A Mirror and a Mask: Social Media’s Dual Impact on Intrapersonal Identity and Interpersonal Relationships
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.58445/rars.2780Keywords:
Social media, Intrapersonal Identity, Interpersonal Relationships, Adolescent Psychology, Self-Presentation, Social Comparison, Digital Mental Health, FOMO, Identity Fragmentation, Media Psychology, Online Validation, Algorithmic Influence, Digital Communication, Cultural Identity, Psychological Well-beingAbstract
Social media plays a paradoxical role in shaping intrapersonal identity and interpersonal relationships. This paper synthesizes psychological, sociological, and media-based literature to examine how platforms simultaneously serve as tools of self-expression and sources of disconnection. Adolescents and young adults, in particular, experience the dual nature of social media through curated online personas, social comparison, and performative intimacy. The findings highlight identity fragmentation, emotional volatility, and relational strain, underscoring the importance of media literacy and psychological intervention. Despite its promise of connection, social media often reveals the complex challenges of negotiating authenticity in digital spaces. Future research must emphasize cultural and longitudinal perspectives to fully understand the psychological toll of living online.
References
Blackburn, M., Zinga, D., & Molnar, D. S. (2024). “With texting, I am always second guessing myself”: Teenage perfectionists’ experiences of (dis)connection online. Developmental Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1037/dev0001741
Burholt, V., Windle, G., Gott, M., & Morgan, D. J. (2020). Technology-mediated communication in familial relationships: Moderated-mediation models of isolation and loneliness. The Gerontologist, 60(7), 1202–1212. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnaa040
Chen, B., Sun, X., Zhang, Q., & Yao, L. (2024). Are fatigued users fleeing social media? A three-level meta-analysis on the association between social media fatigue and social media use. Psychology of Popular Media, 13(3), 457–471. https://doi.org/10.1037/ppm0000495
David, M. E., & Roberts, J. A. (2023). Me, myself, and I: Self-centeredness, FOMO, and social media use. Canadian Journal of Behavioural Science. https://doi.org/10.1037/cbs0000382
Delle, F. A., Clayton, R. B., Jackson, F. F. J., & Lee, J. (2023). Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram: Examining associations with relationship stress and satisfaction. Psychology of Popular Media, 12(3), 335–343. https://doi.org/10.1037/ppm0000415
Elsayed, W. (2021). The negative effects of social media on the social identity of adolescents. Heliyon, 7(2). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e06327
Garibaldi, A. E., Waldfogle, G. E., & Szalma, J. L. (2023). Motivational underpinnings of social media use. Psychology of Popular Media, 12(4), 434–449. https://doi.org/10.1037/ppm0000431
Hall, J. A., Dominguez, J., & Mihailova, T. (2023). Interpersonal media and face-to-face communication: Life satisfaction and loneliness. Journal of Happiness Studies, 24, 331–350. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-022-00581-8
Ortiz, R. R., & Thompson, B. A. (2020). Sorority see, sorority do: Social identity and media engagement. Psychology of Popular Media, 9(3), 311–317. https://doi.org/10.1037/ppm0000236
Roberts, J. A., & David, M. E. (2023). Social media intensity and the moderating role of passive use. Canadian Journal of Behavioural Science, 55(3), 240–252. https://doi.org/10.1037/cbs0000323
Sciara, S., Regalia, C., & Gollwitzer, P. M. (2022). Online self-symbolizing and identity goals. Motivation Science, 8(3), 268–275. https://doi.org/10.1037/mot0000267
Steinsbekk, S., Wichstrom, L., Stenseng, F., Nesi, J., Hygen, B. W., & Skalicka, V. (2021). Appearance self-esteem from childhood to adolescence. Computers in Human Behavior, 114, 106528. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2020.106528
Thomas, V. T., Balzer Carr, B., Azmitia, M., & Whittaker, S. (2021). Alone and online: Social media, solitude, and psychological adjustment. Psychology of Popular Media, 10(2), 201–211. https://doi.org/10.1037/ppm0000287
Tretter, S., & Diefenbach, S. (2022). Strategic media choice and interpersonal closeness. Journal of Media Psychology, 34(5), 265–276. https://doi.org/10.1027/1864-1105/a000320
Winter, S., Remmelswaal, P., & Vos, A. (2022). When posting is believing: Expressed opinions and identity shift. Journal of Media Psychology, 34(3), 177–187. https://doi.org/10.1027/1864-1105/a000308
Wu-Ouyang, B., & Hu, Y. (2023). Pandemic-related fear and social connectedness. Journal of Media Psychology, 35(2), 63–74. https://doi.org/10.1027/1864-1105/a000347
Young, L., Kolubinski, D. C., & Frings, D. (2020). Attachment style moderates the relationship between social media use and well-being. Heliyon, 6(6). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e04056
Downloads
Posted
Categories
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Suhani Goyal
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.