[ ABOUT ]
[ EMAIL ]
#3
Pick two of the following stories and write share text for X, Facebook, Threads and Bluesky,in line with best practices for each platform. Explain why you picked the story and what makes it a draw for audiences on social media. (The following links are gift links, so you should not need a subscription to view them. You might have to add in your email address.)
The signs of educational decline are now impossible to ignore
Potential share slide:
“Addressing educational disparities through grade inflation, or managing a supply shortage by freezing prices, is like trying to cure your lung cancer by smoking more,” writes Megan McArdle.
In her latest column, she argues that silencing warning signs in education only deepens the crisis.
https://wapo.st/…
X
“Addressing educational disparities through grade inflation, or managing a supply shortage by freezing prices, is like trying to cure your lung cancer by smoking more,” columnist Megan McArdle writes.
https://wapo.st/…
Threads
“Addressing educational disparities through grade inflation, or managing a supply shortage by freezing prices, is like trying to cure your lung cancer by smoking more.”
In her latest column, @mcmeganish argues that lowering standards only obscures deeper problems in education.
https://wapo.st/…
Bluesky
Lowering the bar won’t solve the underlying problem, columnist Megan McArdle argues.
“Freezing prices doesn’t fix that any more than a courtesy A gives students what they actually need to succeed in college.”
https://wapo.st/…
The magic has gone out of flirting.
Maybe this infamous book had a point.
Potential share slide:
“One of the main criticisms that feminists, and women in general, make…is that it’s just another magician’s con: a form of lying,” writes Sarah Fletcher. “And perhaps it is, but when it comes to dishonesty and sex, where do we draw the line?”
In her latest column, she revisits the dating culture surrounding Neil Strauss’s “The Game.”
https://wapo.st/…
X
“One of the main criticisms that feminists, and women in general, make of pickup artistry is that it’s just another magician’s con: a form of lying,” columnist Sarah Fletcher writes.
“And perhaps it is, but when it comes to dishonesty and sex, where do we draw the line?”
https://wapo.st/…
Threads
“When done right,” one of them told me, “Pickup artistry should be like makeup. It should enhance rather than cover. It should be invisible.”
In her latest essay, columnist Sarah Fletcher revisits the culture of pickup artistry.
https://wapo.st/…
Bluesky
“When it comes to dishonesty and sex, where do we draw the line?”
In her latest column, she revisits the dating culture of pickup artistry surrounding Neil Strauss’s “The Game.”
https://wapo.st/…
The education column encapsulates a broader institutional critique in a single portable line. Education is an issue with broad demographic reach, resonating with parents, students, educators and policy-focused readers. On social platforms, the clarity of the “lung cancer” analogy makes the argument immediately legible and shareable. It is thesis-driven and emotionally direct, qualities that perform strongly on X and Facebook. The piece also lends itself to text-forward visual treatments, presenting an opportunity for quote cards, which have proven to increase engagement in Facebook, Threads, and Bluesky.
Sarah Fletcher’s pickup artist story engages a different segment of the audience. Broaching gender dynamics, dating culture and shifting norms around consent, the story resonates strongly with younger readers and discussion-driven platforms. The selected quote poses a question rather than delivering a verdict, encouraging replies and sustained conversation on Threads and Bluesky. Its framing invites engagement without escalating polarization.
I also chose the pieces for their visual components, supported by illustrations produced by staff or commissioned by the desk. Both stories have illustrations that resonate with the audiences detailed while reinforcing the broader Opinions brand. While quote forward share text has proven effective, the pairing of quotes with visuals often leads to higher engagement and shares across platforms.