The Disruption of the Virtual Space in the Process of Identity Formation in Iranian Families

In the information age, a significant portion of intergenerational socialization takes place through the virtual space, and the media's penetration and influence are so extensive that some communication theorists believe that the media determine our mental and even behavioral priorities. If they do not teach us how to think, they instruct us on what to think about. In fact, the international flow of information is a center-periphery flow that moves from developed countries towards developing countries. This flow is highly unidirectional, vertical, derogatory, negative, and hegemonic, significantly increasing the ability of external resources to implement actions such as control and infiltration in target countries through the promotion of lifestyle changes. The cultural damage suffered by developing societies (including Iran) as a result of lifestyle transformations will undoubtedly have numerous social consequences. Among these consequences is the weakening of the foundations of the family system and the adoption of foreign cultures incompatible with the indigenous culture, which puts Iranian identity at risk and under threat. This paper aims to address the main question of how the virtual space, by intensifying individualism, has undermined the institution of the family and reduced national cohesion, thereby endangering Iranian identity, which is indebted to the sense of collectivism derived from the historical significance of the family. The research method employed in this paper is descriptive-analytical, using documentary sources and library research.