Copyright (c) 2025 Rahimullah Zirak, Karimullah Noori, Salahuddin Qarizadah, Abdul Hasib Howaida

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
An Analysis of the Relationship Between Facebook Usage and Perceived Cultural and Social Security: A Case Study of Maimana City Residents
Corresponding Author(s) : Rahimullah Zirak
Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities,
Vol. 2 No. 3 (2025): July
Abstract
This article examines the relationship between the use of the social network Facebook and the feelings of cultural and social security among its users. Given the increasing prevalence of social networks and their impacts on daily life, this study analyzes how user activities on Facebook affect their feelings of security in cultural and social contexts. This study adopts a quantitative approach and falls under the category of applied and survey-based research. Data were collected through a researcher-designed questionnaire, and sampling was conducted using a convenience and voluntary method among 380 young Facebook users in Maimana, Afghanistan, in 2024. Descriptive and inferential statistical methods, including multiple regression analysis, were employed to analyze the data. Despite the growing use of social networks, particularly Facebook, in Afghan society, few studies have examined the psychological and social impacts of this platform on users’ feelings of cultural and social security. This study aims to address that gap by focusing on young users in the city of Maimana. The research reveals a significant inverse relationship between Facebook use (in terms of membership duration, usage level, engagement type, and content perception) and users’ feelings of cultural and social security, as these aspects of Facebook use increase, feelings of security decrease. Moreover, the independent variables in the regression model explained 13% of the variance in social security feelings and 15% in cultural security feelings. While the findings offer important insights, the use of a non-random, convenience-based sample limits the generalizability of the results beyond the studied population. Nevertheless, the observed patterns provide a meaningful foundation for understanding social media’s influence on young users in fragile sociocultural environments. Future research employing probability sampling and broader geographic coverage is recommended to validate and extend these findings.
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- Abdullahkhani, A. (2003). Security Theories. Tehran: Institute for Contemporary Afghani Studies and Research.
- Afshar, Z. (2006). "An Examination of Women's Social Security in Tehran." Master's thesis, University of Tehran.
- Aghaei, Z. (2007). "Investigating the Impact of Mass Media on the Sense of Social Security." Master's thesis, University of Isfahan.
- Allport, G. W. (1954). The nature of prejudice. Addison-Wesley.
- Ayouzi, M. (2006). "Globalization of Culture for the Third World: Threats and Opportunities." Yas Strategy, 2nd year, 6, 83-102. https://ensani.ir/fa/article/104828/
- Boyd, D., & Ellison, N. (2007). Social Network Sites: Definition, History, and Scholarship. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 13, 210-230.
- http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1083-6101.2007.00393.x DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1083-6101.2007.00393.x
- Buzan, B. (2010). People, States, and Fear. Strategic Studies Research Institute. Tehran: Strategic Studies Publications.
- Callanan, V. (2005). Feeding the Fear of Crime: Crime-related Media and Support for three Strikes. LFB Scholarly Publishing, New York.
- Castells, M. (2010). The rise of the network society (2nd ed.). Wiley-Blackwell. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/9781444319514
- Chalabi, M. (2010). Sociology of Order. Tehran: Ney.
- Ebrahimi, N. (2007). "A Reflection on the Foundations and Culture of Copenhagen." Foreign Policy Quarterly, 21 (2), 439-458. https://ensani.ir/fa/article/99243/
- Ellison, N. B., Steinfield, C., & Lampe, C. (2007). The benefits of Facebook “friends:” Social capital and college students’ use of online social network sites. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 12(4), 1143–1168. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1083-6101.2007.00367.x DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1083-6101.2007.00367.x
- Gerbner, G. (1998). Cultivation analysis: An overview. Mass Communication & Society, 1(3–4), 175–195. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/15205436.1998.9677855
- https://www.oxfordbibliographies.com/display/document/obo-9780199756841/obo-9780199756841-0019.xml?utm_
- Ghafari, G. (2011). Social Capital and Police Security. Tehran: Sociologists.
- Ghafari, M., & Laleh Alizadeh, M. (2011). "Impact of Information and Communication Technology on Political Components of National Sovereignty with a Focus on Afghanistan." Politics Quarterly, 41 (1), 208-189. https://jpq.ut.ac.ir/article_29729.html
- Giddens, A. (2007). Sociology. Hassan Chavoshian. Tehran: Ney.
- Giddens, A. (2008). Modernity and Self-Identity: Self and Society in the Late Modern Age. Nasser Mofakian. Tehran: Ney Publications.
