The Role of Virtual Media in Changing Social Values with an Emphasis on Telegram and Facebook Social Networks

This study aims to investigate the role played by social networks, including Facebook and Telegram, in changing the social life styles of the young and middle-aged generations of Iranian society. The research method consists of survey group of 512 people of the young and middle-aged generations selected from 5 provinces using multi-stage cluster sampling. Data were collected using a research-made questionnaire. The results show that there is a close relationship between the use of social networks, including Facebook and Telegram, and their difference in intergenerational value. But in most cases, this convergence is not positive and reduces the tendency of young people towards the values of the Iranian society. According to the research findings, there is a direct and significant relationship between the use of the social networks, including Facebook and Telegram, the social values of individualism, selection of modern clothes, and criteria of spouse selection among the young and middle-aged generation. Moreover, there is an inverse and significant relationship between social values of legalism, religiosity and accountability, ethical criteria for spouse selection, and selection of traditional clothes.