A study of the effects of mass media on social trust Case study: citizens of Tehran

From a sociological point of view, social trust is an important element of social order. It is strengthened or undermined by certain factors including mass media. The present study, using a survey method with a sample of 400 citizens of Tehran, was aimed at examining the effects of mass media on social trust. The study examined the relationship between three media (national television, satellite and newspapers) and three types of trust: general, interpersonal and institutional. The results of the study showed that there is a significant relationship between using mass media and general and institutional trust as well as between the ownership and management of mass media with social trust.