- Hashemian-Fard, S.; Dehqani, H., & Akbarzadah, F. (2013). "The Impact of Religiosity and Mass Media on the Sense of Social Security among Students." Strategic Researches in Order and Security, 2 (1), 53-72. SID. https://sid.ir/paper/391169/fa
- Janpour, M., & Haydari, T. (2011). "Pathology of Cyberspace on Social Security." Order and Security Journal, 4 (3), 141- 172. SID. https://sid.ir/paper/188857/fa
- Khajah-Noori, B., & Kavah, M. (2013). "A Study on the Relationship between Media Consumption and Sense of Social Security." Strategic Researches in Security and Social Order, 2 (2), 57-78. https://ensani.ir/fa/article/323535/
- Li, S., & Lin, S. (2016). “Population Aging and China’s social security reforms”. Journal of policy modeling, 38 (1), 65- 95. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpolmod.2015.10.001 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpolmod.2015.10.001
- Morgan, M., & Shanahan, J. (2010). The state of cultivation. Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media, 54(2), 337–355. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theories_of_media_exposure?utm_ DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/08838151003735018
- Navidnia, M. (2003). "An Introduction to Social Security." Strategic Studies, 6 (19), 55-76.
- https://sid.ir/paper/444446/fa
- Navidnia, M. (2009). Social Security. Tehran: Strategic Studies Research Institute.
- Moller, B. (2000). National, Societal and Human security: Discussion – case study of the Israel- Palestine conflict. Springer Berlin Heidelberg.
- Olayiwola, A. (2013). “Media and security in Nigeria” European Journal of Business and Social sciences, 2 (9), 1-19. https://www.academia.edu/6213749/EJBSS_1309_13_
- Pempek, T., Yermolayeva, Y., & Calvert, S. (2009). “College students’ social networking experiences on facebook”. Journal of Applied developmental Psychology, (30), 227-238. 10.1016/j.appdev.2008.12.010 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appdev.2008.12.010
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- Rastagar Khaled, A., & Mohammadian, F. (2013). "Internet Use and Social Security Perception." Cultural-Communication Studies, 14(22), 53- 89. https://sid.ir/paper/213518/fa
- Rogers, P. (2005). “The Decline of Control: Global Security in the 21st Century”. Amir Mohammad Youssufi and Muzhgan Jalili. Tehran: Strategic Studies Research Institute.
- Sadeqian, S. (2010). "Examining the Functional Role of Media in National and Public Security." Police Science Journal, 12 (1), 165-189. https://sid.ir/paper/458504/fa
- Salehi Amiri, S. (2007). Cultural Concepts and Theories. Tehran: Qaqnoos.
- Salehi Amiri, S., & Afshari Naderi, A. (2011). "Theoretical and Strategic Foundations for Enhancing Social and Cultural Security Management in Tehran." Strategy Quarterly, 20 (59), 49-76. https://rahbord.csr.ir/article_124410.html
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- Truman, J. (2005). “Predictors of fear of crime and the relationship of crime rates and fear of crime”. The University of central Florida Undergraduate research Journal, I, 18-27. https://stars.library.ucf.edu/urj/vol1/iss1/3
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References
Abdullahkhani, A. (2003). Security Theories. Tehran: Institute for Contemporary Afghani Studies and Research.
Afshar, Z. (2006). "An Examination of Women's Social Security in Tehran." Master's thesis, University of Tehran.
Aghaei, Z. (2007). "Investigating the Impact of Mass Media on the Sense of Social Security." Master's thesis, University of Isfahan.
Allport, G. W. (1954). The nature of prejudice. Addison-Wesley.
Ayouzi, M. (2006). "Globalization of Culture for the Third World: Threats and Opportunities." Yas Strategy, 2nd year, 6, 83-102. https://ensani.ir/fa/article/104828/
Boyd, D., & Ellison, N. (2007). Social Network Sites: Definition, History, and Scholarship. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 13, 210-230.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1083-6101.2007.00393.x DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1083-6101.2007.00393.x
Buzan, B. (2010). People, States, and Fear. Strategic Studies Research Institute. Tehran: Strategic Studies Publications.
Callanan, V. (2005). Feeding the Fear of Crime: Crime-related Media and Support for three Strikes. LFB Scholarly Publishing, New York.
Castells, M. (2010). The rise of the network society (2nd ed.). Wiley-Blackwell. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/9781444319514
Chalabi, M. (2010). Sociology of Order. Tehran: Ney.
