dangers of smoking…all without breaking a sweat! 

So grab a cup of coffee, get comfortable, and let's get started!

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Persuasive Essay-Defined 

A persuasive essay is a form of academic writing that presents an argument in favor of a particular position, opinion, or viewpoint. 

It is usually written to convince the audience to take a certain action or adopt a specific viewpoint. 

The primary purpose of this type of essay is to provide evidence and arguments that support the writer's opinion.

In persuasive writing, the writer will often use facts, logic, and emotion to convince the reader that their stance is correct. 

The writer can persuade the reader to consider or agree with their point of view by presenting a well-researched and logically structured argument. 

The goal of a persuasive essay is not to sway the reader's opinion. It is to rather inform and educate them on a particular topic or issue. 

Check this free downloadable example of a persuasive essay about smoking!

Simple Persuasive essay about smoking

Read our extensive guide on persuasive essays to learn more about crafting a masterpiece every time. 

Persuasive Essay Examples About Smoking 

Are you a student looking for some useful tips to write an effective persuasive essay about the dangers of smoking? 

Look no further! Here are several great examples of persuasive essays that masterfully tackle the subject and persuade readers creatively.

Persuasive speech on the smoking outline

Persuasive essay about smoking should be banned

Persuasive essay about smoking pdf

Persuasive essay about smoking cannot relieve stress

Persuasive essay about smoking in public places

Speech about smoking is dangerous

For more examples about persuasive essays, check out our blog on persuasive essay examples .

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Argumentative Essay About Smoking Examples

Our examples can help you find the points that work best for your style and argument. 

Argumentative essay about smoking introduction

Argumentative essay about smoking pdf

Argumentative essay about smoking in public places

10 Tips for Writing a Persuasive Essay About Smoking 

Here are a few tips and tricks to make your persuasive essay about smoking stand out: 

1. Do Your Research

 Before you start writing, make sure to do thorough research on the topic of smoking and its effects. 

Look for primary and secondary sources that provide valuable information about the issue.

2. Create an Outline

An outline is essential when organizing your thoughts and ideas into a cohesive structure. This can help you organize your arguments and counterarguments.

Read our blog about creating a persuasive essay outline to master your next essay.

Check out this amazing video here!

3. Clearly Define the Issue

 Make sure your writing identifies the problem of smoking and why it should be stopped.

4. Highlight Consequences

 Show readers the possible negative impacts of smoking, like cancer, respiratory issues, and addiction.

5. Identity Solutions 

Provide viable solutions to the problem, such as cessation programs, cigarette alternatives, and lifestyle changes.

6. Be Research-Oriented  

Research facts about smoking and provide sources for those facts that can be used to support your argument.

7. Aim For the Emotions

Use powerful language and vivid imagery to draw readers in and make them feel like you do about smoking.

8. Use Personal Stories 

Share personal stories or anecdotes of people who have successfully quit smoking and those negatively impacted by it.

9. Include an Action Plan

Offer step-by-step instructions on how to quit smoking, and provide resources for assistance effectively.

10. Reference Experts 

Incorporate quotes and opinions from medical professionals, researchers, or other experts in the field.

These tips can help you write an effective persuasive essay about smoking and its negative effects on the body, mind, and society. 

When your next writing assignment has you feeling stuck, don't forget that essay examples about smoking are always available to break through writer's block.

And if you need help getting started, our expert essay writer at CollegeEssay.org is more than happy to assist. 

Just give us your details, and our persuasive essay writer will start working on crafting a masterpiece. 

We provide top-notch essay writing service online to help you get the grades you deserve and boost your career.

Try our AI writing tool today to save time and effort!

Frequently Asked Questions

What would be a good thesis statement for smoking.

A good thesis statement for smoking could be: "Smoking has serious health risks that outweigh any perceived benefits, and its use should be strongly discouraged."

What are good topics for persuasive essays?

Good topics for persuasive essays include the effects of smoking on health, the dangers of second-hand smoke, the economic implications of tobacco taxes, and ways to reduce teenage smoking. 

