Shalaleh Meraji Oskuie; Kamran Mohamadkhani; Ali Delavar; Ali Akbar Farhangi
Abstract
Transgressions (socially non-normative behaviors) and misconducts find a brand-new way of manifestation through online social media. Hence, social control of such behaviors is crucial ...
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Transgressions (socially non-normative behaviors) and misconducts find a brand-new way of manifestation through online social media. Hence, social control of such behaviors is crucial to assure users’ tranquility and safety and to restrain the contagion of these transgressions into real society. The current study aimed at exploring Iranian Instagram users’ perceived transgressions, and perceived effective social control means. A qualitative content analysis was conducted on the data from online interviews by a questionnaire, with closed- and open-ended questions, filled out by 58 participants. The results showed Obscenity, Transgressive Information, Emotional Release, Market-Related Content, Risky Behaviors, and Criminal Behaviors as perceived transgressions. Five perceived personal means (Personality Traits; Social Status; Personal Attitudes; Media Use Habits; Ignoring/ Inaction), and also six perceived social means of social control of cybercultural transgressions (Family Structure; Social Groups; Technological Tools; Legal Factors; Awareness Raising; and Societal Attitudes) were identified. It can be inferred from the results that filtering and domestic social media are not effective social control means. The results can be used to devise formal and informal social control policies and initiatives to decrease social media transgressions.
