“مردم ایران در حال حاضر در حال مبارزه با وضعیت اقتصادی دشواری هستند.”

“The people of Iran are currently struggling with a difficult economic situation.”
Ali Afshari

Social media has been one of the most important platforms for changes in communication, social relationships, and lifestyle in recent decades in Iran. The increase in internet usage in Iran and its spread into people’s daily lives has led to the creation of information technology infrastructure in the country and its rapid expansion. The rapid growth of internet users in Iran and the use of various information technology tools and the dominance of the virtual space have brought about significant changes in the social sphere of Iran. This transformation has also affected the management and executive processes.

Social networks were initially limited to personal communication channels between individuals and were formed in the realm of relationships and mutual interactions among small groups, mostly within the framework of individualistic relationships. However, these networks soon became a tool for collective action in the closed political space of Iran, due to limitations and structural constraints in the political, cultural, and social spheres. This global phenomenon gradually took shape in Iran during the Green Movement in 2009 and has continued to grow since then.

Now, with a population of nearly 40 million internet users in Iran, and its extensive geographical and social coverage, as well as the development and improvement of new information and communication technologies, the virtual realm has become a significant part of Iran’s current political landscape. Over the past decade, although virtual reality has not completely replaced physical reality, their proportion has shifted in favor of virtual reality.

The main tools of cyber activism are social media networks, which are used by both different factions of the government, as well as critics, opponents, and civil society forces.

The government has realized the increasing importance of social media networks and has implemented restrictions and established multiple centers to control and direct them. However, despite their efforts, they have not been able to gain complete dominance. This failure has not led to complete censorship and self-censorship on the virtual platform, as it does in the real world. The government also strives to turn threats into opportunities. Blocking social media networks is neither possible nor beneficial for government information and ideological institutions.

However, the main focus of this article is on the overall evaluation of the impact of social media networks on Iranian society and civil society forces. Contrary to some hasty opinions, the main foundation is based on a neutral perspective towards this tool, which has inevitably and irreversibly transformed the way of life and social interaction. In fact, other activists and ordinary citizens are not in a position to choose and are forced to be present on social media networks and perform appropriate actions.

Therefore, the purpose of describing the positive and negative aspects of this phenomenon of the 21st century, which has connected the global community and made communication easier for citizens of different countries by disregarding borders, is to present a realistic approach and focus on improving its functions and minimizing its problematic consequences.

Information dissemination and content production on a large scale and the use of freedom of speech and expression have been the most important tasks of social networks, playing an undeniable role in facilitating the free flow of information and weakening the space for censorship and blocking of information. Citizen journalists, who became prominent during the bloody suppression of the 2009 protests and the Green Movement in Iranian political literature, explain this function well.

Representation of reality in events where the government and those in power have made great efforts to monopolize their own narrative, has become a clear advantage that has worked miraculously in some cases. Since 2009, the use of smartphones equipped with suitable cameras and internet connection has been able to document important scenes of social and political conflicts and oppressive actions of the government.

The widespread distribution of these films has demonstrated the immense power and impact of portraying reality, and how important it is in comparison to reality itself. The reflection of reality, especially when aided by technology and the creative achievements of information and communication technologies, plays a crucial role in conveying and understanding it. Thousands of eyewitness accounts cannot convey the depth and intensity of a tragedy as effectively as even a fraction of these films can. The portrayal of reality is an essential part of discovering it, and in today’s world, live footage is the most effective form of presenting and understanding events for the general public. The latest example of this high capability was the release of an audio file of Ayatollah Montazeri’s speech to the executive committee of the mass executions of 1967, which quickly created a major social and political movement and caused a crisis for the government and defenders of Ayatollah Khomeini.

The use of social networks for transmitting political messages, organizing and creating social pressure has been another effective function. This function has been utilized at both micro and macro levels, in political and social arenas. The wave of organized networks, with a million votes in the tenth parliamentary election and the sixth Assembly of Experts election, was the latest example of this tactic. During this period, the urban advertising space and streets were mostly controlled by fundamentalists, who had more advertising and logistical resources. However, the advantage of reformists and moderates was in their social capital and the cyber space. Virtual social networks, especially Telegram, practically provided the space for the formation of a network of supporters for the List of Hope. This event demonstrated the impact of information technology in election campaigns.