These topics can be explored differently to provide a unique and engaging argument.

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Cigarette Smoking Should Be Banned Argumentative Essay

Each year, nearly half a million Americans die prematurely of smoking as well as exposure to secondhand smoke. Another 16 million live with a serious illness caused by smoking . The reason why smoking cigarettes are so hard to stop is because the substance contains nicotine, which is very addictive. People use this as their way of feeling normal, and it's really taking a toll on their bodys and their general health. I believe that cigarette smoking should be banned because it causes too many health concerns for both smokers and nonsmokers. 

Smoking is one of the worst possible actions an individual can do to their body. One little six inch object of tobacco is one of the deadliest objects in our world today. Thousands of chemicals are inserted into your lungs after smoking. Now picture that 10 times a day, everyday, for the rest of your life. People are basically poisoning themselves to an early death. The tragic fact about smoking is that tobacco use can actually cause cancer anywhere in the body. This is the leading cause of lung cancer as well as many other cancers and diseases. One third of all cancer deaths in the U.S are related to smoking. If nobody smoked, one of every three cancer deaths in the United States would not happen.

There is no reason to continue to allow the use of a product that is killing so many people. Smoking kills thousands of people a year and at this rate, this is a number that will grow before it shrinks. Millions of people even live with a serious illness which is caused by smoking. I believe that as a nation we are doing good with helping stop this problem, but were not doing good enough. More people should talk about this problem because it's only getting worse, especially with young people. More teens are using nicotine everyday and don't truly understand what they're doing to their bodys. As we all know smoking causes the lungs to turn completely black, like a chimney. Schools should definitely try to prevent their young students from stopping now while they can, before it gets bad.

Most smokers don't even enjoy their habit. The problem isn't that they don't know it's a bad habit, it's that they are addicted to nicotine. This is mainly the reason why individuals cant stop smoking. If one were to try to stop, the symptoms of withdrawal include cravings, anxiety, depression and cognitive/ attention deficits. The symptoms can begin within a few hours; driving the smoker to have another cigarette. There are a lot of positive things to come if one were to stop smoking. Quitting smoking cuts cardiovascular risks. Just 1 year after quitting smoking, your risk for a heart attack drops tremendously. 

Another reason why cigarette smoking should be banned is because of how much money people are wasting for these tobacco products. Tobacco companies are getting richer by the day, and are swimming in pools of cash while tobacco users are gradually dying. The cost of cigarettes is already high and what people don't think about is how much more money they're going to spend later on in life for life insurance.

Cigarette smoking has led to many health concerns even for those who are right next to the smoker. Everyone is at risk because the general public is often exposed to secondhand smoke. This can be dangerous to those who have no intention to smoke at all. The sad reality of our world is that even the people making the right decision by not smoking, are still being exposed to secondhand smoke. Secondhand smoke causes stroke, lung cancer, and  heart disease in adults. Children who are exposed to secondhand smoke are at increased risk for sudden infant death syndrome, acute respiratory infections, middle ear disease, more severe asthma, respiratory symptoms, and slowed lung growth. 

 Even a person who inhales second hand smoke without consent is in harm of dangerous diseases and cancers. This is an ongoing problem, especially with young children. Parents who smoke are allowing their children to receive poisons everyday. It's a horrible fact especially understanding that children's organs are a lot more sensitive than the average adult. Therefore, children are prone to become addicted a lot faster, and this means that they are most likely to continue that habit when they are older. There's no reason or excuse to why people who try to avoid smoking are the ones being affected by this issue. Cigarette smoking should be banned in public areas because it is an exposure to secondhand smoke, causes cancer, and premature deaths among people who do not smoke. 

In conclusion, Cigarettes should be banned because of the ongoing number of premature deaths, many health concerns and the wasted money spent on cigarettes alone. Millions of people are dying each year because of cigarette smoking and in all reality we are doing nothing to fix this problem except giving our money away to these tobacco companies.  Unfortunately, many people are at risk of losing their lives at a young age if we don't come together and help stop this issue.

