Final answer:
One example of peers as an agent of socialization is when children on a playground teach younger children norms such as taking turns and game rules. Peer groups continue to shape identity and norms during adolescence, and with the advent of social media, influence has expanded globally.
Step-by-step explanation:
In children's experiences with their friends, they come to be sensitive to social norms and pressures of peer groups. One of the best examples to illustrate the role peers play as an agent of socialization for school-aged children is when kids on a playground teach younger children the norms about taking turns, the rules of a game, or how to shoot a basket.
This form of socialization continues as children grow into teenagers, where peer groups become crucial to adolescents as they begin to develop an identity separate from their parents and exert independence. Peer groups provide a critical socialization experience that is distinct from family influence, encompassing how individuals talk, use physical gestures, dress, and even shape their political views. Breaching experiments have shown how deeply ingrained these social norms are when individuals who violate them cause discomfort in others, demonstrating the importance of peer group influence.
Moreover, the extensive reach of social media today allows young people to connect with a global network of peers, potentially reinforcing rather than changing existing beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors, leading to echo chambers. This demonstrates the importance of peer groups in socialization throughout different stages of a child's development, including the formation of the 'self' as envisaged by sociologists.