Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

• mohammadreza hasani ¹
• fateme mohammadzade ²
• hamide mohammadzade ³

¹ Assistant Professor of sistan and baluchestan

² PhD Student in Sociology, Department of social science, Faculty of Social science and Economics, Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran.

³ PhD Student in Cultural Sociology, Department of Social Science, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran.

Abstract

The new generation and identification processes (Emphasis on identification through social media)

Abstract

With the emergence and spread of social media, identity has become a changeable and fragmented phenomena, and society and family are the only determining sources, so identity and identification, especially among young people, are undergoing transformation. The present paper tries to examines and analyze identity of youth and their identification process as a result of using social media. The study used qualitative approach, thematic analysis and and semi-structured in-depth interviews with 17 youth. The findings obtained from the interviwes we also extracted and analyzed with the thematic analysis and demonstrated 4 main themes: "gap of values and beliefs", "media orientation of lifestyle", "problematization of self", "transformation of interactions", and 12 sub-themes: "transformation in religious beliefs and opinions", "transformation in political beliefs and opinions", "disinterest in domestic official media", "trendization of life", "media orientation of Interests and goals, "opportunity for freedom of action", "opportunity for self-change", "opportunity for pretending", "opportunity for identification with oneself", "opportunity for identification with others", "formation of superficial friendships", "sacrifice face-to-face interactions". According to the findings, the young generation, under the influence of the media and facing with a multitude of information and ideas, are faced with multiple and diverse ways to answer the question of "who and what" and the process of identifying themselves, and in the position activism with a fragmented and fluid identity seeks identity-finding.



Keywords: Identity, Identification, Youth, Social Media, Fluidity



Extended abstract

Introduction

During the last century, according to extensive structural, functional and semantic changes due to processes such as the emergence and expansion of modernity, information and communication technologies, postmodern destructive developments People's life style has faced comprehensive and serious normative and value changes. One of the concrete manifestations of this is the influence of young "as the first adopters of new technologies" (Zimles, 2012: 4) from the process of these developments, especially the transformation of the traditional conditions and framework of identity and identification.

Identity is the source of "meaning and experience" for society members (Castellst, 2001: 22) and a necessary condition for social life, without it "society will not exist" (Jenkins, 2002: 8,9). In traditional societies the identity of individuals was formed and fixed through the semantic order of integration that included all groups of the society. But today, as a result of the self-awareness that originated from the conditions and characteristics of life in this world, the previous ideas about the identity and the identification process of people have been questioned and have become the basis for different processes of identity development and reproduction.

In today's societies, especially developing societies such as ours, the most important issue that cause problems for the new generation are their identity and their different identification process, which in different areas of life (attitude towards marriage, pattern of sexual interactions), attitude towards religion and religious beliefs, employment, lifestyle, leisure time, etc.).

Considering that from the point of view of social theorists (Giddens, Castells, etc) the identity of people and the type of action they perform in society is a function of the sources of identity search, hence the main difference between what the new generation compared to previous generations, the change is in the process and sources of identification. They seek to discover, build and actively keep their identity alive. They cannot rely on an identity that is simply given to them or inherited or based on their dignity; They have a self-made identity and they have not accepted the identity that the society assigned to them at birth and do not consider it as their own.



Objective

In the current research, we want to consider identity based on experiences and meanings that each person or group obtains in response to the question of who and what they are, and it is the basis of their distinctions or similarities from others or with others, identity of youth and their identification process as a result of using social media. In this regard, we are trying to answer the following questions:

"What do youth think of social media? What is the role of social media in their identity (identification process and identity construction)? How do youth display and represent themselves in social media in the process of identity-finding?



Methodology

The data collection was accomplished through a qualitative approach and in- semi-structured interviews. For this purpose, we selected 17 youth including 10 females and 7 males who are experience of at least three years or more using social media; have accounts in at least two social media and are active daily, through purposeful sampling. The findings were ascertained using the thematic analysis technique.



Results

4 main themes and 12 sub-themes were extracted from interviews. The main themes are: "gap of values and beliefs", "media orientation of lifestyle", "problematization of self", "transformation of interactions". The sub-themes are: "transformation in religious beliefs and Politics beliefs", "transformation in political beliefs and opinions", "disinterest in domestic official media", "trendization of life", "media orientation of Interests and goals" , "opportunity for freedom of action", "opportunity for self-change", "opportunity for pretending", "opportunity for identification with oneself", "opportunity for identification with others", "formation of superficial friendships", "sacrifice face-to-face interactions".



Conclusion

Based on the interviwes responses, the gap and transformation in the beliefs and values of the youth as a result of access to social media play a major role in rethinking the religious and political thoughts of the youth and caused a sense of belonging in the field of religious beliefs. According to religious and even political identities and indicators, it has a selective nature, not adaptation. the mediatization of different aspects of life have created new requirements for youth, including regarding lifestyle, in such a way that choosing a distinctive lifestyle is considered as a part of the origin of their identity interpretation. Youth manifest and show their identity in their lifestyle, which often does not fit with the values and norms of our society and is media-oriented. Also, based on the statements of the interviewees, due to the existence of restrictions, contradictions, tensions, and official norms, it is not possible for young people to present themselves in an arbitrary way in the real environment of society and even in the family environment; While social media has provided them with a suitable platform to realize this goal and an opportunity for freedom of action and to be seen and heard, as well as an opportunity for "self-change", "self-idealization, "sameness with oneself and with others". One of the important results obtained from the findings is a transformation in the forms of interaction among youth; the formation of superficial and shallow friendships and the reduction of the value of face-to-face conversations.

According to the findings, the young generation, under the influence of the media and facing with a multitude of information and ideas, are faced with multiple and diverse ways to answer the question of "who and what" and the process of identifying themselves, and in the position activism with a fragmented and fluid identity seeks identity-finding.

Keywords

• Identity
• identification
• youth
• social media
• fluidity

Main Subjects

• Studies of cyberspace and social networks