The Role of Adolescent Development in Social Networking Site Use: Theory and Evidence

Abstract

Using survey data collected from 260 children, adolescents, and young adults between the ages of 9 and 26, this paper offers evidence for a relationship between social networking site use and Imaginary Audience, a developmental variable in which adolescents believe others are thinking about them at all times. Specifically, after controlling for a number of variables, results indicate a significant, positive relationship between social networking site use and Imaginary Audience ideation. Additionally, results indicate a positive relationship between Imaginary Audience ideation and Facebook customization practices. Together, these findings provide evidence, based on Vygotskian developmental theory, for a general consideration of the role that currently available tools, in this case social networking sites, can have on development. Thus, findings implicate both the role of development on social networking site use, as well as the role of social networking site use on development. Overall, these findings have important implications for the study of media and human development, which are discussed in detail.

An Explication of Identity Shift Theory

“…At the same time, there is some evidence that publicness – not self-perception – led to identity shift, raising questions whether self-presentation on ephemeral channels will have a different impact on one’s self-concept compared with more persistent presentations (Van der Heide, Dickinson, et al., 2013). As individuals – and particularly youth – continuously construct and present their identities online (Cingel et al, 2014), self-presentations may be incorporated into individuals’ self-concepts as durable or permanent identity shifts.…”

New media, youngsters and family: An emerging culture of changing communication practices in Indian families – a study in Delhi and NCR

“…Seeing themselves through the eyes of their imaginary ideated audience they tend to seek approval of their popular culture, entrenching in unreal standards of appearance, and falling prey to depression and anxiety. There are both risks and benefits to teenager's social and emotional development when it comes to the use of social media due to how embedded their lives are in it, implicating both the role of development on social networking site use, as well as the role of social networking site use on development iteratively (Cingel et al, 2014;Christofferson, 2016;Livsey, 2013). The studies undertaken in the Netherlands, the UK, the USA.…”

“…Family envelopes a youngsters' quotidian life every now and then. An enquiry therefore, was needed to ascertain how youngsters are assimilating new media in their lives, how their renovated communication culture determining the changes in the role and functions of the family and how the attendant influence of the social networking sites over the young members colouring the family interactions (Alzahrani & Bach, 2014;Christofferson, 2016;Cingel & Wartella, 2014;Livsey, 2013).…”

The Role of Self-Presentation on Social Networks Sites: Examining the Self-Esteem of Young People in Different Identity Status and Gender Differences

“…Previous studies have taken a developmental perspective in researching the use of social networks among adolescents and young people, but few have explicitly examined the relationship between the use of SNS and the experience of the various development stages (Cingel et al, 2014). Although researchers examined the relationship between the use of SNS and developmental aspects (e.g., Cingel et al, 2014), they did not examine the relationship between the use of SNS and the degree of identity formation.…”

“…Previous studies have taken a developmental perspective in researching the use of social networks among adolescents and young people, but few have explicitly examined the relationship between the use of SNS and the experience of the various development stages (Cingel et al, 2014). Although researchers examined the relationship between the use of SNS and developmental aspects (e.g., Cingel et al, 2014), they did not examine the relationship between the use of SNS and the degree of identity formation. A useful model for examining the degree of identity formation is Marcia's "Ego identity status" model, which recognizes four identity states (achievement, moratorium, foreclosure, diffusion), according to levels of inquiry and commitment which reflect the degree of identity formation (Marcia, 1966(Marcia, , 1993.…”