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ISSN:3030-3613
IDENTITY CRISIS IN THE DIGITAL AGE AND THE DEPENDENCE OF
SOCIAL MEDIA
(Raqamli davrda shaxsiylik inqirozi
va ijtimoiy tarmoqlarga tobelik)
Xalilova Tabassum Akmaljon daughter
Student of pedagogy and psychology
Email address: sarvarbek15_11@icloud.com
ANNOTATION
This article analyzes the psychological consequences of the digital age, in
particular, the factors that lead to the identity crisis of social networks. Virtuality on
digital platforms, the creation of artificial images, constant comparison syndrome, and
the occasional FOMO syndrome (fear of missing out) threaten the mental stability of
modern people.
Keywords:
digital age, identity crisis, social networks, psychosocial
development, identity, virtuality, psychological risk
.
ANNOTATSIYA
Mazkur maqolada raqamli davrning psixologik oqibatlari, xususan, ijtimoiy
tarmoqlarning shaxsiylik (identiklik) inqiroziga olib keluvchi omillari tahlil qilinadi.
Raqamli platformalardagi virtuallik, sun’iy obrazlar yaratish, doimiy solishtirish
sindromi, vaqti-vaqti bilan yuzaga keladigan FOMO sindromi (hayotda nimanidir
o‘tkazib yuborish qo‘rquvi) kabi holatlar zamonaviy insonning ruhiy barqarorligiga
tahdid solmoqda.
Kalit so‘zlar
: raqamli davr, shaxsiylik inqirozi, ijtimoiy tarmoqlar, psixosotsial
rivojlanish, identiklik, virtuallik, psixologik xavf.
АННОТАЦИЯ
В статье анализируются психологические последствия цифровой эпохи, в
частности факторы, приводящие к кризисам идентичности в социальных сетях.
Такие ситуации, как виртуальность на цифровых платформах, создание
искусственных образов, синдром постоянного сравнения и периодически
возникающий синдром FOMO (страх что-то упустить) угрожают психической
устойчивости современных людей.
Ключевые слова:
цифровая эпоха, кризис идентичности, социальные сети,
психосоциальное развитие, идентичность, виртуальность, психологический
риск.
In the modern world, social networks have become an integral part of our lives.
They allow us to connect with friends and family, keep up with the news, and enjoy a
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ISSN:3030-3613
variety of content. However, excessive use of social networks can negatively affect our
mental health. The rapid development of digital technologies and social networks is
leading to fundamental changes in the formation and expression of human personality.
Today, how people present themselves in a virtual environment, how they interact with
others, and the impact of these processes on mental health are in the focus of
psychological research. Social networks allow users to express themselves in various
ways. This has a significant impact on the formation of personality, especially among
adolescents and young people. Studies show that presenting oneself and comparing
oneself with others on social networks can have both positive and negative effects on
the formation of personality. On social media, users tend to compare themselves with
others, which affects their self-esteem and level of satisfaction. Studies show that
spending a lot of time on social media can lower self-esteem. Social media is known
for its ability to engage users in a constant “news feed.” The release of dopamine
creates a feeling of pleasure and satisfaction, which encourages a person to return to
the network again and again. This condition is called digital addiction and leads to a
loss of psychological independence. In the digital age, personality formation has
become a complex and multifaceted process.
1. Loss of connection with real life. Through social networks, people are more
immersed in virtual life. This leads to a weakening of interpersonal relationships in real
life. As a result, feelings of social isolation, loneliness and anxiety increase.
2. Depression and low self-esteem - According to studies, seeing "ideal" images
of other people's lives on social networks forms a habit of comparing oneself with
others. This can lead to a decrease in self-confidence, dissatisfaction with life and even
depressive states.
3. FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) syndrome FOMO - that is, the fear of missing
out on events in the lives of others - is exacerbated by constant monitoring of social
networks. This condition leads to anxiety, distraction and mental fatigue in a person.
4. Sleep disturbance - Staying connected to social media at night via phone or
computer disrupts a person's sleep pattern. This leads to chronic fatigue, irritability and
a decrease in cognitive functions.
5. Internet addiction - The habit of excessive use of social media, over time, leads
to psychological dependence. A person feels empty and aimless without these
platforms. This condition is called "social media addiction" and it poses a serious threat
to mental health. Social media plays an important role in this process, through which
people express themselves, interact with others and evaluate themselves. At the same
time, these processes also affect a person's mental health. Therefore, a conscious
approach and self-awareness when using social media are important. Psychologist Erik
Erikson, in his theory of psychosocial development, argued that the main task during
adolescence is to "form a personality." The digital environment, however, makes it
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difficult for adolescents to maintain a balance between real and virtual identities at this
stage: In the digital world, adolescents compare themselves to friends or celebrities and
strive to have the "most acceptable" appearance. This is detrimental to their real
identity. Role confusion in Erikson's theory is exacerbated in the digital environment.
"If an adolescent sees himself through the eyes of others, he can lose his identity."
Today's youth are constantly under the demand for "appearance": profile pictures,
stories, "likes" and affirms himself through “shares”. Erik Erikson explained the
development of the human personality based on an eight-stage psychosocial model, at
each stage of which a person faces a certain social and psychological crisis. In
particular, the “Identity versus Role Confusion” stage, which covers the age range of
12–18, is extremely relevant in the digital age. At this stage, a teenager forms a
personality, seeks to understand his “I”, and tries to understand his role in society.
