Youth, social networks and identity: A cross-border study from the Basque Country.

This article examines the concerns and attitudes of Basque adolescents from the provinces of Gipuzkoa (Spain) and Labourd (France) regarding youth identity and social media use, focusing on their motivations for self-expression and image management online. Using a mixed-methods approach involving surveys of 1,133 students, diaries, and discussion groups, the study found that these adolescents predominantly use platforms like YouTube, WhatsApp, and Instagram, and tend to share carefully selected, positive images of themselves to convey happiness and gain social approval, often measured by likes. While they do not typically create fictional identities online, they are aware of the curated nature of their posts and experience discomfort related to peer judgment and self-esteem. The findings align with broader Western research indicating externally oriented digital identities among youth, though Basque teens showed limited use of social media for creative expression. The study highlights the need for further research on social media's impact on adolescent well-being and suggests expanding investigations across the wider Basque region.