Section Article

VISUAL CULTURE IN THE DIGITAL AGE: THE IMPACT OF PHOTOGRAPHY ON TEENAGERS IN URBAN INDIA
Author(s): Mokshit Gupta

Abstract
The digital revolution has fundamentally reshaped the visual culture of contemporary India particularly among urban teenagers whose daily lives are deeply intertwined with digital photography smartphone cameras social media platforms and image-based communication practices. As India approached 2025 photography emerged not only as a creative medium but also as a powerful cultural force that influences identity formation self-expression social interaction and emotional well-being among young people. The accessibility of high-quality mobile cameras the rise of social media ecosystems such as Instagram Snapchat Facebook and emerging visual apps and the normalization of digital documentation of everyday life have collectively transformed how teenagers perceive themselves and the world around them. This research examines the evolving relationship between visual culture and adolescent experiences in urban India analyzing how digital photography shapes body image peer relationships self-presentation social belonging creative aspirations and psychological pressures. It further explores the complexities of digital visibility the politics of representation cyber-social comparison and visual consumerism within the teenage demographic. Drawing from sociological psychological and media studies perspectives the paper argues that photography in the digital age functions as a cultural language that both empowers and challenges urban youth. By investigating behavioral patterns cultural shifts and social implications of digital photography the study highlights how visual culture has become a defining element of teenage life in urban India.