A Systematic Review of Social Media Use and Adolescent Identity Development

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Sociology
• Media Studies

Background:

• Social media platforms are increasingly central to adolescent identity formation.
• Understanding the nuanced relationship between social media engagement and identity development is complex due to varied research approaches.
• Existing studies often use different metrics for social media use and identity constructs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize existing research on the links between social media use (quantity and quality) and adolescent identity development.
• To examine how different dimensions of identity, such as exploration, commitment, self-concept clarity, and distress, are associated with social media engagement.
• To clarify whether the nature of social media activity or its duration is more influential on identity.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature review was conducted across four academic databases.
• The review analyzed 32 studies involving 19,658 adolescents aged 8–26 years.
• Data synthesis focused on the relationships between various aspects of social media use and identity development dimensions.

Main Results:

• Active social media participation, as opposed to passive consumption or time spent, was linked to increased identity exploration.
• Authentic self-presentation on social media correlated positively with higher self-concept clarity, unlike idealized self-portrayals.
• Social media comparisons were associated with heightened identity exploration and identity distress among adolescents.

Conclusions:

• The quality and nature of adolescents' social media activities are more critical for identity development than the sheer amount of time spent online.
• Authenticity and active engagement appear beneficial for positive identity development, while social comparison may yield mixed outcomes.
• Future research should consider the qualitative aspects of social media use when examining adolescent identity formation.