Navigating Digital Selves: Social Media, Self-Image, and Identity Formation among Adolescents in the Educational Technology Era
Keywords:
Self-image, social identity, adolescents, social media, social comparison.Abstract
Social media creates a complex space for adolescents to negotiate their identity, which often results in dual self-image and social pressure. This study aims to understand the phenomenon of self-image and social identity formation among adolescents through social media. Using a qualitative approach, this study analyzes the responses of 12 female respondents aged 18-24 years in Indonesia, collected through an online survey. The results show dualism in self-construction, where adolescents tend to present a boulder and more curated version of themselves on social media compared to their quieter real lives. In addition, social pressure and comparison emerge as the most significant impacts, which often trigger feelings of inferiority and insecurity. However, social media also plays a positive role in boosting self-confidence and motivating self-development. Over time, adolescents show an evolution in digital awareness by becoming more selective in sharing information. This study concludes that social media functions as a double-edged sword for adolescent identity, requiring balance and good digital literacy to navigate its positive and negative impacts.
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