At the Dawn of Social Media in the Home: A Retrospective on Parenting,Gender,and Children's Digital Lives in Iran

Abstract

This qualitative study explores the initial integration of smartphones and social media within Iranian families during a period of rapid adoption (2015–2016). Using a grounded theory approach, in-depth interviews were conducted with 30 parents and children aged 15–20 years in Isfahan, Iran. The analysis revealed that the mobile phone functions as a central site for the negotiation of freedom and constraint, giving rise to four core themes. Findings showed a clash between parental views of the phone as a utilitarian “Tool in Hand” and children's use of it as a “Mirror in Front” for identity expression. The study also details the tension between parental “Eyes That Watch” and youths’ desire for “Wings That Fly,” as well as the conflict between traditional family values of “Home” and personal aspirations for a wider “Horizon.” Finally, the theme of “Veil and Voice” illustrates how deeply rooted gendered expectations reinforce patriarchal norms, even as girls find strategic avenues for self-expression. This research offers crucial baseline insights into the domestication of mobile technology in a traditional non-Western context, illuminating how families were compelled to renegotiate established moral and cultural frameworks in response to the disruptive arrival of smartphones.

Keywords

digital labor digital parenting family relations gender grounded theory intergenerational conflict Iran mobile technology technology domestication

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