Adolescence in Transition: Identity, Media, and Digital Realities in the Netflix Series Adolescence

Abstract

The Netflix series Adolescence portrays the complex realities of growing up in the digital age, where identity, relationships, and behaviour are deeply influenced by social media and cultural expectations. This study applies Erik Erikson’s psychosocial stage of Identity vs. Role Confusion to examine how adolescents struggle to reconcile offline selfhood with digitally curated identities. It also applies Albert Bandura’s Social Learning Theory to analyse how behaviours in the series are shaped through observation, imitation, and reinforcement within peer groups and online platforms. The analysis foregrounds critical concerns such as the pressure of digital validation on self-worth, the persistence of bullying across online and offline spaces, the influence of parental modeling on emotional regulation, the widening gap between generations in negotiating digital culture, and the impact of these dynamics on adolescent mental health. By integrating Erikson’s and Bandura’s perspectives, the paper argues that identity formation during adolescence is shaped not only by internal psychological conflicts but also by external social influences and their consequences. The findings emphasise the need for stronger media literacy, improved parent–adolescent communication, and supportive educational practices to address the psychosocial challenges of growing up in a digitally mediated world.