The Study of Religiosity and its relationship to degree and kind of web-based social networks usage (the case of Yasouj university’s students)

Introduction: Religiosity in society such as Iran is critical and this debate is conserning while various studies which has been done in this regard (Kalantari et. Al., 2009; Ganji et. Al, 2010; Alavi et. Al., 2010; Mousavi & Kalantari, 2011; Safiri & Meamariani, 2011; Safiri & Neamatollahi, 2011; Bahonar & Jafari, 2012; Karimian Seyghalani, 2012; Ahmadi et. Al., 2014; and Riahi et. Al., 2014) showed that religiosity and religious identity has been decreased among Iranian youth. This situation can be lead to harmfull and negative consequences, thus, it is necessary to being investigate, scientifically. The scientific investigation of web-based social networks is so important because of rapid expansion of web-based social networks among various social stratums, especially among youth, extention of various matrials, from which, some matrials may be in contradiction with Islamic ideas, and necessary of awarening and public education via increasing growth of mass media. The religiosity reduction mentioned in previous researchs, from one side, and increasing the web-based social networks among various social stratious of society, especially youth, lead to study this subject in a research project in Yasouj University. This paper aimed to evaluate the religiosity of students and its relationship to degree and kind of web-based social networks usage based on "Uses and gratification" theory and Giddens' "Structuration" theory. Material & Methods: Using survey method, Statistics society had been Yasouj university students during 2014-2015 semesters (by 4,195 students) ; from which 400 persons were determined based on Lin Sampling Table (1976) as sample size and were selected by classified-multi stage random sampling method. Researcher-made questionnaire was used as research tool for collecting data, which face validity and Cronbach's alpha (0.93) were used for its validity and reliability, respectively. Discussion of Results & Coclusions: The findings showed that there is significant diference in religiosity according to membership situation in social networks, kind of social netwoks’ usage, gender and studying dicipline and there is significant direct relationship between membership history and religiosity. There is not significant relationship between the degree of social networks use and religiosity. Independent variables, can explained 15.5 percentages of dependent variable’s variance. It can be aguied, based on research findings, that internet and social networks, essentially, don,t reduce religiosity, but, as mass media, their contents, and kind of usage has some consequencies for users’ religiosity; so that some contents ans usages reduced religiosity. Thus, according findings, it can be said that while web-base social networks may have some advantages for users, but due to contents of used matrials and the kind of web-base social networks usages, lead to decrasing of youth religiosity, and consequencly, this situation can be lead to hrmfull situation in spiritual condition of society. As usages of web-base social networks, has been overwolmed during past decade and most of studies in this field have been done via survey method, qualitative methods for more understandings of social networks are suggested. According to importance of web-based social networks, ewarning and senseting family institution, education ministry, and Television and Radio organization of bad consequencies of web-base social networks is suggested. Thus, educational and cultural organizations must provide healthy contexts for youth and safeting them from bad consequences of web-base social networks via offering cultural and religious programas and contents in internet. As religious contents in web-base social networks are effective in empowerment of religiosity, it is necessary to insist local web-base social networks and provide and offer religious subjects to youth and by such services both lead youth attention to local web-base social networks and empowering youth religiosity; The Islamic culture and Adviserment ministry and Islamic Extension Organization can do effective programs in this regard