Cyberspace and Metaverse Culture
M. Rajabi; M.S. Nasrollahi
Abstract
The future challenges of artificial intelligence, especially in the relationship between humans and intelligent systems or technologically advanced machines as well as the power of its functions in social media, are a cause of concern whose cultural impacts have been presented after further investigation. ...
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The future challenges of artificial intelligence, especially in the relationship between humans and intelligent systems or technologically advanced machines as well as the power of its functions in social media, are a cause of concern whose cultural impacts have been presented after further investigation. As such, the main goal of the article is to analyze the cultural consequences of artificial intelligence in social media i.e. what positive and negative impacts the use of AI have on social media. Taking into account the analytical method of thematic analysis, the data has been collected through questionnaire-based interviews with experts. The findings show that one of the most important cultural impacts of the use and development of artificial intelligence on social media is the scalability (expansion of the scope) of the effectiveness of human decisions and actions, new structuring of the human communication system, transformation in the way of cultural consumption, reducing the power of human choice and delegation. Other aspects mentioned are the disruption of the functioning of the representation of truth in the media, the disruption of the balance between the benefits of personalized content and privacy protection, the countercultural effects of designers and technology owners on the functioning of intelligent systems, the transformation in the way humans and technology interact, the lack of transparency of the consequences of the use of artificial intelligence, and the limitation of the power of governance as well as traditional and the impossibility of effective supervision and legislation, etc.
Sociology
H. Emadi; S.A. Afshani; H. Eslami
Abstract
This study employs grounded theory (GT) to qualitatively explore preconditions for good governance in social media with an emphasis on accountability. The study sample consists of 20 media activists and social media managers who were selected using a theoretical or purposive sampling strategy. The data ...
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This study employs grounded theory (GT) to qualitatively explore preconditions for good governance in social media with an emphasis on accountability. The study sample consists of 20 media activists and social media managers who were selected using a theoretical or purposive sampling strategy. The data were collected through in-depth interviews with participants. The data collection process continued until saturation, i.e., no new pieces of information could add to the final model. The data were analyzed using open, axial, and selective coding, and then a paradigm model and a theoretical schema were developed based on the 15 main themes and the final theme extracted. The results indicated that the “tamed power of sovereignty” is the fruit of a set of factors such as accountability soft punch, reverse control and monitoring, popular network activism, and networked pressure groups, influenced by a set of contextual and intervening factors. What can cause public trust and social solidarity as the ultimate goal is the adoption of strategies such as normalization of accountability, good pragmatism, the networked activity of governing bodies, and institutional accountability of the government and then moving towards the establishment of an online accountability system. The theoretical schema and paradigm model proposed in this study can interpret the results more accurately.
Social Sciences and Communications
M. Jami Pour; A. Naghdi Amiri; S. Kamarei
Abstract
In recent years, especially with the outbreak of the Coronavirus, social media has become a platform for interactions with user-generated contents among online communities. Despite undeniable advantages of social media in individual and social domains, its applications have also confronted human society ...
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In recent years, especially with the outbreak of the Coronavirus, social media has become a platform for interactions with user-generated contents among online communities. Despite undeniable advantages of social media in individual and social domains, its applications have also confronted human society with numerous ethical issues. Since these issues have been less focused by researchers, the present study intends to identify and prioritize ethical challenges being posed by social media. As such, a sequential mixed research method has been applied to reach the desired outcome. At first, after reviewing the existing literature on technological ethics in general, and social media ethics in particular, ethical challenges is defined and classified. Thereafter, a survey method is used to assess and localize the challenges identified by experts. The statistical population in both stages is professors and experts of information technology and social media, who were selected by the purposeful (judgmental) sampling method. The results indicate 7 main dimensions and 42 indicators in social media ethics such as: privacy/confidentiality, psychological/social effects, cyber bullying, accuracy (information content), intellectual property, and freedom of expression issues. The findings can provide policymakers in the field of technology with a comprehensive insight into the challenges of using social media and its importance.
