The Effects of Internet Addiction on Social Capital among the Youth in Tehran

The emergence of modern communication technologies and their increasing roles in social life has led to their excessive use and consequentially their threats to the safe social life. Among modern media, internet has a special status due to its attractions and diverse facilities. In contrast to its advantages, excessive use of internet can cause disorder in social and individual performances and lead to the disorder called internet addiction. Although such an addiction can be traced in all levels of the society, it is more common among the young generation.
This research aims to study and analysis the relation between internet addiction and social capital among the young adults of the city of Tehran. For this purpose a survey method has been conducted on 385 respondents aging from 18 to 29 residing at the city of Tehran. To collect data, Young’s Internet Addiction Questionnaire (1998) and the researcher-made questionnaire on social capital have been used. The data were analyzed using SPSS statistic software.
According to the results, it was concluded that boys are interested in internet more than girls are. The results of this research show that Iranian young adults are benefited from the capacities of internet effectively, and use internet for communication and self-representation. Chatting, scientific and educational use, checking of emails, and use it as a medium are most welcomed by the internet users.
The findings show that there is a significant relation between internet addiction and social capital. According to the results, any increase in internet addiction can reduce social capital among the users. Internet addiction and social capital are in a bilateral and cyclic relation intensifying themselves. That is, the increase in internet addiction can reduce social capital and decrease in social capital can intensify internet addiction.