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Smoking Should Be Banned

Checked : Soha K. , Olivia S.

Latest Update 18 Jan, 2024

Table of content

Recent medical research has shown that smoking does not only harm smokers, but also non-smokers who are nearby. That’s why a lot of people think that smoking should be banned in public places.

In my opinion, ban on smoking is the right thing.

Opponents of this ban argue against it. Firstly, they say that smoking is not against the law so people can smoke where they want. In addition, in restaurants and some other public places there are special rooms for smoking. Besides, if they banned smoking, the government would lose a lot of money from taxes on cigarettes. As a result, many tobacco companies wouldn’t have income and would go bankrupt.

There are more arguments in favor of the ban. Smoking is very dangerous for health. It causes many serious diseases such as heart attacks, asthma bronchitis and even lung cancer. As King James 1 said:” Smoking is hateful to the nose, harmful to brain and dangerous to the lungs.” It is a recognized fact that cigarettes kill 50000 people every year. Each cigarette shortens your life for five minutes. Tobacco kills more people each year than alcohol and drugs combined.

Apart from this, the harm of smoking for women should be especially highlighted. They give birth to children and it’s difficult to have a healthy child being a smoker.

Moreover, passive smoking is also a major concern today. Non-smokers can suffer from health problems if they spend a lot of time among people who smoke. Despite the warnings given by doctors about the ill-effect of smoking, young people continue to smoke and some of them become nicotine addicts. Cigarettes are so addictive because it takes only 7 seconds to feel the effect of the nicotine in your blood. I think many teens start smoking because they want to look more grown up than they really are. Children whose parents smoke are more likely to smoke themselves.

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All things considered, smoking should be banned in all public places- schools, hospitals, restaurants, bars, trains and others. I believe it would be a great idea to ban all kinds of advertising of tobacco on TV, the Internet and other social media. Another suggestion is to double taxes on tobacco and raise the price on cigarettes. What is more, it is necessary to launch a campaign against children smoking. Much can be done by explaining to children that they ruin their health by smoking.

I agree with Brooke Shields’ words: “Smoking kills. If you are killed, you’ve lost a very important part of your life”. To my mind, world would be a better place without cigarettes.

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Persuasive Speech - Smoking in public should be banned

