In this study, we examine how leisure- time teachers in Swedish School age educare centre experience the effect of social media on students. We also discuss the impact of social media on the creation of the students' identities. The research is based on data collection through qualitative interviews in two different municipalities, Botkyrka and Södertälje. We interviewed six licensed leisure-time teachers and four students from lower and middle grades. The purpose was to examine similarities and differences in how social media influences students in these schools. The collected data is then refined, examined and analyzed to draw the conclusion.

The analysis of the collected data is approached using two theories, Vygotsky's socio-cultural theory and the Childhood Sociology as it is described in Halldèn’s book (2007) Den moderna barndomen och barns vardagsliv and Linnéa Holmberg’s (2020) book Perspektiv i fritidshem. The result of the study showed that both schools experienced both advantages and disadvantages of social media. It also shows that here is a lack of education about social media in the leisure centers, the cause is that leisure-time teachers do not have the space or opportunity to educate about social media and its limitations.

Students are strongly influenced by social media and have the tendency to compare their appearances and lifestyles with friends and public figures from around the world. However, the research also shows that the use of social media also has positive effects, such as increased social interaction and communication with different types of people around the world.

Despite choosing two different schools, we found that booth schools had similarities. One difference we noticed is that one school gathered small groups so that the leisure-time teacher could explain to the students that websites with negative content that are not suitable for students of their age, such as websites with sexual content may occur, while the other school addressed the problem with the students individually.