The role of virtual social networks in youth political socialization, with emphasis on media availability and active user

One of the most important tasks of governments is to preserve and transfer the dominant political values, which is achieved through various factors that make virtual social networks one of them. Young people are the most important user of virtual social networks, and they are also at one of the most sensitive periods of political socialization. Therefore, the study of the role of factors affecting the political socialization of youth, which cyberspace is considered as the most important of these factors, is the goal of this research. The theoretical framework is a compilation framework derived from the theories of Giddens, Almond and Paul, Manuel Castells, Daniel Bell, Isabelle Ang and Elliott Katz, Harold Lasswell, Charles Wright, McCoyle, Robert Putnam, Max Weber, and Tickler. The present research method is based on the nature of quantitative data in terms of collecting time as a survey research. Multi-stage random sampling method is used. The sample size is calculated using the Cochran formula of 458 people. The results show that the greatest influence of independent variables on active user was (0.412), usage rate (0.174) and history of use (0.077). But the variables of the socio-economic base and the variable of media availability were not meaningful. Generally, the findings of the research indicate that virtual social networks act in the direction of informal political socialization.