Ebrahimi, N. (2007). "A Reflection on the Foundations and Culture of Copenhagen." Foreign Policy Quarterly, 21 (2), 439-458. https://ensani.ir/fa/article/99243/
Ellison, N. B., Steinfield, C., & Lampe, C. (2007). The benefits of Facebook “friends:” Social capital and college students’ use of online social network sites. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 12(4), 1143–1168. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1083-6101.2007.00367.x DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1083-6101.2007.00367.x
Gerbner, G. (1998). Cultivation analysis: An overview. Mass Communication & Society, 1(3–4), 175–195. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/15205436.1998.9677855
Ghafari, G. (2011). Social Capital and Police Security. Tehran: Sociologists.
Ghafari, M., & Laleh Alizadeh, M. (2011). "Impact of Information and Communication Technology on Political Components of National Sovereignty with a Focus on Afghanistan." Politics Quarterly, 41 (1), 208-189. https://jpq.ut.ac.ir/article_29729.html
Giddens, A. (2007). Sociology. Hassan Chavoshian. Tehran: Ney.
Giddens, A. (2008). Modernity and Self-Identity: Self and Society in the Late Modern Age. Nasser Mofakian. Tehran: Ney Publications.
Hashemian-Fard, S.; Dehqani, H., & Akbarzadah, F. (2013). "The Impact of Religiosity and Mass Media on the Sense of Social Security among Students." Strategic Researches in Order and Security, 2 (1), 53-72. SID. https://sid.ir/paper/391169/fa
Janpour, M., & Haydari, T. (2011). "Pathology of Cyberspace on Social Security." Order and Security Journal, 4 (3), 141- 172. SID. https://sid.ir/paper/188857/fa
Khajah-Noori, B., & Kavah, M. (2013). "A Study on the Relationship between Media Consumption and Sense of Social Security." Strategic Researches in Security and Social Order, 2 (2), 57-78. https://ensani.ir/fa/article/323535/
Li, S., & Lin, S. (2016). “Population Aging and China’s social security reforms”. Journal of policy modeling, 38 (1), 65- 95. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpolmod.2015.10.001 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpolmod.2015.10.001
Morgan, M., & Shanahan, J. (2010). The state of cultivation. Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media, 54(2), 337–355. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theories_of_media_exposure?utm_ DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/08838151003735018
Navidnia, M. (2003). "An Introduction to Social Security." Strategic Studies, 6 (19), 55-76.
https://sid.ir/paper/444446/fa
Navidnia, M. (2009). Social Security. Tehran: Strategic Studies Research Institute.
Moller, B. (2000). National, Societal and Human security: Discussion – case study of the Israel- Palestine conflict. Springer Berlin Heidelberg.
Olayiwola, A. (2013). “Media and security in Nigeria” European Journal of Business and Social sciences, 2 (9), 1-19. https://www.academia.edu/6213749/EJBSS_1309_13_
Pempek, T., Yermolayeva, Y., & Calvert, S. (2009). “College students’ social networking experiences on facebook”. Journal of Applied developmental Psychology, (30), 227-238. 10.1016/j.appdev.2008.12.010 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appdev.2008.12.010
Pettigrew, T. F. (1998). Intergroup contact theory. Annual Review of Psychology, 49, 65–85. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.psych.49.1.65 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.psych.49.1.65
Rastagar Khaled, A., & Mohammadian, F. (2013). "Internet Use and Social Security Perception." Cultural-Communication Studies, 14(22), 53- 89. https://sid.ir/paper/213518/fa
Rogers, P. (2005). “The Decline of Control: Global Security in the 21st Century”. Amir Mohammad Youssufi and Muzhgan Jalili. Tehran: Strategic Studies Research Institute.
Sadeqian, S. (2010). "Examining the Functional Role of Media in National and Public Security." Police Science Journal, 12 (1), 165-189. https://sid.ir/paper/458504/fa
Salehi Amiri, S. (2007). Cultural Concepts and Theories. Tehran: Qaqnoos.
Salehi Amiri, S., & Afshari Naderi, A. (2011). "Theoretical and Strategic Foundations for Enhancing Social and Cultural Security Management in Tehran." Strategy Quarterly, 20 (59), 49-76. https://rahbord.csr.ir/article_124410.html
Shakurbigi, A., et al. (2009). "Investigating the Impact of Mass Media on the Sense of Social Security." Police Science Journal, 13 (4), 31-61. https://www.magiran.com/p1013485
Truman, J. (2005). “Predictors of fear of crime and the relationship of crime rates and fear of crime”. The University of central Florida Undergraduate research Journal, I, 18-27. https://stars.library.ucf.edu/urj/vol1/iss1/3
Vrucetic, S. (2002). “Traditional versus societal security and the role of securitization”. Free University of Berlin and York University: Australian center for political research.