erinkay 1 / 1   Feb 12, 2013   #1 The prompt given is "to present a sustained and reasoned point of view on a selected issue in Australian media since September 1 2012." I have chosen to speak about a possible ban of smoking in all public in areas in Australian states, attempting to persuade the audience that the ban is beneficial to the population and should be implemented. Feedback would be much appreciated! "Everyone, even the apparent one-sided marketing teams of tobacco companies, can acknowledge that smoking is bad for people's health. Pictorial evidence of its dastardly effects, strewn across each deck of 20s, public health posters extolled with "SMOKING KILLS" in vivid text remind us each day. On a serene, sunny afternoon in a Melbourne cafĂŠ, I often find the aromatic scene suddenly interrupted by the pungent scent of tobacco wafting from a gentleman lighting up beside my table, and the sudden shift of the other Melbournian customers as they attempt to avoid breathing it in. As one of the most common and unhealthy of human habits, smoking, generally in public, had been regarded as a personal choice that bystanders had little control over. Now, for the first time, the act of public smoking is becoming regulated, even restricted in some instances. Many believe that it should be prohibited as it influences every person devoid of their own approval, whereas tobacco users believe that their right to personal, private use of tobacco is being stolen from them. Nonetheless, it's time for smoking in public to butt out. Since 2004, Victoria and a number of other states have been campaigning to restrict the act of smoking - starting with proposals to make clubs, pubs and bars smoke free. In the new age of 24-hour gyms, shake weights and electronic cigarettes, Australia has been gradually moving towards a healthier population. The story is that in recognition of the harmful effects of exposure to environmental tobacco smoke, the Australian government are taking intervention to curb the problem of public smoking, taking legal action in regards to implementing a law that prohibits smoking in all public places, including outdoor dining and drinking areas. Perth has already implemented a ban, with Melbourne hot on their heels. Melbourne Councillor Richard Forster states that no-smoking boundaries have been extended "around play areas ... childcare centres and hospitals," and that "it's about time that we made it simpler for smokers and everyone else." I, like 70% of people surveyed in 2010 Cancer Council Victoria Survey, agree that this smoking ban would be beneficial and approve of smoking bans in outdoor areas, although, of course, there are those who oppose it. Among the minority, smokers and tobacco users and some members of the population are fighting to preserve their rights. Many believe that smokers have the right to enjoy themselves. They believe that the ban is unnecessary as it restricts liberties too much, that it has gone "too far" in the plight for a healthier city. Whilst all humans do have a right to enjoy themselves, they should not be allowed to so when endangering the health and safety of other human beings. Serial killers enjoy killing people, but it is against the law to do it. Smokers endanger the lives of more than themselves when they smoke in public places. It is also believed that the ban would be difficult to enforce, as smoking is a common and popular occurrence. However, after being trialled in some countries, compliance rates have shown to be quite high, with a smoking ban in Scotland evoking a compliance rate in excess of 99% after just three months. Scotland made it work, so what's stopping Australia? Many laws are difficult to enforce, though to protect the public, it is necessary. It is also believed that the introduction of the ban would have a drastic effect on some businesses. Smoking is considered to be a part of nightlife culture, and that if smokers are not allowed to smoke in pubs, they will not spend as much time in them and revenue will be lost. However, although smokers may cause initial losses, pubs and restaurants will gain money from those who are more likely to eat or drink somewhere if they know they will not have to breathe in second hand smoke. After a state smoking ban in Wisconsin, Savanna Oehrle, manager of a local village pub, stated that despite losing some customers, "a lot of non-smokers would stay longer because it wasn't so smoky." It's possible. So what else does this ban have to offer? With nearly 4000 Victorians dying of smoke-related illnesses each year, I think Australia can afford to make a change. Although some smokers may argue the ban is pointless, it is likely to provide many benefits. The ban would reduce public exposure to second hand-smoke, saving non-smokers from being exposed to its hazards. Those exposed to second-hand smoke can experience similar effects to those who smoke directly. According to the World Health Organisation, second-hand smoke contributes to over 600,000 deaths per year, from causing conditions such as serious cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. With the smoking ban proposing principles such as preventing smoking within 10 metres of places like playgrounds, is it not justifiable to prevent citizens, even children, from exposure to these potential effects? Arguably, the ban would make it more difficult for smokers to find suitable places, though this would be advantageous. It would make it difficult for smokers to keep up with their habit. Not being able to smoke in a pub, a smoker would have to go outside, to possibly face the wrath of unpredictable Melbourne weather, away from their non-smoking friends every time they wanted a cigarette. This would be likely to influence someone to at least consider giving up, or even to smoke less frequently. When a smoking ban in public was introduced in England in 2004, after 9 months there was a fall of 5.5% of the number of smokers in the country, compared to the 1.1% fall before the ban. This is only a good thing, as giving up would reduce the risk of death and smoking's effects on health. Furthermore, if smoking becomes "legally wrong" in the eyes of society, it may also deter the younger population from adopting the habits. I'm sure that many Australian parents would not be delighted at the thought of their child lighting up, so the portraying smoking in this negative life may encourage youths to appeal to their morals, and curb any possible habits beginning. It is evident that introducing this ban that prohibits smoking in public would benefit Australia greatly. The health benefits are the main concept behind it, though reducing the appeal of smoking can also extend to further generations and help Australia gradually in the plight for a healthier population. It is recognised that smoking is a personal choice that smokers are rightfully allowed to what they do, but at what cost? Smokers are still available to freely smoke in their own homes, in privacy, still able to enjoy themselves. There is no total absence, no total dissatisfaction. Despite smoker's opposition, the ban would be just what Australia, and Victoria needs. Organisations such as the Cancer Council argue that it is possibly not enough, that we aren't in line with the rest of the nation. So, perhaps it's time we finally work to extinguishing this flame in Melbourne, in the whole of Australia, and butt out cigarettes in public once and for all." Thank you!

