The Role of Social Media in Adolescent Identity and Relationship Development

Session Submission Type: Panel

Abstract

Adolescence is a crucial period of development when individuals must successfully navigate their self-concepts and their relationships with others. Erikson (1968) noted the power of identity and relationships, arguing that healthy adolescent development in these areas is predictive of normative development across the lifespan. Though adolescent identity and relationship development have received much scholarly attention, today’s teens live in a world saturated with social media. Social media are characterized by the users’ ability to create a profile and to connect with like-minded others (boyd & Ellison, 2007). Thus, social media afford novel opportunities to create, experiment, and maintain identities and relationships. Across the globe, a majority of teens in developed countries are accessing social media; the average teen is a member of five social media platforms (GlobalWebIndex, 2014). Moreover, the prevalence of mobile technologies such as smart phones and tablets has greatly increased adolescents’ accessibility to social media. The prevalence of social media in the lives of teens across the globe and the ability of social media to serve as a space for identity and relationship development serve as strong justification for continued research examining the role of social media in the lives of teens. The panel proposed here is composed of panelists who will speak to the role of social media in adolescent identity and relationship development.

To begin our discussion, Veronica Hefner will introduce the topic and the panelists. Kristin Drogos will discuss the ways in which different patterns of Facebook use influence the identity statuses of adolescents. Johanna van Oosten and Jochen Peter will focus on how adolescents’ sexualized self-presentation on social media influences their developing sexual self-concepts and their cognitive preoccupation with sex. Bridging the work from identity to relationships, Mariek Vanden Abeele will discuss how mobile technologies are used to access social media, influencing both the identity and relationship development of teens. Two presentations will then focus on the role of social media in the formation of adolescents’ relationships with others. Amanda Lenhart will discuss how networked technologies influence the formation of teen friendships and Bradley Bond will present data on the role of social media in the development of teens’ parasocial relationships with celebrities. Veronica Hefner will integrate the presentations before moderating a discussion with the audience. Overall, the panel will inform CAM researchers by contributing to the burgeoning academic conversation about the role of social media as a socialization agent during adolescent development.

Sub Unit

• Children Adolescents and the Media

Chair

• Veronica Hefner, Chapman U

Individual Presentations

• The Relationship Between Social Network Site Use and Adolescent Identity Development - Kristin Lynn Drogos, University of Texas at Dallas

• Adolescents’ Sexual Self-Concept Explains the Association Between Their Sexy Online Self-Presentation and Sexual Preocccupancy - Johanna M.F. van Oosten, U of Amsterdam; Jochen Peter, U of Amsterdam

• Anytime Anyplace Identities and Relationships: Teenagers’ Social Media Use via Mobile Devices - Mariek Vanden Abeele, Tilburg U

• The Role of Networked Video Game Play in American Boys' Friendships - Amanda B. Lenhart, Pew Internet and American Life Project

• “Following” Your “Friend”: The Relationship Between Social Media and Adolescents’ Parasocial Relationships - Bradley J Bond, University of San Diego

Respondent

• Veronica Hefner, Chapman U