Social Network Sites and Young Adolescent Identity Development

Abstract

Social networking sites are a dominant web presence that greatly influence the formation of individual identity through digital communication and interaction. Despite caveats associated with increased usage of such online forums among young adolescents, this article sheds light on how educators can use networking sites, like Facebook, as instructional resources. It reconsiders the potential role of Facebook as a pedagogical tool that can encourage communication among teachers, students, parents, and community members to facilitate greater understanding of curricular concepts, promote ethical online behavior, and support digital citizenship of children and youth. The extensive reach of social networking sites across the globe warrants meaningful research and critical discussions about harnessing the positive impact and mitigating the detrimental effects of Facebook on identity formation among young users.