ABSTRACT
The academic use of social media revolves around its functions in ensuring collaborative learning and knowledge sharing. Although challenges in terms of privacy and ethics continue to exist, certain measures are employed by academic institutions and educators to ensure that students make the most out of social media in the learning process. This conceptual chapter discusses the prevalent challenges and strategies in the use of social media in various academic institutions in different parts of the world, particularly in Malaysia. The discussion on the use of social media as a collaborative and knowledge-sharing tool in Malaysia covers how this technological innovation has been used in teaching and learning, connecting stakeholders and improving learning management systems in primary and secondary schools, as well as in higher education institutions. Further research directions in this subject matter should cover behavioural and social factors that influence the effectiveness of social media in terms of collaboration and knowledge sharing. The implications of this conceptual paper on educators, academic institutions and government agencies focus more on infrastructure development and initiatives to improve the usage and usefulness of social media in schools and universities.
