Role of Virtual Social Networks in Political Socialization of Tehran's Youth Emphasizing Media Trust

One of the most important tasks of governments is to preserve and transfer the dominant political values, which is achieved through various factors of them virtual social networks are. Young people are the most important user of virtual social networks, and they are also at one of the most sensitive periods of political socialization. Therefore, the study of the role of factors affecting the political socialization of youth, which cyberspace is considered as the most important of these factors, is the goal of this research. The theoretical framework is a compilation framework derived from the theories of Almond and Paul, Isabelle Ang and Elliott Katz etc. The present research method is based on the nature of quantitative data in terms of collecting time as a survey research. Multi-stage random sampling method is used. The sample size is calculated using the Cochran formula of 458 people. The results showed that the greatest influence of independent variables on media trust (0.452), usage rate (0.259) and history of use (0.160). But the contextual variables and the variables of the socio-economic were not meaningful. Generally, the findings of the research indicated that virtual social networks act in the direction of informal political socialization. Therefore, it is suggested that, in order to defend the official political culture of the country, it should actively promote the role of government in the management and control of cyberspace.