<![CDATA[Advancements in information and communication technology have transformed society, particularly through the widespread use of social media by adolescents for communication, information gathering, entertainment, and identity formation. While social media offers benefits such as broadened horizons, enhanced communication skills, and easy access to learning resources, it also presents negative impacts—including addiction, a decline in communication ethics, reduced social interaction, consumerist behavior, the spread of misinformation, and cyberbullying. This situation poses a challenge for the education sector, specifically regarding Social Studies (IPS) instruction in elementary schools. This article examines the influence of social media on adolescent behavior and its implementation in elementary Social Studies learning, employing a library research method to analyze relevant books, journals, and scholarly documents. The findings indicate that social media exerts both positive and negative influences on adolescent behavior; consequently, Social Studies teachers play a crucial role in guiding students to use social media wisely, critically, and responsibly. Social media can be integrated into Social Studies instruction through the use of educational content, online discussions, project-based learning, and the strengthening of digital literacy tailored to students' characteristics. Thus, social media serves not merely as a source of entertainment but also as an effective educational tool for shaping character, enhancing social skills, and fostering critical thinking abilities among students.]]>
Copyrights © 2026
