ABSTRACT
Adolescence is an age when boys spend most of their leisure time in accessing and frequent using of social networking sites (SNSs). Social media produces a profound impact on the lifestyle of adolescent boys, which helps in the construction of masculine identity. The present chapter explores and analyzes how adolescent boys’ practice and construct their notions of masculinity by using and being engrossed in SNSs (WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter). The present research uses a mixed methodology in order to study 50 boys (aged 16–17 years) who studies in XI and XII standards of high school in North Kolkata. The research is carried out by non-probability purposive and snowball sampling techniques. The majority of adolescent boys affirmed in spending their leisure time in frequent usage of SNSs (WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter) for the purpose of interacting with their peers and their closed ones on issues of intimacy followed by sexuality. They also build friendships and interact with strangers in order to reduce loneliness. All boys affirmed that they enjoy flaunting their bodies in SNSs like Facebook and Instagram, all in a bid to increase their reputation among their peers, which will not only enhance their self-esteem but also will increase their reputation among female peers resulting in the formation or construction of masculine identity. The social media also provides a solace for the adolescent boys since it helps them to escape from the mundane life and remain engrossed in a different sphere of entertainment which helps in developing notions of masculinity.
