Hello. You're listening to Real Easy English from BBC Learning English.
I'm Neil. And I'm Georgie.
In this podcast, we talk in Easy English about a different topic each week to help improve your English skills.
If you want to read along, you can visit our website bbclearningenglish .com.
Hi Neil. Hi Georgie.
How are you? I'm pretty good, thanks.
How are you? I'm very well, thank you.
What are we talking about today, Neil?
Well, today we're talking about social media and how much we use it.
Well, I use social media all the time, so I have lots of things to say.
Great. OK, Georgie, so you said you use social media a lot.
Why do you like it?
Well, the reason I like it is actually the reason I dislike it as well.
I use it when I'm bored.
It can be very entertaining, especially TikTok.
For example, yeah, the videos I watch are very fun and entertaining.
I like that about it, but it's also something I hate because it can be very addictive and you can waste a lot of time watching TikTok videos.
Neil, do you watch TikTok videos?
I try not to, to be honest, because I'm too old.
You're never too old for TikTok videos.
But I always think I'm using it too much.
Do you think you use social media too much, Georgie?
I think definitely I use social media too much.
OK, Georgie, you used the word definitely.
Tell us more about definitely.
Yes, well, definitely means that something is certainly the case.
If you definitely do something, there is no doubt that you did it.
You certainly did it.
Yeah. So what do you use social media for?
You said you watch videos, but anything else?
The main reason I think is to stay in touch with my friends.
This was definitely true when I lived in Spain.
It was a good way for me to see what my friends in England were doing.
I also posted things myself.
So it was a way to show everyone else what I was doing as well.
Neil, what do you use social media for?
Well, I like messaging apps mainly and group chat so that I can catch up with friends who live far away that I can't actually see in person.
Yes, I also use it for that.
Neil, you just used the verb catch up with.
Can you explain that a bit more, please?
Yeah. So if you catch up with someone, it means you speak to them, you contact them and you find out what they've been doing in their life.
find out what activities or what changes in their lives have happened.
Yeah, when you catch up with someone, it brings you up to date with their life and what they've been doing since you last saw them.
So, Georgie, you said you think you use your phone too much for social media.
Do you have any plans to use your phone less?
I would love to use my phone less, but if I'm being realistic, I think I will probably continue using my phone in the same way.
It's just too difficult to reduce the screen time.
It's so addictive. But maybe in the future I will put those limits that your phone can put to help me reduce my screen time.
Georgie, you used words like maybe and probably and we use these when we're not sure or not certain if we are going to do something.
Yes, so maybe I will use my phone less, maybe I will continue using my phone in the same way.
Probably I will continue using my phone in the same way.
Well, Georgie, it sounds like you use your phone a lot.
Maybe you should have a break or just relax a bit.
Yes, Neil, I think you're right.
Let's quickly recap the words and phrases we learned during the conversation.
We had maybe, which we use to talk about something that is not certain.
Probably, which means most likely.
Definitely. Which we use to say something is certain.
And catch up with. Talking to someone you haven't seen for a long time.
Thanks for listening to Real Easy English.
Remember, you can find more programmes to help you with your English at bbclearningenglish .com.
Next time we'll talk about journeys and how we get to work.
See you then. Bye! Bye!
We'll see you next time.
