Vol. 10, Issue 3, Part C (2024)

Social media platforms have revolutionized the way individuals construct and express their identities. As digital spaces become integral to daily life, they have significantly transformed the traditional processes of identity formation, impacting both individual and collective self-concept. This paper explores the role of social media in shaping identity, analysing its influence on self-perception, social interaction, and the larger societal norms. Drawing upon concepts such as the "looking-glass self" (Cooley, 1902) and Goffman’s theory of self-presentation, the paper examines how social media influences the development of online and offline identities. Through a comparative lens, examples from both global and Indian contexts are used to illustrate the widespread impact of digital platforms on identity formation. The paper also delves into the positive and negative implications of social media in the construction of gender, race, and cultural identity, highlighting both empowering and alienating experiences. Lastly, it reflects on how social media may redefine identity in the future, with the potential for both challenges and opportunities in the context of privacy, authenticity, and mental well-being.