The Mediator role of digital literacy in the relationship between adolescents’ social media attitudes and self perceptions

This study aims to examine the mediating role of digital literacy in the relationship between adolescents’ social media attitudes and self-perception. The research was conducted with a sample of 287 high school students aged 14 to 17, studying in Bilecik during the 2023–2024 academic year. The data collection tools included a Personal Information Form, the Social Media Attitude Scale (SMAS), the Digital Literacy Scale (DLS), and the Adolescent Self-Perception Scale (ASPS). Data were gathered through face-to-face surveys and analyzed using Pearson correlation analysis and path analysis via Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). The findings revealed significant positive correlations between social media attitudes, digital literacy, and self-perception. In particular, the Need for Sharing dimension of SMAS showed strong positive correlations with all sub-dimensions of DLS and the Social dimension of ASPS. Path analysis indicated that social media attitude positively predicts digital literacy (β = 0.475, p < .001), and digital literacy positively predicts self-perception (β = 0.412, p < .001). Additionally, digital literacy was found to play a mediating role in the effect of social media attitudes on self-perception (β = 0.196, p = .005). In conclusion, adolescents with higher digital literacy skills tend to be more positively influenced by their social media use and develop a healthier self-perception. It is recommended that educational policies and parental guidance be shaped with a focus on promoting digital literacy to enhance adolescents’ ability to navigate social networks in a safe and constructive manner.