The present study aimed to explore adolescents’ lived experiences of identity conflict arising between family culture and social media environments. Given the prominent role of social media in shaping the identity of the new generation, this research sought to illuminate the dimensions of this conflict. The study employed a qualitative design using thematic analysis. The research population consisted of adolescents aged 13 to 18 in the city of Qazvin, who were selected through purposive and convenience sampling. These adolescents had continuous engagement with social media platforms such as Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, and others. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 15 adolescents, and following Braun and Clarke’s (2006) six-phase approach to coding and analysis, basic, organizing, and global themes were identified. The findings revealed that experiences of identity conflict could be categorized into four overarching themes: (1) communicational-structural erosion of the family amid the widening gap between family norms and social media culture, (2) normative-value conflicts influencing adolescents’ lifestyle, (3) redefinition of self-identity shaped by mechanisms of social comparison, and (4) social media as an emotional and identity-related refuge. The results indicate that adolescents increasingly substitute familial interactions with social media to fulfill emotional and identity-related needs, which contributes to weakened family communication and the emergence of normative tensions. Moreover, the pervasive mechanisms of social comparison embedded in social media lead to continuous reconfiguration of personal identity, intensifying adolescents’ sense of identity instability. These insights may inform educational interventions, support programs aimed at reducing intergenerational gaps, and initiatives designed to foster positive identity development among adolescents.