Problematika Pendidikan Karakter Siswa SMP Di Era Media Sosial: Perspektif Etika Dan Filsafat Pendidikan

Objective: Social media have transformed how junior high school students communicate, obtain information, build relationships, and present their identities. At this developmental stage, moral reasoning and identity formation are still shaped by social environments and adult guidance. This study analyzes the problems of character education among junior high school students in the social media era from ethical and philosophical perspectives and formulates pedagogical implications for schools, teachers, families, and students. Methods: A qualitative library research design was employed. The analytical corpus comprised 15 core peer-reviewed journal articles directly related to character education, digital ethics, social media, adolescent development, cyberbullying, media literacy, and educational philosophy, complemented by 20 supporting books and institutional documents. Data were analyzed through content analysis involving reduction, thematic coding, categorization, cross-source comparison, and philosophical interpretation. Results: Five major problem domains emerged: digital communication ethics, cyberbullying and digital aggression, irresponsible information sharing, vulnerable digital identity formation shaped by social comparison, and weak self-regulation. The evidence also indicates that social media are not deterministic; the type and purpose of engagement, relational context, media literacy, and adult guidance matter more than duration alone. Kant highlights moral duty and respect for persons; Aristotle and Lickona emphasize virtue and habituation; Ki Hadjar Dewantara emphasizes modelling and guidance.