The Impact of Social Media on Youth Identity Formation: an Analysis Based on Theoretical Perspectives
Fidan Aliyeva 
Abstract. The rapid pace of digitalization and the widespread use of social media have significantly transformed young people's communication, self-expression, and patterns of social interaction, creating both new opportunities and challenges for identity formation. In this context, the influence of social media on youth identity development has become one of the most important research topics in contemporary social sciences. The aim of this study is to analyze the process of youth identity formation in the social media environment through contemporary theoretical approaches, identify the main mechanisms influencing this process, and conceptually explain the transformation of identity in the digital environment. The study was conducted as a qualitative theoretical investigation using a systematic literature review, comparative analysis, and conceptual analysis methods. The findings indicate that social media plays a significant role in young people's self-presentation, social comparison, the development of a sense of belonging, and the fulfillment of their need for social recognition. At the same time, factors such as the promotion of idealized images, dependence on social validation, and continuous comparison on digital platforms may create psychological and social risks for identity development. The study concludes that the impact of social media on youth identity formation is multifaceted and dynamic, and that a proper understanding of this influence is essential for promoting digital literacy, protecting psychological well-being, and guiding future empirical research.
Keywords: social media, youth, identity formation, digital identity, self-presentation, social comparison, theoretical approaches