The widespread use of Twitter and Instagram by top and middle agents of the government, such as Seyyed Ali Khamenei, Hassan Rouhani, Javad Zarif, and others, reveals that different branches of power, with a deep understanding of the high potential of the virtual space, are increasingly relying on it to convey their main messages.

Telegram channels now play a crucial role in the convergence and internal organization of political, social, religious, national, and other movements.

Of course, one of the shortcomings that political and civil groups in Iran have not yet utilized is the ability to organize and hold virtual meetings, which, if safety measures are followed, can eliminate the limitations of police presence in gatherings and collective activities. Delving into the reasons behind this phenomenon is beyond the scope of this article.

Introduction of new forces and those who have been able to gain social status and political position through social media networks, is another capability of social media networks. They have introduced new celebrities, individuals, and reference centers that may not necessarily align with the physical reality. This means that there are people who are popular in the virtual space but are not well-known in the environment they live in, or in established institutions and connections, or do not have a suitable background.

However, not all of the story ends with these positive aspects. Social networks, alongside their many benefits, also pose serious threats. It should be noted that the use of positive aspects is not limited to the monopoly of civil society forces and defenders of people’s sovereignty and human rights. Enemies of freedom and authoritarian forces also take advantage of these benefits. Users of social networks are vulnerable to security threats because these networks provide a lot of information to security agencies and also create opportunities for manipulation, influence, and infiltration. Deception, creating a sense of security, starting deviant trends, and creating false authorities on social media are much easier and cheaper. In social networks where the focus and influence of hubs (those who have more connections, friends, and followers) are greater, it is easy to artificially create divisive movements or spread false and biased facts.

Social networks, due to their speed in message transmission, brevity, and low control over accurate news dissemination, have serious weaknesses. This has led to an increase in impulsive behavior influenced by the atmosphere of agitation and excitement, as well as the rise of populist tendencies and superficial views on issues. As a result, some individuals in the virtual space receive attention despite lacking a rational approach to issues and resorting to emotional reactions, extreme views, sensationalism, and especially raising controversial issues.

One of the interesting and at the same time disturbing features of the virtual space in Iran is the existence of unbalanced individuals in terms of personality and mental state who have a large number of followers.

Although there have not been documented resources and comprehensive studies on the impact of social networks on the level of studying, at least in the Iranian context, a type of negative correlation can be observed between them. The discussion of studying and awareness has not only been vulnerable from a quantitative aspect, but also the high volume of false information and incorrect data that has been published and to some extent has affected public opinion, has also become a problem from a qualitative perspective.

Extensive research has been conducted in American universities, showing the impact of the expansion of social networks on the prevalence of superficial literature, insulting and racist statements, and the belief in white supremacy in America. Similar research shows how extremist groups have made the most use of social networks and cyberspace to recruit members, spread propaganda, and promote their political views and agendas. In Iran, the government, especially the authoritarian and power-hungry authorities known as the “guardians of the revolution,” have created extensive and powerful institutions and infrastructures to dominate the virtual space and are actively engaged in such activities.

Other notable harm is the strengthening of relationships known as “yellow media” by social media networks. In the past decade, transactions and interactions in the virtual space have intensified the use of verbal violence, profanity, and vulgar words in the public sphere and in some cases have caused damage to the reputation of Iranians around the world.

One of the areas in which social networks have caused serious disruption in society is in the field of sexual and marital relationships. However, considering the nature of social media as a tool, this issue cannot be solely attributed to them and they are merely reflecting what is happening within society. But the capabilities of these new information tools have made it easier for emotional connections, which has led to intensified disruptions and a lack of balance in society on a larger scale.

Of course, these negative aspects are the unintended and inevitable consequences of any new phenomenon. Virtual reality and cyberspace are the unchangeable realities of our time, and the more we advance, the more humanity becomes entangled with them; Iranian society is no exception. There are also many positive capabilities of this phenomenon, and there are still unused or undiscovered capacities.

Pathology and understanding negative aspects helps minimize their damages and facilitates the optimal use.