Educational Impacts of Mobile Social Networks on Student's National and Religious Identity

Studying the factors effective on shaping the identity of young people in every society has always been among important issues considered by educational experts. The aim of this study was to identify educational impacts of using mobile social networks (WhatsApp, Viber and Line) on students’ national and religious identity.
This study utilized descriptive-analytic method. The statistical population consisted of all the undergraduate students of Tabas Islamic Azad University, 288 of whom were chosen as samples using simple random sampling method and Cochran’s formula. Data collection instruments included a researcher-made questionnaire to "assess the use of mobile social networks", and also questionnaires concerning "national identity" and "religious identity". For data analysis, descriptive statistics and also inferential statistics were used, while applying Pearson correlation, multiple variance and independent t-test. The results showed that there is a meaningful negative correlation between the use of mobile social network and national and religious identities. More specifically, a weaker national and religious identity is formed in students who use more of these networks.
Meanwhile, no relationship was found between the field of study and national and religious identity variables. Also, on the topic of religious identity, there was no significant difference between boys and girls. The present study showed that the most significant impacts of the mobile social networks were in following the example of the models in those networks in appearance and manners, transforming beliefs, indolence in religious matters and hiding these networks from the family, respectively.