Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Associate Professor, Department of Political Science, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Ardakan, Ardakan, Iran.
2
Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Ardakan, Ardakan, Iran.
3
Master's student in political science,, Ardakan University, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Ardakan, Iran
10.22080/sod.2026.31480.1046
Abstract
The present study, focusing on two important historical periods in the Islamic Republic of Iran - the protests of 2009 (Green Movement) and 2012 (Mahsa Amini Movement) - examines the role of social media in strengthening, organizing, and directing public opinion in the context of protest movements.The present study, with a descriptive-analytical approach, analyzes the effect of social media on the formation and continuation of the aforementioned political protests within the framework of two theories: "salience" by McCombs and Shaw and "planting" by Gerbner.The results of the research specifically indicate the vital role of social media in setting the public agenda and shaping long-term beliefs and attitudes. The salience theory states that the media, by focusing on specific issues, determine what is important to the audience, and on the other hand, the planting theory shows us how the media plants an image of reality in the minds of the audience, which over time and repetition becomes part of their attitudes and beliefs.
Keywords
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