To a growing student population for whom smartphone and Internet use started in their early childhood, social media and popular culture can be effective tools to mitigate potential anxiety and alienation students may feel when taking a theory course. This paper offers strategies and insight on the endeavor of utilizing both popular and social media cultures to teach social theories. I discuss assignments and activities used to generate student engagement, as well as share examples of successful student submissions that demonstrate application of course materials to their everyday life. Informed by Paulo Freire's (2011 [1968]) pedagogy of "students-as-teachers," the strategy of asking students to contribute what they know about social media and popular culture helps students be more critical participants in society and communicates to students that instructors value their experiential knowledge.