Granolabargurl 1 / 3   Feb 12, 2013   #2 I actually did this same controversial topic in my english class last year :) You're essay is great, but here are a few comments I have "Everyone, even the apparent one-sided marketing teams of tobacco companies, can acknowledge that smoking is bad for people's health." Maybe you can change the word choice of "bad" to "dentrimental" or "harmful" "As one of the most common and unhealthy of human habits, smoking, generally in public, had been regarded as a personal choice that bystanders had little control over." I believe the first had should be has "... has been regarded as a personal choice..." "Among the minority, smokers and tobacco users and some members of the population are fighting to preserve their rights" Change to "smokers, tobacco users, and some members of the population..." Best of luck! Hope this helps :)

OP erinkay 1 / 1   Feb 14, 2013   #3 Thank you!

IvyPanda . (2022) 'On Why One Should Stop Smoking'. 2 June.

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Here are all of our Student Opinion questions from the 2023-24 school year. Each question is based on a different New York Times article, interactive feature or video.

By The Learning Network

Each day of the school year we publish a Student Opinion question inviting students to share their own opinions and experiences in response to New York Times stories on the news of the day. To introduce each question, we provide an excerpt from a related Times article, interactive or video as well as a free link to that piece.

The 176 questions we asked during the 2023-24 school year are available below and in this PDF . The prompts are organized into three sections: questions that lend themselves well to persuasive writing, questions that encourage narrative writing, and additional Student Opinion forums.

Teachers can use these prompts to help students practice narrative and persuasive writing, start classroom debates and even spark conversation between students around the world via our comments section. For more ideas on how to use these Student Opinion prompts in your classroom, you might consult this comprehensive teacher’s guide , which includes practical strategies from a dozen educators.

