Social media in the language classrooms: maximizing students' Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS)

Technology has proliferated and has become prominent in the education world over the past few years. Technology has become a way not only to meet the learner's needs but also to address digital literacy emphasis in 21st-century skills. This paper explores the optimization of social media in language teaching to maximize higher-order thinking skills (HOTS) among secondary school teachers. Social media platforms offer opportunities to engage students actively, promote critical thinking, and encourage meaningful interactions. By strategically incorporating social media, teachers can enhance students' learning experiences and foster HOTS development. This paper discusses key considerations and strategies for effective implementation, such as selecting appropriate platforms, encouraging collaboration and discussion, promoting critical thinking, incorporating multimedia content, providing authentic learning experiences, setting guidelines and privacy considerations, and reflecting on the impact. The integration of social media should complement traditional instructional methods, ensuring alignment with curriculum goals and educational standards. This paper aims to guide teachers in leveraging social media effectively to optimize language teaching and promote HOTS among secondary school students