The Assessment of influence of virtual social networks on social identity of women in Iran (Case Study: Facebook)

In this paper the influence of virtual social networks on some dimensions of social identity (including religious identity, ethnic, family and personal) is evaluated by using a survey study in Mashhad between two groups of female college students, those who have been as a members of the social network and those that have not registered in the social network. Studies and analysis showed that between the two groups in terms of religious, ethnic, family and personal identity the first group is weaker than the second group. This result suggests that qualitative changes in finding the correct identity taken place in the age of technology and the impact of the traditional channel in finding identity has lost its value. As a result, despite the efforts of traditional and informal institutions (family, religion) and the formal institutions cultural planning in influencing social identity, social networks has decisive impact on virtual social identity of understudied people in this research and interaction in social networks grounds in women's missing social identity.

The Assessment of influence of virtual social networks on social identity of women in Iran (Case Study: Facebook) Keywords:

virtual , social networks , Facebook , identity , social identity