ABSTRACT

The rapid integration of social media into everyday life has transformed various aspects of education, offering new avenues for developing critical thinking skills among learners. This paper explores the opportunities for both educators and learners to leverage social media platforms as tools for fostering critical thinking. It examines the relationship between social media usage and critical thinking, focusing on how social media can encourage analytical skills, problem-solving, and reflective thinking. By reviewing existing literature and case studies, the paper highlights the potential benefits of using platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn to enhance collaborative learning, expose students to diverse perspectives, and promote engagement in thoughtful discourse. However, the paper also addresses the challenges and risks, including information overload, the risk of echo chambers, and privacy concerns. It concludes by offering practical recommendations for educators on how to effectively incorporate social media into their teaching practices while maintaining a focus on critical thinking. This research contributes to the growing body of literature on digital learning environments and provides insights into the evolving role of social media in education.