navigating identity in the digital age: the influence of misinformation on adolescents' self-perception and discourse

With the increasing trend of false and ineffective information in digital environments, numerous problems and dilemmas have arisen for the growth and development of adolescents, especially on self-perception and discourse patterns. the present study has attempted to examine the effects of different levels of exposure to false information on adolescents' self-perception and analyze discourse patterns among different groups of users. the sample consisted of 50 adolescent girls aged 13 to 16 years old located at the shokoh ofogh language institute in kashmar, who were categorized into three groups based on their daily exposure to the internet: low (n=17), medium (n=16), and high (n=17). the data collected includes a self-perception profile questionnaire for adolescents and semi-structured interviews. one-way analysis of variance indicated that there were significant differences in self-perception scores across exposure groups, and subsequent scheffé test analyses revealed that participants in the high exposure group scored significantly lower than both the low and moderate exposure groups. through thematic analysis of the interview data, four main themes emerged: influence on self-perception, online identity expression, credibility judgments, and social influence. the findings suggest that prolonged exposure to misinformation significantly impacts adolescents’ self-perception and discourse development, highlighting the need for targeted media literacy interventions. these results highlight the need for appropriate educational interventions to improve critical thinking skills and flexibility among adolescents against misinformation. moreover, the results can help students, teachers, parents, and policymakers in developing information analysis skills.