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Cited by 131Impact of Technology on AdolescentsPersonality Traits and PsychologyMedia and Digital Communication

Self-Concept Clarity and Online Self-Presentation in Adolescents

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Fullwood, Chris, James, Billie May, Chen-Wilson, Chao-Hwa (Josephine)·2016·Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking
DOI 10.1089/cyber.2015.0623
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Abstract

The Internet may be conceptualized as a social laboratory, providing freedom to experiment with different presentations of self. Adolescence is an important time in the development of self-concept; however, little is known about how clarity of self-concept relates to online behavior. The principal aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that self-concept clarity would be associated with adolescents' inclination to experiment with online self-presentation. One hundred forty-eight participants aged 13–18 completed the Self-Concept Clarity Scale, the Facebook Intensity Scale, and the Presentation of Online Self Scale (POSS). Adolescents possessing a less stable sense of self reported experimenting with online self-presentation more regularly, presenting an idealized version of self and a preference for presenting themselves online. Adolescents with a more stable self-concept reported presenting an online self which was more consistent with their offline self-presentation. Younger adolescents were more likely to present an inconsistent self, whereas older adolescents presented themselves more consistently across different communication contexts. Finally, adolescents who spent more time on Facebook and had fewer Facebook friends were more likely to present multiple versions of self while online. The implications of these findings will be discussed in terms of the development of self-concept during adolescence and the potential for the online world to facilitate flexible identity construction and self-presentation.

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Crossref · 10.1089/cyber.2015.0623

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  • Two studies found no significant correlation between time spent on social media and self-concept clarity.

    “Two studies found no significant correlation between time spent on social media and self-concept clarity (Fullwood et al., 2016; Zheng et al., 2011).”

    From A Systematic Review of Social Media Use and Adolescent Identity Development (2025) · cites this paper as Fullwood et al., 2016

  • Adolescents who present their true selves on social media tend to have a clear self-concept, suggesting stronger commitments.

    “In contrast, adolescents who present their true selves on social media tend to have a clear self-concept (Fullwood et al., 2016; Schmitt et al., 2008; Richardson, 2016; Yang et al., 2017), suggesting stronger commitments.”

    From A Systematic Review of Social Media Use and Adolescent Identity Development (2025) · cites this paper as Fullwood et al., 2016

  • Adolescents who present a fictitious version of themselves that differs from their authentic self tend to have lower self-concept clarity.

    “That is, adolescents who present a fictitious version of themselves that differs from their authentic self tend to have lower self-concept clarity (Davis, 2013; Fullwood et al., 2016; Pangrazio, 2019; Richardson, 2016; Yang et al., 2017).”

    From A Systematic Review of Social Media Use and Adolescent Identity Development (2025) · cites this paper as Fullwood et al., 2016

  • Adolescents who presented their true selves in a way that matched their in-person version had a clear self-concept.

    “Four studies showed that adolescents who presented their true selves in a way that matched their in-person version had a clear self-concept (Fullwood et al., 2016; Richardson, 2016; Schmitt et al., 2008; Yang et al., 2017).”

    From A Systematic Review of Social Media Use and Adolescent Identity Development (2025) · cites this paper as Fullwood et al., 2016

  • Adolescents who presented an idealized self that was inconsistent with their offline persona were less clear about how they felt about themselves.

    “In contrast, those who presented an idealized self that was inconsistent with their offline persona were less clear about how they felt about themselves (Davis, 2013; Fullwood et al., 2016; Pangrazio, 2019; Richardson, 2016; Yang et al., 2017).”

    From A Systematic Review of Social Media Use and Adolescent Identity Development (2025) · cites this paper as Fullwood et al., 2016

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Authors
Fullwood, C., James, B. M., & Chen-Wilson, C.-H. (.
Affiliations
  • University of Wolverhampton (GB)
  • University of Wolverhampton
ORCID
Fullwood, Chris
Venue
Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking
Publisher
SAGE Publications
Published
2016-11-10
Volume
19
Issue
12
Pages
716-720
ISSN
  • 2152-2715 (ISSN-L)
  • 2152-2723
DOI
10.1089/cyber.2015.0623
OpenAlex
W2552441656
Cited by
131
References
33
Citations by year
2026: 13 · 2025: 20 · 2024: 19 · 2023: 20 · 2022: 15 · 2021: 13 · 2020: 11 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 5
FWCI
19.01
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Cyberpsychology Behavior and Social Networking (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Wolverhampton Intellectual Repository and E-Theses (University of Wolverhampton) (acceptedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • Research Repository (University of Gloucestershire) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Impact of Technology on Adolescents
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Personality Traits and Psychology
  • Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Computer Networks and Communications › Media and Digital Communication
Keywords
self-concept clarity, online self-presentation, adolescents, Facebook use, identity construction, ideal self, online identity, age differences, self-concept development
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Female, Humans, Male, Self Concept, Self Disclosure, Social Behavior, Friends, Social Networking, Social Media

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