Introduction: In the context of rapid digital transformation, social media platforms have substantially reshaped political socialization processes, particularly among adolescents. In Iran, non-native platforms such as Instagram, Telegram, YouTube, and X constitute influential arenas for political communication and symbolic interaction. Within these environments, reference groups—including influencers, opinion leaders, celebrities, and digital activists—play a significant role in shaping perceptions, values, and political orientations. Adolescents, situated in a critical stage of identity formation, are particularly susceptible to these mediated influences due to their high levels of online engagement and peer interaction. Traditional agents of political socialization, such as family, school, and formal institutions, continue to operate; however, their relative authority has increasingly been challenged by horizontally networked digital actors. Algorithm-driven content exposure, participatory communication structures, and transnational information flows create a multilayered ecosystem in which political meanings are continuously negotiated. Consequently, understanding political patterning among adolescents requires a strategic analytical framework that integrates structural, contextual, and interpersonal dimensions. Accordingly, this study aims to develop a strategic model explaining how Iranian adolescents develop political orientations through interactions with reference groups in non-native social media environments.
Methods: This study employed an exploratory mixed-methods design integrating qualitative and quantitative approaches. In the qualitative phase, semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with 12 experts in political science, communication studies, media management, and cultural policy. Participants were selected through purposive sampling, and data collection continued until theoretical saturation was achieved. The interview data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. The analysis resulted in the identification of five core components, eight subcomponents, twenty-six indicators, and fifty-eight conceptual categories relevant to adolescents’ political patterning.
In the quantitative phase, a survey design was employed. The statistical population consisted of adolescents aged 12 to 18 years in Tehran. Using multistage random sampling and Cochran’s formula, a sample of 458 respondents was selected. Data were collected through a researcher-developed questionnaire. Statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS and partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM).
Construct validity was assessed through confirmatory factor analysis, and all factor loadings exceeded the acceptable threshold of 0.40. Composite reliability and Cronbach’s alpha values were above 0.70, confirming satisfactory internal consistency. Convergent validity was supported by acceptable average variance extracted (AVE) values. Structural relationships were examined using bootstrapping procedures, and one-sample t-tests were conducted to compare component means with the theoretical midpoint.
Findings: The qualitative findings indicated that adolescents’ political patterning in non-native social media environments is shaped by eight interconnected dimensions: social media platform characteristics, contextual variables, trust in media, peer influence, family role, school influence, celebrities and influencers, and broader societal conditions. These dimensions encompass both online and offline determinants and reflect the complexity of contemporary political socialization processes.
The quantitative results revealed that three components—social media platform characteristics (M = 3.33), contextual variables (M = 3.20), and peer influence (M = 3.26)—scored significantly above the theoretical mean of 3 (p < 0.05). Conversely, trust in media (M = 2.91), family role (M = 2.90), school influence (M = 2.74), celebrities and influencers (M = 2.46), and societal conditions (M = 2.66) scored significantly below the midpoint.
Structural equation modeling demonstrated significant positive relationships between political patterning and all eight components (p < 0.05). The strongest standardized path coefficients were associated with trust in media and peer influence. However, mean comparison analysis highlighted the comparatively greater practical significance of platform characteristics and peer networks. Pearson correlation analysis further confirmed significant positive associations between each component and overall political patterning.
These findings suggest a structural shift from vertically organized forms of political authority toward horizontally networked and digitally mediated modes of influence. Adolescents’ political orientations are increasingly shaped by interactive media affordances and peer-based communication networks rather than solely by traditional socializing institutions.
Conclusion: The findings indicate that political patterning among Iranian adolescents in non-native social media environments is multidimensional, dynamic, and strategically significant. The declining relative influence of traditional institutions and the growing prominence of digital networks reflect an ongoing transformation in symbolic authority and identity construction. Accordingly, policies focused exclusively on restriction and control appear insufficient for addressing these changes.
From a strategic management perspective, effective governance requires empowering adolescents through media literacy, critical thinking, and structured opportunities for civic engagement. Rather than viewing digital platforms solely as sources of risk, policymakers and educators should recognize their transformative potential while addressing challenges associated with transnational reference groups and algorithmic amplification.
The proposed model provides a comprehensive analytical framework for policymakers, cultural planners, and educational institutions seeking to strengthen informed political participation, enhance the resilience of national identity, and foster responsible digital citizenship among adolescents. In the digital era, strategic management requires the informed guidance of influence processes rather than the rejection of technological change.