Week 19 · Theme 3, Lessons 4–5 Information Websites; Commercial and Non-commercial Internet Services · 3 lessons
3
Commercial or not? Reviews and adverts
ICT P5 Term 2, Theme 3: pp. 22–29
GoalTell a commercial website from a non-commercial one, judge reviews, and explain why adverts follow my interests.
New words
commercial · made to sell products or servicesnon-commercial · made to give information or raise awareness, not to sellreview · a customer’s opinion and stars about a productadvertisement · a message that tries to make you want a product
Explanation
A commercial website sells things. An online shop is commercial. A non-commercial website gives information or raises awareness, like a library or a health page. Shops show customer reviews, which help buyers decide. But be careful: some reviews are fake. A business may write praise for itself, ask friends or family to write it, or a rival may post bad reviews under false names. Very extreme reviews, all praise or all rage, are less trustworthy than a calm one that mentions good and weak points. Adverts also follow you: websites use the pages you visit, your place, your age and your interests to choose the adverts you see. That is why you may see football adverts after watching football videos. Do all shopping only with a grown-up.
Kind of site
Purpose
Example
Commercial
sell products or services
an online shop for school bags
Non-commercial
give information, raise awareness
an online library or a health page
Worked examples
Two invented reviews of a pencil case. Review 1: ‘WORST EVER!!! ZERO STARS!!!’ Review 2: ‘It is light and has two pockets. The zip is a little stiff, but I like it. Four stars.’ Review 2 is more reliable: it gives details and is calm.
Malak loves cats and watches cat videos. Later the adverts she sees are about cat food and toys. The website noticed what she watches. This is how adverts follow interests.
Ahmed’s family wants a new fan. A shop page has ten glowing reviews, all posted on the same day with the same words. Ahmed’s mother says they may be fake, so they ask a neighbour for his honest opinion too.
Class activity
Write a pretend review. Think of something your family bought (a bag, a ball, a lamp). Without any real shop, write: the name of the thing, a rating from 1 to 5 stars, and three sentences with one good point and one weak point. A review does not have to be positive. Swap with a partner. Is it calm and honest? Does it give details? Then your partner writes one advert that could follow a child who loves football videos.
Practice
1
What does a commercial website do?
It sells products or services.
2
Give an example of a non-commercial site.
An online library, or a health information page.
3
Why can a review be fake?
The business or its friends may write praise, or a rival may write bad reviews.
4
Why do adverts match what you watch?
Websites use your visits, place, age and interests to choose them.
