Identity and social media

Abstract

The chapter examines youth identity from a number of perspectives starting with psychological and sociological conceptualisations of self and identity. From there the discussion moves to the controversy over stages of identity development, identity as a biographical resource and the complexities for occupational identity of digital employment. These observations open up to the more recent issues of identity construction by social networking among young people through which a variety of identities may be expressed. Key themes include self-realisation and its counterpoints in relation to different forms of communication and self-presentation and broader statuses such as digital generational national and European identity. The chapter explores challenges arising from these developments to which the effects of the COVID-19 (corona) virus are an added factor.