Social Formation in the Face of Threats to Social Structure: Social Media Platforms as a Model A Sociological Study

           The digital revolution is defined as “the process of transition from mechanical technologies to digital electronics, which began between the early 1950s and the late 1970s through the adoption and expansion of digital computers and digital recording devices. This transformation continued into the first quarter of the twenty-first century and came to be known as the Third Industrial Revolution.” Similar to the agricultural and industrial revolutions, the digital revolution marked the beginning of the Information Age, during which social media platforms emerged.

Social media has played a significant role in reshaping many concepts of social life. However, in the absence of mechanisms of social regulation and control, coupled with the widespread diffusion of trivial and low-quality content, the structure of society has become increasingly vulnerable—both in form and in values. The study concludes that it is essential to preserve the social fabric by maintaining focus on collective goals, strengthening community membership, and developing supportive strategies and methods. This also entails empowering individuals within their communities and enhancing societal capacities in light of digital transformations.

Amid this societal shift toward digitization, digital platforms such as Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube have become fertile grounds for the proliferation of triviality, which now spreads widely and rapidly, thus posing threats to social cohesion and the broader social structure.

Therefore, devising social solutions to confront these challenges and to contribute to community building has become a structural and value-oriented necessity. To achieve this, the research proposes several measures, including: proper and responsible use of these platforms; raising awareness of the importance of social regulation through the family; and reinforcing the role of value-based institutions, such as religious and educational establishments.