Questions for Narrative and Personal Writing

1. Do You Multitask? Is It Helpful or Harmful? 2. How Did You Grow and Change This School Year? 3. What Accomplishments Are You Most Proud Of? 4. Have You Ever Been Injured? Tell Us the Story. 5. Where in the World Would You Most Like to Travel? 6. Who Is Your Hero? 7. How Well Do You Get Along With Your Siblings? 8. What Is Teenage Bullying Like Today? 9. Are You a Joiner? 10. When Have You Felt That You Mattered? 11. How Hard Is It to Wake Up in the Morning? 12. What Have You Learned From Failure? 13. Where Is the Line Between Helping a Child Become More Resilient and Pushing Them Too Hard? 14. If You Had $1 Billion to Give Away, What Charity Would You Support? 15. What Are the Small Ways You Show Love to Those You Care About? 16. How Do You Feel About High School? 17. What Activities or Hobbies Do You Do With Your Family? 18. Do You Use, Like, Too Many Filler Words? 19. What Is Your Relationship With Fast Food? 20. What’s the Greatest Gift Your Parents Have Given You? 21. What Is Your Favorite Word? 22. Are You Good at Apologizing? 23. What Is Your Dream Job? 24. What Amazes You Most About Animals? 25. Which Toy Would You Want to Help Design or Update? 26. What Are the Best, and Worst, Recommendations You’ve Gotten From Social Media? 27. What Small Wins Have You Had Recently? 28. What Do You Like About Playing Games? 29. What Everyday Object Deserves More Love? 30. Are You Too Critical of Yourself? 31. Do You Spend Enough Time in the Dirt? 32. What Got Your Attention in the News Recently? 33. Has Your Birth Order Shaped Who You Are? 34. What Elective Do You Wish Your School Offered? 35. How Far Would You Push Yourself Physically to Meet a Goal? 36. How Often Do You Take Breaks From Your Phone? 37. How Do You Deal With Conflicts? 38. What Children’s Book Worlds Do You Wish You Could Visit in Real Life? 39. Has Your Relationship to School Attendance Changed Since the Pandemic? 40. What Can You Make or Fix With Your Hands? 41. What Have You Learned From a Grandparent or Elder? 42. Do You Wish You Had More Places to Go? 43. What Author Would You Most Like to Meet? 44. Have You Ever Lost Someone as a Friend? 45. Do You Keep a Journal? 46. Are You Tired of Influencers? 47. How Did the Covid-19 Pandemic Affect You, Your Family and Your Community? 48. To Whom Would You Write an Open Letter? 49. What’s the Best — and Worst — Part of Being a Sports Fan? 50. How Much Exercise Do You Get Each Week? 51. Do You Have a Hard Time Saying ‘No’? 52. What’s Your Favorite Kind of TikTok Video? 53. What Are Your Favorite Local Businesses? 54. How Involved Do You Expect Your Parents to Be in Your Adult Life? 55. How Important Is It to You to Keep Mementos From Your Life? 56. Who Are Your Favorite Athletes to Watch Right Now? 57. How Does Your School Address Students’ Mental Health Needs? 58. What Communities Are You a Part Of? What Communities Would You Like to Explore? 59. What’s Your TV ‘Comfort Food’? 60. What Sad Songs Do You Listen to When You’re Feeling Down? 61. Will You Be Watching Super Bowl LVIII? 62. What Was Your Most Memorable Field Trip? 63. What Is Unique About Where You Live? 64. What Is Your Experience With Group Chats? 65. Are You a Fan of Movie Remakes? 66. What Brings You Delight? 67. Do You Ever Host or Attend Sleepovers? 68. Here Are 15 Winning Tiny Memoirs. Which Ones Most Resonate With You? 69. What Is Your Reaction to Trump’s Conviction on 34 Felony Counts? 70. Do You Enjoy Keeping Secrets? 71. Are You Growing Tired of Superhero Movies? 72. What Do You Wish You Could Do Well? 73. Do You Think Any of These Mythical Creatures Might Be Real? 74. What Are Your Thoughts on Last Names? 75. Which TV Show or Movie Would You Want to Live? 76. Do You Ever Feel Envious of Others? 77. What Do You Want to Do Differently in the New Year? 78. What Is the Best Month of the Year? What Is the Worst? 79. What Will You Remember About 2023? 80. Do You Prefer Gifts That You’ve Asked For or Ones That Are a Surprise? 81. How Do You Feel About Holiday Music? 82. What Do You Appreciate About Winter? 83. Do You Like to Dance? 84. Do You Ever Feel Sentimental About the Past? 85. What Slang Do You Use? 86. Do You Like Spending Time Alone With Your Thoughts? 87. Do You Like Watching Other People Watch Sports? 88. What Role Does Humor Play in Your Life? 89. What Are You Grateful For? 90. Do You Trust Online Reviews? 91. What Have You Changed Your Mind About? 92. Do You Use Swear Words? 93. The North American Total Solar Eclipse Is Here. Are You Watching? 94. What ‘Oddball Rituals’ Do You Have? 95. Do You Ever Feel Pressure to Post About Your Outrage Online? 96. What Do You Enjoy That Others Think Is Cringe, Played Out or Just Uncool? 97. What Small Moments From Your Life Do You Think About Often? 98. Are You There for Your Friends When They Need You? 99. What Misconceptions Do People Have About Where You Live? 100. What’s Your Take on Beige Flags in Relationships? 101. Do You Share Music Tastes With Your Parents? 102. What Does Hip-Hop Mean to You? 103. What Do You Think of Barbie? 104. How Concerned Are You About the Cost of College? 105. What Has Been Your Best Secondhand Find? 106. What Household Items Can’t You Live Without? 107. How Do You Feel When You’re Interrupted? 108. At Which Museum or Venue Would You Like to Spend the Night? 109. What Were the Best and Worst Parts of Your Summer Vacation?

