The Frank Anthony Memorial Interschool Debate -Category 1 was held on 10th July 2023 at Smt. Sulochanadevi Singhania School, Thane.

The topic for the debate was *"Social Media Gives No Scope for Having Real Peers."*

The debate was well-contested, with each team presenting strong arguments. The affirmative team argued that social media has made it difficult to form real friendships, as people are more likely to interact with others who share their interests online than with people who are different from them offline. They argued that social media can lead to isolation and loneliness, as people may become more dependent on their online interactions and less connected to the people in their real lives. The opposition team argued that social media can help people to form real friendships. They pointed out that social media can bring people together from all over the world, and that it can provide a platform for people to connect with others who share their interests. They also argued that social media can help people to stay connected with their friends and family, even when they are not able to see them in person. The panel of judges consisted of: 1] Ashutosh Radheshyam, a researcher and asst. general manager from the Economic Times Intelligence Group. 2] Kavita Krishnan, an independent content strategist and former journalist. 3] Lata Gwalani, an author and journalist.

The judges were impressed by the quality of contents presented by the debaters, and said that it was difficult to choose a winner. In the end, N. L. Dalmia School, Mira Road, were declared winners followed by Hiranandani Foundation School, Thane at the runners up spot.

The judges also awarded the following individual prizes: • Best Speaker (For): Hanif Alam of Dalmia School, Nerul. • Best Speaker (Against): Rishit Srivastava of Hiranandani Foundation School, Thane.

The topic of this year's debate was particularly timely, as social media is becoming increasingly important in our lives. The debate provided a platform for students to discuss the potential benefits and drawbacks of social media, and to explore the ways in which social media can impact our relationships with others. The Frank Anthony Memorial Debate is a valuable event that provides students with a unique opportunity to learn about different perspectives on important issues and grow as individuals. We encourage all students to participate in such engaging debates.