Purpose: The introduction of technology and mass
communication tools in families has affected the interactions
and social values of families and caused us to witness changes
in the behavior and interactions of family members. Virtual
social networks and the Internet as new media are the most
important of these technologies that have penetrated our world
today in such a way that it is impossible to imagine life without
it; New media has had positive and negative effects depending
on the type of society by affecting the form of interactions of
people in their identity. In view of the above topics, this study
was conducted with the aim of investigating the impact of the
use of virtual social networks on the social identity of families
in Tehran.
Materials and Methods: The number of the statistical
population is equal to 2915543 people and the sample size
calculated using Cochran's method is 384 people, of which 375
people completed the researcher-made questionnaire. The
sampling method is a combination of simple random sampling
and cluster sampling. The results of data analysis at the
descriptive level indicate that the social identity of 94.1% of
citizens is at a positive and high level; Among the two
dimensions of social identity, collective identity (80.8% at
medium and medium to high level) is preferred over individual
identity (68% medium and medium to high). The average
amount of use of virtual social networks from the citizens'
point of view was 1 hour and 36 minutes per day.
Findings: The results of the hypothesis test indicate that the
hypothesis regarding the effect of the use of virtual social
networks on social identity, individual identity and collective
identity has been confirmed and this effect has been direct and
positive. The amount of use of virtual social networks,
respectively, the ability to predict variable changes in social
identity in general (43 percent), individual identity (56
percent), unity against external circumstances (28 percent) and
the individual's feeling towards They have their mental life
(34%), collective identity (46%), commitment to value and
normative order (44%) and belonging to social life (16%).
Conclusion: In general, the use of social networks has
increased the social identity of the citizens of Tehran