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Social Media’s Influence on Identity Formation and Self Expression

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Teens, Screens, and Social Connection

Abstract

Developmentally the period of adolescence is very important for identity exploration and identity formation. The major theories of identity are Erik Erikson’s Stages of Psychosocial Development and James Marcia’s Identity Statuses. These theories were conceived well before the internet and social media, but this same work of identity formation now has an additional stage in which to unfold. Social media is a platform where adolescents can try out different identities in an anonymous way. This provides many opportunities for identity exploration, but also presents challenges and pitfalls. Self-presentation on social media profiles and self-esteem are closely tied. Special topics presented in this chapter are Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer Plus (LGBTQ+) identity online and the cultural viewpoint of growing up LGBTQ+ in Latin America. Clinical application of the knowledge presented in this chapter to clinical work is also included.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Health Science, University of Carabobo, Valencia, Carabobo, Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela

    Maryann Tovar

  2. Department of Clinical Psychology, Bicentennial University of Aragua, Maracay, Aragua, Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela

    Mineudis Rosillo

  3. Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, New York Presbyterian-Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA

    Alma Spaniardi

Authors
  1. Maryann Tovar
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  2. Mineudis Rosillo
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  3. Alma Spaniardi
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Weill Cornell Medicine NewYork-Presbyterian, New York, NY, USA

    Alma Spaniardi

  2. Office of Mental Health-New York City Children’s Center, New York, NY, USA

    Janki Modi Avari

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Tovar, M., Rosillo, M., Spaniardi, A. (2023). Social Media’s Influence on Identity Formation and Self Expression. In: Spaniardi, A., Avari, J.M. (eds) Teens, Screens, and Social Connection. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-24804-7_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-24804-7_4

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

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  • Online ISBN: 978-3-031-24804-7

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