1st Session

1. Introduce yourself.

2. What springs to mind when you hear the term ‘junk food’?

3. How often do you eat junk food?

4. What is it about junk food that is so bad for us?

Instagram and Anxiety: The Science of Scrolling

Whether you check it on the way to work, during breaks or before bed, scrolling through social media has become a habit for many people. But have you ever noticed how hard it is to stop?

A new study looked at what happens inside our bodies when we use social media ― and when we suddenly stop. It found that social media doesn't just capture our attention; it causes changes in our heart rate, sweat levels and stress responses.

Researchers from Durham University in the UK looked at Instagram to see how it changes our physical state in real time. For the study, they tested 54 Instagram users in three steps, each lasting 15 minutes. First, participants read a news article to measure their normal state. Then, they scrolled through Instagram. Finally, they had to stop using Instagram, but still received notifications they couldn't check. During each step, the researchers looked at participants' heart rates, sweat levels and stress. While participants scrolled, their heart rates slowed, meaning they were very focused. At the same time, sweat levels increased, showing excitement.

But when participants had to stop scrolling, their heart rates increased, sweat levels rose even more, and they reported feeling anxious and stressed. These effects were even stronger when they were getting notifications they couldn't check. The effects were the same for everyone, not just heavy social media users.

Niklas Ihssen, one of the study's authors, explained that these effects suggest that Instagram pulls people into a state of deep engagement. And if that state is interrupted, the body reacts with more stress. These findings raise important questions about how social media affects us. If every short scrolling session triggers pleasure followed by stress, people may go through this cycle many times a day without knowing it.

To break the cycle, small changes like turning off notifications, or only checking social media at certain times during the day, might help.

1. What are your thoughts on Durham University's findings?

2. Does it surprise you that social media can cause physical changes in our bodies?

3. Do you use Instagram? How often do you check it throughout the day?

4. Do you find it hard to stop scrolling on social media?

2nd Session

1. Introduce yourself.

2. Do humans need to eat meat?

3. Do you like raw meat?

4. What are the differences between meat and fish?

Survey: 68% of Japanese People Worried About Sleep

Are you sleeping well at night? If not, you aren't alone. One survey has found that most Japanese people are not sleeping as well as they'd like.

The survey of 1,781 adults was conducted in December 2024 by medical equipment company Fujiiryoki. It found that 68% were concerned about their sleep. The most common problem respondents had with sleep was "waking up several times during the night," which was reported by 59%. Just a little over 44% said they were only getting shallow sleep, while 43% said they still felt tired after sleep.

A little over half of the respondents said their ideal amount of sleep is eight hours. However, around 60% reported they were getting just six hours or less during the week. Only 11% of respondents said they were getting eight hours of sleep during the week, although this increased to 23% on weekends and holidays. When asked why they were having trouble sleeping, the top reason was "age," named by 52% of respondents. This was followed by "work stress" and "lack of exercise."

But do we need eight hours of sleep every night? Some of us may actually need less, while some need more. Medical News Today writes that research suggests that healthy adults do need between seven and nine hours of sleep a night.

However, teenagers need about eight to 10 hours, while school-aged kids need as much as nine to 11 hours a night. Our need for sleep may then decrease with age, as older adults need just seven to eight hours.

1. Do you function well on six hours of sleep? What's your ideal amount of sleep?

2. Do you often wake up at night? Do you find it hard to go back to sleep?

3. What do you do when you have trouble sleeping?

4. Do you prefer sleeping in a completely dark room or with some light?