Abstract

Reference groups in non-native social networks play a fundamental role in shaping the attitudes, behaviors, and political decisions of Iranian adolescents. These groups, which include opinion leaders, influencers, and celebrities, can affect social and cultural processes and promote new behavioral patterns in the digital space. The present study was conducted with the aim of strategically modeling the political socialization of Iranian adolescents through reference groups in non-native social networks, adopting a strategic management approach. A mixed-method design (qualitative–quantitative) was employed. In the qualitative phase, semi-structured interviews with experts in political science, communication, and cultural management were conducted to identify key components and indicators. In the quantitative phase, data collected from standardized questionnaires among Iranian adolescents were analyzed. Results of the one-sample T-test indicated that three components—“social media features,” “contextual variables,” and “peer influence”—had mean scores significantly higher than the theoretical average (p<0.05), thus exerting the greatest impact on the process of political socialization. In contrast, components such as “trust in media,” “family role,” “school role,” “celebrity influence,” and “social conditions” showed lower-than-average effects. Findings reveal that political socialization of adolescents in cyberspace is a multifaceted and complex phenomenon influenced by five main components, eight sub-factors, and twenty-six indicators. The study concludes that digital policy-making should not merely focus on protecting adolescents, but rather on empowering them to harness the transformative capacities of social networks in shaping personal identity, social engagement, and political participation. These results can assist policymakers, cultural managers, and educational institutions in developing effective strategies to enhance media literacy, strengthen national identity, and mitigate risks arising from the influence of non-native reference groups.