Visual culture plays a significant role in shaping identity among youth in South Africa, reflecting broader cultural shifts and socio-economic changes. A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining qualitative interviews with quantitative surveys to gather data from both urban and rural youth. Urban youth showed a stronger engagement with digital media platforms compared to their rural counterparts, indicating the prominence of visual culture in shaping contemporary identities. Visual culture significantly impacts identity formation among South African youth, particularly through digital platforms, highlighting its importance for cultural studies and policy development. Further research should focus on longitudinal studies to track changes in visual culture's influence over time.
Nkosi et al. (2014) studied this question.