Social Sciences and Communications
F. Zafar Abdollahzadeh; M.R. Rasoli; T. Shiri
Abstract
The global nature of social media has brought ethnic challenges from regional and national stages to the world arena. The current study analyzes these challenges under the framework of Globalization theories. There are two general approaches to globalization: the first believes in complete global homogeneity, ...
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The global nature of social media has brought ethnic challenges from regional and national stages to the world arena. The current study analyzes these challenges under the framework of Globalization theories. There are two general approaches to globalization: the first believes in complete global homogeneity, while the other does not believe in such an optimistic viewpoint. The purpose here is to clarify which of these two approaches have been used by social media as a means of global communication in relation to Iranian ethnic identities. For that matter, the researchers have conducted in-depth interviews with 11 experts in social communications, anthropology, and sociology and data were analyzed using MAXQDA 10 software. The results demonstrated that the performance of social media has created a dual situation, that is, on the one side they have preserved the Iranian ethnic identity and on the other, they have led them to be influenced by global culture. In other words, social media have reinforced the cultural coexistence of ethnic groups nationally and globally. With regard to separatist ethnic groups, social media do not play a significant role, as this issue is influenced by other social and political factors. Ultimately, the Iranian ethnic motivation to resist global nationality and culture is limited, although social media give them such ability.
M. Abbasi Shovazi; M. Delavar
Abstract
The media, along with the content they distribute, involve particular nature and structures that can transform patterns of thinking, behaviors, and emotions. With the emergence of social media and the increasing rate of human interactions in the virtual world, human emotions (including love) have been ...
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The media, along with the content they distribute, involve particular nature and structures that can transform patterns of thinking, behaviors, and emotions. With the emergence of social media and the increasing rate of human interactions in the virtual world, human emotions (including love) have been re-defined in this new space. This issue has been addressed by renowned theorists such as Giddens and Bauman. The present survey investigated the relationship between social/mass media and (liquid) love and the consequences of this relationship as perceived by Shiraz University students. To gather data, 386 students were selected through stratified, probability sampling and completed the copies of a researcher-made questionnaire. The reliability and validity of the questionnaire were confirmed through Cronbach’s alpha and face validity. Results revealed that there was a significant relationship between virtual social networks, domestic and foreign media, and liquid love. Furthermore, the variables of virtual social networks, domestic and foreign media, and liquid love showed a significant relationship to attitude toward marriage. In the structural equation model (processed in Amos), three variables, namely virtual social networks usage, domestic mass media usage, and foreign mass media usage, respectively, left the highest degrees of impact on liquid love. Moreover, three variables, namely domestic mass media usage, foreign mass media usage, and liquid love, significantly affected attitude toward marriage with coefficients of 0.199, -0.113, and -0.414, respectively.
Mohammad Mahdi Rahmati; Saadat Bakhshi
Abstract
Today, cellphone is an integral part of our life in daily communication and relations. Moreover, due to the increasing development of the communication technologies and devices, it is necessary to study their impacts and influences on people in society. The main aim of this paper is to ...
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Today, cellphone is an integral part of our life in daily communication and relations. Moreover, due to the increasing development of the communication technologies and devices, it is necessary to study their impacts and influences on people in society. The main aim of this paper is to describe and explain the culture of cellphone consuming. Meanwhile, indexes of lifestyle have been applied among subjects (University students). Theoretical framework of this research is Pierre Bourdieu’s consumer lifestyle. This study is based on survey method with sample size of 400 students. Questionnaire has been used for gathering data from respondents (students of state university and medical university of Shahrekord). The results of this study showed that, using Bourdieu’s theory, we can explain many students behavior about consuming cellphone. Moreover, findings about using social media between respondents have confirmed the theory of anonymity in cyberspace about applications such as Viber, Line and What’s up.
