Mehr: Iranian Housewife Women are the Most Active Members of Social Networks

The Mehr news agency, citing a report from the Iranian Students Polling Agency (ISPA), has reported that more than half of the people in Iran are members of at least one virtual social network, with housewives being the most active members of these networks. According to the report published on Saturday, August 30, ISPA conducted this national survey in December 2015, and based on its findings, men, married individuals, and those with university education use social networks more than others. The statistical population of this survey, titled 'Examining Iranian Citizens' Views on Social Networks,' included all individuals over 18 years old in ordinary households residing in 31 provinces of Iran. The survey shows that 52.8% of Iranian citizens are members of at least one virtual social network. The relationship between social network membership and gender indicates that men are slightly more active than women, with 50.8% of social network members being men and 49.2% being women. According to the findings, 34.3% of social network members are aged between 18 and 29, and 41.8% are aged between 30 and 49, while 23.9% are 50 years old and above. The comparison of individuals' education and its impact on social network membership shows that 75% of those with university education use virtual social networks. Furthermore, the analysis of the activity status of social network members indicates that housewives are at the forefront of social network membership, with 28.2% belonging to this group, while the smallest share belongs to workers and soldiers. The extensive activity of Iranian housewives on social networks is significant as it shows that despite efforts in the Islamic Republic to limit women's activities to childbearing and household management, the internet and virtual networks have provided them with opportunities to engage in a larger space even from home. The report also notes that married individuals, at 62.7%, are more likely to be members of social networks compared to singles, who make up 27.4%. However, the ISNA news agency, which reported a similar story on the same day, later changed its report without providing statistical details, stating that singles are more active on social networks than married individuals. ISNA also removed statistics related to housewives from its report. The initial report from ISNA included charts about social network usage in Iran, which were also completely omitted from the final version. Nonetheless, the initial report remains accessible on other news sites. Officials of the Islamic Republic have consistently criticized the increasing use of virtual networks in Iran, labeling these networks as a means of 'enemy infiltration.' Some have attributed various social phenomena, such as 'increased divorce rates,' to internet usage. Mohammad Hossein Naja, the cultural deputy of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, recently stated that 'we have been successful in the virtual space with the Hezbollah segment but unsuccessful with the gray segment of society; we must turn this part of society into producers in the Islamic Revolution arena.'