Phenomenological analysis of Persian historical pages in Instagram social network with media literacy approach

Topic and content diversity as well as easy access and publication of content, are among the main factors that have attract the attention of users to social networks during the past two decades. Variety of historical images and materials in general and Persian historical pages in particular in Instagram, have increased dramatically in recent years, attracting the attention of large number of users. Due to different level of knowledge and the social background of the followers of these pages, authenticity of most of the published materials, play both constructive and at the same time destructive role in historical literacy and creation of historical identity. The researcher, because of the absence of such studies, has tried to have a better understanding of this phenomenon and answering research questions by using a phenomenological approach and semi-structured interviews with 25 users of these pages.  In conducting this study, the users of such pages have been asked to express their views about the validity of the content, evaluation for sharing, encouraging for historical studies and contributing to historical knowledge of users about 7 Instagram pages, which have historical and private contents.  The results of the content analysis of the answers show that such pages with regard to content production method, follows the general pattern of the cyberspace networks and have not taken into consideration the importance of content validity in publishing historical materials. Their contents have not also been impartial and were openly bias and did not encourage the audience to acquire additional information.  Findings of this research work not only confirm the importance of joining and contribution of historians into virtual networks to produce authentic and effective content, but also emphasize the need for promoting media literacy and increasing the ability for analyzing content of the messages, by users