<![CDATA[The development of social media has provided students with broader opportunities for communication while also presenting challenges in applying politeness, empathy, honesty, and responsibility. This study aims to describe the social media communication ethics of eighth-grade students at SMPIT Rabbi Radhiyyah Rejang Lebong, identify challenges in implementing character values, and analyze the role of character education in shaping students’ digital communication behavior. This research employed a descriptive qualitative approach. Eighth-grade students served as the primary informants, while teachers or homeroom teachers acted as supporting informants. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, observation, and documentation. Informants were selected using purposive sampling, and the data were analyzed through data reduction, data presentation, and conclusion drawing. The findings indicate that students have an initial understanding of the importance of ethical communication on social media. However, the application of politeness, empathy, and responsibility remains inconsistent. The challenges include the use of inappropriate language when joking with peers, difficulties in interpreting others’ feelings through written messages, inconsistent verification of information, and the tendency to respond emotionally. These findings highlight the need to strengthen character education through teacher role modeling, habituation of polite communication, guidance, and digital literacy. Character education should therefore focus not only on understanding moral values but also on translating them into responsible behavior in everyday digital interactions]]>
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