The Role of Culture and Identity in Forming of Social network in Society in Viewpoint of Iranian Cyber Space Activists

A fiercely contested aspect of development modeling in Iran is about the basis on which development in communications and cyberspace in general، and in domestic social networks in particular، should be modeled and pursued. This research deals with the question that whether or not policymaking for، planning of and managing the cyberspace، internet، social media and social networks can be carried out in accordance with national culture and identity، and if so، what set of principles should govern the process. The mainstream materialistic approach of Iranian researchers considers the culture to be a dependent variable of a series of independent variables such as technology، thus investigating the type and scope of the effects of cyberspace، media and social networks on our culture and identity. In contrast to that approach، we used Q method to investigate the mindset of experts، managers، policymakers and active users of the cyberspace regarding the role that culture and identity might play in the formation of domestic social networks. Analyzing the questionnaires returned by influential activists of the cyberspace، we found 5 primary mindsets regarding the aforementioned issue، dimensions of which are briefly elaborated. Finally، based on our understanding of the investigated mindsets and their interrelationships، a few operational suggestions and recommendations are made to policymakers in this field.