Space, place and identity: New pressures in the lives of young people

This chapter examines the relationships between young people, social media and health through an analysis of issues related to space, place and identity. Underpinned by the work of Bourdieu and drawing on work within the field of youth geographies, we argue that the contemporary lives of young people are complex, multi-dimensional and inter-contextual; requiring individuals to manage competing demands in both real and virtual spaces. We examine how an analysis from a broad sociological perspective can help us to better understand young people’s complex engagements with social media and the resulting impacts on their negotiation and performance of identity.