Questions for Debate and Persuasive Writing

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A surgeon general's warning on social media might look like this: BEYOND HERE BE MONSTERS!

Should you proceed past this warning, you are guaranteed a life of distraction, frustration and time-wasting the likes of which few psychologists could ever have imagined..

U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy has sensibly called on Congress to pass legislation mandating warning labels on social media sites .

In a New York Times essay published Monday , Murthy wrote: “It is time to require a surgeon general’s warning label on social media platforms, stating that social media is associated with significant mental health harms for adolescents. A surgeon general’s warning label, which requires congressional action, would regularly remind parents and adolescents that social media has not been proved safe.”

I agree wholeheartedly with this idea. Social media sites are toxic digital cesspools filled with bullies and hateful trolls and cooking videos that never work out right when I try them. They should be banned like asbestos.

Social media sites should absolutely carry warning labels

Barring that, they should at least carry warning labels like you find on packs of cigarettes and on guns and … oh, wait, never mind, I’m being told we don’t put them on guns we just … wait, really? … no warning labels on guns? … that seems dumb … OK, anyway …

Social media is awful for kids: Parents need help regulating their children's social media. A government ban would help.

As Murthy wrote : “There is no seatbelt for parents to click, no helmet to snap in place, no assurance that trusted experts have investigated and ensured that these platforms are safe for our kids.”

A first draft of a surgeon general's warning label for social media

To help in this push to protect children and anyone else who might be easily sucked into the hate-cyclone of social media, I’ve drafted language for the surgeon general’s warning that Congress will hopefully approve and slap on Facebook, X, TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat and whatever other insidious platforms are out there:

SURGEON GENERAL'S WARNING: TURN AWAY! BEYOND HERE BE MONSTERS! Social media has been found to be dangerous to your mental health , causing everything from stress to sadness to rage to “the yips” to low self-esteem to an incessant feeling that humanity is beyond saving and that the world itself has devolved to the point where someone with the username @PoopLord666 feels it necessary to hurl insults at you for no apparent reason.

Along with its addictive nature, fed by algorithms cooked up by billionaires eager to own at least one more mansion, social media provides a largely anonymous platform for deeply damaged individuals to seek out good people and target their deepest insecurities, imposing on the innocent user the sensation of being stuffed into a high-school locker over and over and over again.

No TikTok? No problem. Here's why you shouldn't rush to buy your child a phone.

Should you proceed past this warning, you are guaranteed a life of distraction, frustration and time-wasting the likes of which few psychologists could ever have imagined. The world outside, with all its beauty and wonder, will continue to exist, but you will be trapped inside a box of horrors that will stunt your imagination, blunt your attention span and leave you typing expletive-laden rants at another user who's probably a 12-year-old Russian being paid to foment discontent among Americans. Congratulations, you have wasted precious moments of your life.

Opinion alerts: Get columns from your favorite columnists + expert analysis on top issues, delivered straight to your device through the USA TODAY app. Don't have the app? Download it for free from your app store .

Rather than enter this site, the surgeon general recommends you do literally anything else, even if it is smoking cigarettes. Go outside and look at the sky. Read a book. Dig a hole. Say hello to an actual human.

But for the love of God, DO NOT enter this site. Nothing good will come of it and your soul will be lost to the ages. Have you tried bouncing a ball or poking things with a stick? Maybe do that instead.

Follow USA TODAY columnist Rex Huppke on X, formerly Twitter,  @RexHuppke  and Facebook  facebook.com/RexIsAJerk .

You can read diverse opinions from our USA TODAY columnists and other writers on the Opinion front page , on X, formerly Twitter, @usatodayopinion and in our Opinion newsletter .

Home — Essay Samples — Social Issues — Cyber Bullying — Persuasive Speech On Cyberbullying

Persuasive Speech on Cyberbullying

• Categories: Cyber Bullying

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Published: Jun 13, 2024

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