Self-disclosures in Virtual Social Networks: A Study of the City of Hamedan

The new information media and, at the top of that Internet, modernize the social processes. Social media and other web 2.0 tools have provided users with the platform to interact with and also disclose personal information to not only their friends and acquaintances but also relative strangers with unprecedented ease. This has enhanced the ability of people to share more about themselves, their families, and their friends through a variety of media including text, photo, and video, thus developing and sustaining social and business relationships. This paper is a field study to determine the type and extent of self-esteem and the impact of age, education, and gender factors on it in virtual social networks.

This is applied research in terms of purpose and a descriptive-survey based on data collection method and correlation type in terms of data analysis method. The statistical population is the users of social networks of Hamadan in the age range of 16 to 64 years old. We used classification sampling method based on Morgan table 768 users are chosen and we increase the number of sample to 800 to increase the credibility of data. The research tool is a questionnaire. To determine reliability and validity, we used Cronbach's alpha techniques and for data analysis is used inferential techniques (confirmatory factor analysis) and Laserl and Lasrel and SPSS software.

The results showed that in self-disclosure, the Sharing pictures component 95%, individual characteristics 78% and beliefs 76% explain this variable. Also, there was a significant relationship between age, gender, education and self- disclosure Such that men are more disclosure than women and so people grow older, they have less willingness to disclose their information, and by increased education, the more self- disclosure happens.