| Authors | DR. CHIKKARAJU.C |
|---|---|
| Article Type | Research Article |
| Language | English |
| Journal | North Asian International Research Journal of Social Science & Humanities |
| ISSN | 2454-9827 |
| Volume | 11 |
| Issue | 7 |
| Pages | 101-111 |
| Publication Year | 2025 |
| Publication Date | July 01, 2025 |
| DOI URL | https://doiglobal.org/10.2025/NAIRJCSSH.008 |
The rapid expansion of social media has transformed the nature of social interaction, communication, identity formation and interpersonal relationships among young people in India. Platforms such as Instagram, WhatsApp, Facebook, YouTube and other digital networks have become significant social spaces in which young people establish friendships, maintain family connections, express identities, exchange information and participate in public life. At the same time, increased dependence on digitally mediated communication has raised sociological questions concerning the quality of interpersonal relationships, privacy, social comparison, online identity, social isolation and changing patterns of community interaction. This paper examines the changing nature of social relationships among Indian youth in the context of increasing social-media use. It adopts a descriptive and analytical research design based primarily on secondary sources, including sociological literature, published research, institutional reports and theoretical works. The study draws particularly upon symbolic interactionism, Goffman's theory of self-presentation, Castells' concept of the network society and Bourdieu's concept of social capital. The analysis suggests that social media does not simply weaken or strengthen social relationships; rather, it restructures them. Digital platforms can facilitate the maintenance of geographically dispersed relationships, expand weak social ties, provide opportunities for identity expression and enable participation in communities beyond geographical boundaries. However, these advantages coexist with challenges including superficial interaction, pressure for continuous visibility, social comparison, privacy concerns, cyberbullying and the unequal distribution of digital opportunities. The paper concludes that the relationship between social media and youth social life should be understood as a process of social transformation rather than merely technological change. Digital literacy, responsible platform use, stronger privacy awareness and a balance between online and face-to-face interaction are necessary for promoting healthier social relationships among young people.
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DOI: 10.2025/NAIRJCSSH.008
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North Asian International Research Journal of Social Science & Humanities
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