The Role of Accompanying Social Media in Generational Relations of Allameh Tabataba'i University Students

In recent decades, and due to the role of accompanying social media in shaping various forms of human communication, these media were at the forefront of people’s attention. Today, with the increasing use of social media among the youth, they changed to a common generational object and attracted communication experts’ attention to analyze the role and consequences of these social networks on the intergenerational relationship of the youth with their parents.    The main purpose of this study is to identify the role of accompanying social media in generational relations of Allameh Tabataba'i University students.     The research method is survey and the data collection tool is a researcher-made questionnaire. Using Cochran's formula from the statistical population -which included all students studying in the faculties of communication, law and political sciences of Allameh Tabataba'i University in Tehran- 400 people were selected as sample size. Findings The findings indicate that there is a negative correlation between the time that the students spend on social media and strengthening their generational relations with their parents. Moreover, there is a significant relationship between the amount of time spent on accompanying social media and the kind of students’ generational relations in terms of cohesion and correlation, face-to-face relations with parents and family members, and between the amount of time spent on accompanying social media and the kind of students’ generational relations in terms of weakening the emotional bond in the family. In contrast, there is no significant relationship between the amount of time spent on accompanying social media and students’ generational relations in terms of the attitudinal divide in the family. Accompanying social media have accelerated the process of modernization in family relationships and weakened the traditional bonds in the family. Regarding that, by strengthening the emotional bonds between parents and children, many irreparable consequences can be prevented.