Issues Paper
Using Instagram and YouTube in a Listening and Speaking Class? No Way… or a New Safe
Space for Teaching and Learning?
INTRODUCTION
Talk to many teachers about students’ use of social media and it is very likely that they will
describe it as distracting and unsafe for teaching and learning. This notwithstanding, recent
research on YouTube and Instagram in EFL contexts shows measurable gains in listening and
speaking, reduced anxiety and higher learner engagement especially when these platforms are
purposefully integrated into pedagogy (Ariantini et al., 2021: Hasan, 2025; Manogaran &
Sulaiman, 2022). This issues paper draws on review of current studies to ask under what
conditions Intsagram and YouTube can be considered “safe spaces” for listening and speaking
classes and what risk remain (Wu