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Digital Identity in Adolescents
Adolescence is a stage at which key development is occurring. Along with the physical changes that adolescents are going through, they are also starting to develop a sense of who they are, or their self-identity. During early adolescence children begin to commit to a set of goals, values, and beliefs in areas such as occupation, religion, and politics. There are several factors which contribute to the development of adolescent identity, two of the most prevalent being parental and peer involvement.

Parents are role-models who contribute to identity development. Adolescents often base the premise of their beliefs around that of their parents. During this important stage of their lives, peer groups become increasingly important in adolescents' identity development. Conversations with close friends help adolescents develop a sense of themselves. It is important to their developing sense of identity that adolescents have positive relationships with both their parents and their peers. Studies have shown that positive relationships with parents and peers lead to positive sense of self. With the increase in technology in present society, digital media also plays a large role in adolescents maintaining these relationships. Through digital media, adolescents have new means to stay in contact with their peers, and through that contact they are able to explore and express their identities.

Although digital media can be an aid for adolescents, there is also a lot of criticism, especially among the use of social networking sites. This criticism includes the lack of adult supervision, disclosure of personal information, the exposure to online predators, and the amount of time dominated by constantly having access to these sites. Cyberbullying has significantly increased parallel to the increasing popularity of social media, which is also a concern.

The positive aspects of using social media as a communication tool should also be noted. Studies conducted on the use of social media among adolescents have shown that adolescents use these sites to stay in constant communication with their friends, discuss homework and how their day went, get to know peers who may not be in their close circle of friends, and as a solution to boredom. Although there is not large differences among genders, girls are more likely to have intimate conversations with friends via social media than boys are. Social media also provides a safe space for shy individuals, who gain confidence by being able to express their opinions without the addition stress of face-to-face contact.