طراحی الگوی مطلوب نقش شبکه‌‌های اجتماعی و پیام‌‌رسان‌‌های موبایلی در توسعۀ اینترنت افراد (IoP) در ایران

Objective
The rapid expansion of digital communication technologies has fundamentally transformed the nature of human interaction, social participation, knowledge production, and civic engagement. In this context, the Internet of People (IoP) has emerged as a human-centered concept that extends beyond the technological orientation of the Internet of Things (IoT) and emphasizes the central role of individuals, social relationships, digital interactions, personal data, and collective participation in networked environments. Unlike purely device-centered approaches, the Internet of People focuses on connecting individuals, communities, organizations, and institutions through digital platforms in ways that enhance communication, collaboration, social learning, and participatory decision-making. Social networks and mobile messengers are among the most influential infrastructures in this process, as they provide everyday spaces for interaction, information exchange, community formation, peer-to-peer learning, and the circulation of user-generated content. In Iran, the widespread use of social networks and mobile messaging applications has created both significant opportunities and serious challenges for the development of the Internet of People. These platforms can facilitate access to information, strengthen collective intelligence, support civic participation, and create new forms of digital sociality. At the same time, they may also intensify risks such as misinformation, privacy violations, algorithmic manipulation, superficial engagement, polarization, cyber harassment, and declining public trust. Accordingly, the main purpose of this study is to design and explain an optimal model for the role of social networks and mobile messengers in the development of the Internet of People in Iran.
Research Methodology
This study is applied in terms of purpose and qualitative in terms of research approach. Given the exploratory nature of the subject and the limited body of integrated research on the relationship between social networks, mobile messengers, and the development of the Internet of People in Iran, thematic analysis was selected as the main research strategy. Thematic analysis made it possible to identify, classify, and interpret the key patterns of meaning embedded in the views of experts and stakeholders. The research participants included civil activists, platform developers, private-sector and startup actors, academic experts, managers, and specialists from the Supreme Council of Cyberspace and executive organizations active in the field of cyberspace. Participants were selected through purposive sampling, and the snowball technique was used to identify additional knowledgeable informants. The interview process continued until theoretical saturation was achieved. In total, 18 semi-structured interviews were conducted. The interview protocol focused on several key issues, including the effects of the Internet of People on social networks and mobile messengers, the role of these platforms in shaping collective intelligence, their positive functions and dysfunctions, the relationship between the Internet of Things and the Internet of People, future opportunities for IoP development, and the possible social, civic, technological, and policy implications of this development. After the interviews were completed, the data were transcribed, organized, coded, and analyzed using MAXQDA 2020. In the coding process, initial codes were first extracted from the interview texts. These codes were then categorized into basic themes, organizing themes, and overarching themes based on semantic similarity and conceptual relationships. To enhance the credibility and trustworthiness of the findings, the extracted codes and concepts were reviewed by participants, and the coding process was repeatedly examined to ensure conceptual coherence, analytical consistency, and alignment between the data and the final model.
Findings
The findings of the study led to the identification of 5 overarching themes, 40 organizing themes, and 131 basic themes. The first overarching theme refers to the contextual conditions for the development of the Internet of People. These conditions include governance structure, upstream policy documents, digital literacy, cultural changes, globalization, technological transformations, innovation ecosystems, and various forms of bias. This theme indicates that the development of IoP cannot be reduced to a technical or infrastructural matter; rather, it is deeply shaped by cultural, social, political, economic, and institutional contexts. The second overarching theme concerns the required actions and reactions for the development of IoP. This theme includes policy and regulation, communication infrastructure development, networking, standardization and protocols, interaction networks, and environmental considerations. These components show that IoP development requires coordinated action among policymakers, platform developers, civil society actors, private companies, universities, and users. The third overarching theme includes the positive functions and dysfunctions of social networks and mobile messengers in developing IoP. Positive functions include access to information and resources, peer-to-peer learning, empowerment through collaboration, feedback mechanisms, and data-driven insights. However, the same platforms may also produce dysfunctions such as addiction, reduced face-to-face interaction, privacy concerns, psychological risks, polarization, echo chambers, and cyber harassment. The fourth overarching theme relates to the role of social networks and mobile messengers in developing collective intelligence. The findings show that these platforms can support diverse viewpoints, advanced communication, community building, and crowdsourced knowledge. Nevertheless, they may also lead to groupthink, exclusion of certain groups, excessive noise over meaningful signals, and algorithmic manipulation. The fifth overarching theme focuses on social and civic participation. Social networks and mobile messengers can amplify minority voices, increase access, facilitate dialogue, and support civic engagement. However, they can also contribute to superficial engagement, distrust in institutions, fragmentation of communities, misinformation, and manipulation.
Discussion & Conclusion
The findings suggest that the Internet of People should be understood as a multidimensional and human-centered digital ecosystem rather than a merely technological extension of existing internet infrastructures. In this ecosystem, social networks and mobile messengers are not only communication tools but also socio-technical environments in which users produce knowledge, negotiate meanings, build communities, express civic concerns, and participate in collective action. Therefore, the development of IoP in Iran requires a balanced approach that recognizes both the empowering capacities and the potential dysfunctions of digital platforms. A purely technological perspective is insufficient because issues such as digital trust, privacy, cultural readiness, civic participation, algorithmic transparency, media literacy, and governance legitimacy play a decisive role in shaping the success or failure of IoP initiatives. The study also shows that the relationship between social networks, mobile messengers, and IoP is inherently dual. These platforms can create opportunities for inclusion, innovation, learning, collaboration, and civic dialogue, but they can also reproduce inequality, intensify social division, spread misinformation, and weaken institutional trust if they are not governed through transparent, participatory, and rights-based mechanisms.
The study concludes that the development of the Internet of People in Iran requires a localized, multidimensional, and participatory model that simultaneously addresses infrastructure, policy, data governance, digital rights, privacy protection, media literacy, public trust, civic participation, technological innovation, and the management of platform dysfunctions. Social networks and mobile messengers can effectively contribute to IoP development when they operate within a framework that is transparent, secure, user-centered, participatory, and accountable. The proposed model provides a conceptual and practical basis for policymakers, platform developers, urban managers, innovation ecosystem actors, civil society organizations, and researchers in communication and information technology. Its main contribution lies in integrating the technological, social, civic, cultural, and governance dimensions of IoP and explaining how social networks and mobile messengers can support the development of human-centered digital ecosystems in Iran.