Virtual Social Networks and Young Users; from Continuity in Real Life to Cosmopolitan Experience

Document Type : Research Paper

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Abstract

This paper aims to explain why young Iranian internet-users participate in virtual social networks in spite of filtering. It applies Uses & Gratification perspective in light of a qualitative approach. The findings indicate that facebook is the most popular social network site in Iran. Facebook is not seen a political space by the users, and they usually use it to facilitate communication, renew old communication, create and maintain friendly relationships, find new friends and make the old relations friendlier. Furthermore, users overcome some of their social, cultural, political, economic and domestic limitations by participating in Facebook and experiencing a modern and cosmopolitan space.
            At the end, having understood incentives among young Iranian internet-users in terms of their social context, age and gender, the paper tries to explain above-mentioned causes and role of virtual social networks in young Iranian internet-users life.

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References

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