Applying developmental theory to adolescent peer influence processes in the social media context
Abstract
As youth transition from childhood to adolescence, they spend significantly more time with peers and are highly attuned to peer feedback, which becomes central to identity formation and sense of self-worth. Many decades of research have documented peer influence processes, in which adolescents’ behaviours and attitudes become more similar to their peers’ over time. With adolescents now spending a significant portion of their time interacting with peers through social media, rigorous research is needed that examines the unique effects of social media use on peer influence processes in adolescence. However, this field of research is still in its infancy. This chapter applies developmental theory to the study of online peer influence, with a focus on social media. Our chapter begins with a review of theory and empirical work related to traditional (offline) peer influence processes. We then discuss the transformation framework ( Nesi, Choukas-Bradley, & Prinstein, 2018a , 2018b ), a theoretical model for how the features of social media may be transforming traditional peer relations experiences, including peer influence processes. Next, we provide a review of the burgeoning literature on peer influence via social media. Finally, we discuss methodological advances that will be necessary for a thorough understanding of the role of online peer influence in adolescent development, with an emphasis on the need for more theory-driven longitudinal and experimental studies that integrate peer self-reports, research that rigorously controls for offline peer influence, and a better understanding of mechanisms and moderators.
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Higher levels of social-media-related appearance concerns have been found among girls compared to boys.
“and has found higher levels of SM-related appearance concerns among girls compared to boys (e.g., ChoukasBradley et al., 2020; Nesi et al., 2021; Rodgers et al., 2020; Zimmer-Gembeck et al., 2021).”
From The Perfect Storm: A Developmental-Sociocultural Framework for the Role of Social Media in Adolescent Girls' Body Image Concerns and Mental Health. (2022) · cites this paper as ChoukasBradley et al., 2020
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Choukas-Bradley, S., Roberts, S. R., Maheux, A. J., & Nesi, J. (2022) · Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review · doi:10.1007/s10567-022-00404-5 · Cited by 333 · see citing works
Self-citationChoukas-Bradley, S., Roberts, S. R., Maheux, A. J., & Nesi, J. (2021) · doi:10.31234/osf.io/ju92a · Cited by 331 · see citing works
Self-citationA meta-analysis of longitudinal peer influence effects in childhood and adolescence.
Giletta, M., Choukas‐Bradley, S., Maes, M., Linthicum, K. P., Card, N. A., & Prinstein, M. J. (2021) · Psychological Bulletin · doi:10.1037/bul0000329 · Cited by 228 · see citing works
Self-citationA meta-analysis study on peer influence and adolescent substance use
Watts, L. L., Hamza, E. A., Bedewy, D., & Moustafa, A. A. (2023) · Current Psychology · doi:10.1007/s12144-023-04944-z · Cited by 166 · see citing works
Maheux, A. J., Burnell, K., Maza, M. T., Fox, K. A., Telzer, E. H., & Prinstein, M. J. (2024) · Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry · doi:10.1111/jcpp.14085 · Cited by 59 · see citing works
Field, N. H., Choukas‐Bradley, S., Giletta, M., Telzer, E. H., Cohen, G. L., & Prinstein, M. J. (2023) · Child Development · doi:10.1111/cdev.14038 · Cited by 29 · see citing works
Self-citationPeer experiences via social media
Nesi, J. L., Dredge, R., Maheux, A. J., Roberts, S. R., Fox, K. A., & Choukas‐Bradley, S. (2021) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-818872-9.00046-7 · Cited by 25 · see citing works
Self-citationLeggett‐James, M. P., & Laursen, B. P. (2022) · The Journal of Early Adolescence · doi:10.1177/02724316221136043 · Cited by 21 · see citing works
Angelini, F., & Gini, G. (2025) · Frontiers in Digital Health · doi:10.3389/fdgth.2025.1497222 · Cited by 17 · see citing works
A Meta-Analysis of Longitudinal Peer Influence Effects in Childhood and AdolescencePreprint
Giletta, M., Choukas‐Bradley, S., Maes, M., Linthicum, K. P., Card, N. A., & Prinstein, M. J. (2021) · doi:10.31234/osf.io/uwf49 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
Self-citationSharma, K., & Gera, M. (2025) · Language, Technology, and Social Media. · doi:10.70211/ltsm.v3i2.185 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
Field, N. H., & Prinstein, M. J. (2023) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-323-96023-6.00016-6 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
The risks remain unknown for social media use and adolescent well-beingPreprint
Dahl, T., Foldnes, N., Grønneberg, S., & Aaen‐Stockdale, C. (2024) · doi:10.31234/osf.io/ycpfh · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Adolescent relationships in a digital age
Monks, C. P., & Zalk, N. V. (2020) · Routledge eBooks · doi:10.4324/9780429468360-10
Facilitating Relationship-Building Online for Positive Adolescent Development
Uhalde, A., Ross, K. M., & Houltberg, B. J. (2023) · Journal of the Association for Consumer Research · doi:10.1086/728204
Okan, N. (2026) · Research Square · doi:10.21203/rs.3.rs-9403077/v1
Social Interaction in Cyberspace: Online Gaming, Social Media, and Mental Health
(2026) · Frontiers research topics · doi:10.3389/978-2-8325-8098-1
Rigby, B. P., Martin, A., Shore, C. B., Wu, X., Blake, C., Haughton, D., Scott, H., Woods, H. C., Evans, R., & Simpson, S. A. (2026) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0359723
- Authors
- Choukas-Bradley, S., & Nesi, J.
- ORCID
- Nesi, Jacqueline
- Venue
- Online Peer Engagement in Adolescence
- Publisher
- Routledge
- Published
- 2020-04-07
- Pages
- 140-162
- OpenAlex
- W3015431121
- Cited by
- 18
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 1
- FWCI
- 20.63
- Type
- book chapter
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Routledge eBooks (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Impact of Technology on Adolescents
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Bullying, Victimization, and Aggression
- Keywords
- peer influence, adolescents, social media, identity construction, self-worth, peer feedback, transformation framework, peer relationships, developmental theory
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