Risk and opportunity: How social media hinders and helps teen identity construction

During adolescence, which happens between the ages of 10 and 19, identity starts to become a primary concern.

In these early years of human development, adolescents experience rapid physical, cognitive and psychosocial growth, which is heavily influenced by peers, family, religious or cultural affiliation and, increasingly, social media.

In a webinar hosted by the South African College of Applied Psychology (Sacap), academic dean and counselling psychologist Dr Jaclyn Lotter explored the good and the bad of social media when it comes to adolescent identity creation.