Caspian Journal of Scientometric

Background: Nowadays, social networks are the most important means of communication in the societies as well as in the world and they have a great reputation, so the use of virtual social networks among students is very essential. The aim of this study was to evaluate the reasons and motives of virtual social networks among students in Gonabad University of Medical Sciences.

Material and methods: In this descriptive study, 277 students were randomly chosen from Gonabad University of Medical Sciences. They completed a reasercher-made questionnaire which its validity and reliability were obtained in earlier studies. Then the data were analyzed using SPSS software version 20.

Findings: The findings showed that 52% of students were members of these social networks. Their main motive and reason for joining these networks were to communicate with previous and current friends and to have fun.

Conclusion: More than half of the students are members of social networks. Students are not familiar with all of the effects of these social networks since they are recently emerged so performing more research on other aspects of their impact on the life and health of students is necessary.