PERAN MEDIA SOSIAL DALAM MEMBENTUK IDENTITAS SOSIAL GENERASI Z: STUDI PADA PENGGUNA MEDIA SOSIAL DI INDONESIA

Abstract

The development of social media has transformed the ways Generation Z constructs, presents, negotiates, and understands social identity. Social media no longer function merely as communication tools but have become social spaces in which individuals engage in self-presentation, seek social recognition, compare themselves with others, build social networks, and develop a sense of belonging to particular groups. This article aims to analyze the role of social media in shaping Generation Z's social identity, with social media users in Indonesia as the contextual focus. The study employs a qualitative approach using a literature review method. Data were obtained from scholarly journal articles, systematic reviews, and academic publications addressing social media, identity, self-presentation, social comparison, Generation Z, and youth identity development. The analysis was conducted thematically through identification, selection, critical reading, categorization, interpretation, and synthesis of the literature. The findings indicate that social media contribute to Generation Z's social identity formation through five major mechanisms: self-presentation, social validation, social comparison, the formation and maintenance of digital communities, and the internalization of values and norms circulating within social media environments. Social media also provide opportunities for Generation Z to explore identities and experiment with different forms of self-representation. However, these processes do not always result in stable and positive identities. Pressure to display an ideal image, the need for social approval, fear of missing out, social comparison, negative feedback, and expectations to conform to group norms may create tensions between online and offline identities. Recent literature indicates that the quality of social media engagement matters more than the amount of time spent online; active and authentic participation can support identity exploration, whereas social comparison and inauthentic self-presentation may be associated with lower self-concept clarity and identity distress. Therefore, Generation Z requires digital and social literacy that enables them to use social media reflectively, critically, and authentically.