The pervasive influence of social media has transformed communication and information sharing paradigms, presenting unprecedented opportunities for innovation while exposing users to significant ethical and security risks. This study critically examines the dualistic nature of social media, emphasizing its role as both a catalyst for societal advancement and a conduit for threats such as phishing, misinformation, and privacy breaches. It introduces the EPIC Analyze framework, a socio-technical system designed to facilitate scalable, efficient, and ethical analysis of large-scale social media data. The discussion encompasses the critical challenges of ethical data management, including algorithmic transparency, user privacy, and adherence to regulatory frameworks like GDPR. By synthesizing interdisciplinary perspectives, the study proposes actionable solutions for leveraging social media data responsibly to promote technological innovation and societal resilience. This work serves as a foundation for future research aimed at achieving sustainable, ethical integration of AI-driven technologies in social contexts.