According to Erikson, if a person cannot find his personality during this period, he will
experience an identity crisis, that is, he will not find a clear answer to the question
“who am I?” The digital environment, especially social networks (Instagram, TikTok,
Telegram, etc.), has a direct impact on the formation of this identity. The way teenagers
present themselves in a virtual environment, and their attempts to build their “ideal
self” by comparing themselves with others, actually deepens the role confusion that
Erikson mentioned. For example, users often try to create a socially acceptable image,
rather than their real-life situation - this leads to a conflict between internal identity and
external image. Therefore, constant comparisons with the success, beauty or social
activity of others on social networks can lead to low self-esteem, dissatisfaction with
oneself, and even depressive states. What are the negative effects of social networks?
Anxiety and depression: Constantly seeing other people’s “perfect” lives can make us
feel more insecure and compare ourselves to others. This can lead to anxiety and
depression. Studies show that people who spend a lot of time on social media are more
likely to experience symptoms of depression and anxiety.
Sleep disturbances: The blue light from phones and computers can interfere with
the production of the hormone melatonin, making it harder to fall asleep. Constant
updates on social media can also distract us and disrupt our sleep.
Low self-esteem: The idealized images and filtered photos on social media can
make us feel dissatisfied with our appearance and life, which can lead to low self-
esteem.
Attention problems: Social media provides a constant stream of new
information, which can weaken our ability to focus. Many people try to escape from
everyday stress and anxiety on social media. However, research suggests that social
media does not reduce stress, but rather increases anxiety and depression. In a study of
1,800 volunteers, women who use social media were more likely to experience anxiety
than men. Studies have shown that Twitter, where people share their stress and anxiety,
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ISSN:3030-3613
is the biggest source of stress among social media, and that women experience less
anxiety than men when using Twitter. Erikson’s next stage, “Intimacy versus
Isolation,” is also reflected in the digital world. While social media allows people to
connect, this connection is often superficial and technologically driven. As a result,
people are unable to achieve deep emotional intimacy and fall into a state of
psychological isolation. This is a dangerous signal in personal and social development
from the perspective of Erikson’s theory. In this way, Erik Erikson's theory remains
relevant in today's digital era. In particular, the conflicting experiences of the younger
generation between virtual and real identities, the intensification of the identity crisis,
and the impact of social networks on the human psyche can be analyzed in depth based
on this psychosocial model. This is a modern manifestation of the identity crisis that
Erikson mentioned, which leads to a loss of balance between virtual and real identities
in the digital age. Digital platforms provide ample opportunities for young people to
form their "self", strengthen self-confidence, and find their place in society. They
develop creativity, critical thinking, and self-expression skills in this environment.
Conclusion.
The digital era is a new stage in the development of human
civilization, in which technologies have penetrated almost all aspects of our lives. In
particular, social networks have become one of the main factors in communication,
interaction between people and the formation of personal identity. The analysis
conducted in this article has shown that the process of existence and self-expression in
the digital environment in many cases negatively affects the psychological state of a
person, the process of self-awareness and personality development. First of all, against
the background of the unlimited possibilities of social networks, the human personality
is becoming increasingly fragmented. A person tries to create an artificial image that
is different from his real-life image. Such artificiality, over time, causes confusion in
the person's self-awareness, self-evaluation and identification of his "I". This situation
is associated with the psychosocial crises noted by Erik Erikson, and is especially
manifested in adolescence and early adulthood. Secondly, stereotypes about the “ideal
life” that appear on social networks increase people’s feelings of constant comparison,
inferiority complex, and dissatisfaction with their own lives. “FOMO” (Fear of Missing
Out) syndrome, that is, the fear of missing out on events in the lives of others, is
widespread. This leads to psychological stress, anxiety, depression, insomnia, and
other psychological disorders. Thirdly, the increase in communication through social
networks is leading to the weakening of real social ties. Real-life communication is
being replaced by artificial and superficial communication. This leads to the fading of
people’s skills such as empathy, listening, live communication, and social
responsibility. As a result, spiritual loneliness, isolation, and emotional deficiencies are
increasingly increasing in society. A person begins to determine his or her worth based
on virtual assessments. Such an approach weakens the internal motivations for personal
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ISSN:3030-3613
development and makes a person dependent on external approval. This situation also
weakens important competencies such as critical self-analysis, defending one’s own
opinion, and independent decision-making. In the digital era, children and adolescents,
as the most vulnerable group, require special attention. Their psycho-psychological
development is still in its formative stages, and negative information, scenes of
violence, and wrong values in the digital environment can have a strong impact on
them. This leads to the early manifestation of a personality crisis and an increase in
self-harm, radicalism, and instability among young people. Therefore, in the modern
information environment, systematic measures are needed to protect the human psyche,
promote information hygiene, and support the mental health of social network users.
To prevent a personality crisis, attention should be paid to the following:
• developing digital literacy;
• systematically educating the younger generation about real-life values;
• limiting the time spent on social networks;
• expanding digital psychological support services;
• Establish open dialogues on personal development in school and family.
In conclusion, despite all the conveniences of the digital age, it also comes with
negative aspects that pose a threat to the human personality. Considering that social
networks have become one of the factors that exacerbate the crisis of personality, each
user should participate in the digital space based on a conscious, critical and cautious
approach. Then a healthy psychological environment can be formed in which digital
technologies control people, and not people.
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Additional literature:
1.
Looking-glass self Glamour+4Wikipedia+4Parents+4
2.
The Role of Likes: How Online Feedback Impacts Users' Mental Health arXiv
3.
Authentic self-expression on social media is associated with greater well-being
Penn State Sites+7Nature+7Wikipedia+7
4.
Social Media and How It Affects Our Self Image
