Cultural Representation on Social Media and Its Impact on the Identity Construction of the Young Generation

Abstract

Social media has become the primary arena through which young people encounter, negotiate, and perform cultural identity. This systematic review examines how social media platforms function as spaces of cultural representation and how such representations shape identity construction among adolescents and young adults. Drawing on 19 empirical studies published between 2021 and 2025, the review identifies three dominant representational forms: visual symbols and aesthetics, community-based cultural narration, and cross-cultural interaction spaces. Findings reveal that social media facilitates the emergence of hybrid, fluid identities that blend local traditions with global digital culture. However, this process is accompanied by significant risks, including cultural erosion, normative pressure from idealized representations, social comparison, and identity conflict. Critical digital literacy, culturally grounded education, and psychosocial support are identified as essential mediating factors in enabling healthy identity construction. The review proposes an integrated conceptual framework connecting cultural representation, identity formation processes, and contextual moderators. Implications for educational policy, school counseling, and digital cultural studies are discussed