Socio-Spatial Studies

ehran's metro street vendors represent a marginalized occupational minority within the capital city and, from a cultural standpoint, constitute a significant case study. In recent years, economic hardship has led to a noticeable increase in the number of street vendors operating within the metro system. These individuals interact daily with a wide range of passengers across various metro stations and, due to the official prohibition of vending in such spaces—as well as the stigmatizing attitudes held by some members of the public—they experience unique social conditions compared to the broader population. One of the key factors influencing individuals' perceptions of their social status and identity is the media. Among media platforms, virtual social networks hold a distinct position due to their interactive nature and high potential for user engagement. Statistics show that these networks have increasingly become primary sources of communication, information, and entertainment for the public.This qualitative study conducted semi-structured interviews with 13 street vendors in Tehran's metro system, exploring their engagement with various virtual social networks and the self-perceptions shaped through these interactions. The findings indicate that the vendors tend to develop a negative self-image through their experiences on these platforms and often do not receive a favorable representation of themselves within virtual social spaces.

Individuals with Spinal Cord Injuries (SCI) encounter substantial barriers in accessing digital media content. Artificial Intelligence-based User Interfaces (AI UIs) possess the potential to mitigate these barriers; however, the role of creativity in their actual user experience remains underexplored. This qualitative study, aiming to analyze the impact of creativity within AI UIs on facilitating media access, investigated the experiences of 18 Iranian users with SCI through in-depth semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis. Findings indicate that AI UIs, by offering innovative interaction modalities, significantly enhance user autonomy and reduce physical impediments (a manifestation of positive creativity). However, significant challenges persist concerning accuracy, reliability, speed, complexity of use, and customization (stemming from inadequate creativity in implementation). Users articulate a demand for highly reliable, fast, simple, adaptable interfaces with adequate support. It is concluded that AI UIs hold considerable empowering potential; however, to fully realize this potential, a user-centered, inclusive design approach and a focus on operational creativity are imperative to address real-world challenges and enhance the user experience.

This study aims to analyze the discourse of children's identity representation on their parents’ Instagram pages. Focusing on the concept of virtual child labor and using Norman Fairclough’s critical discourse analysis approach, the research qualitatively examines six Persian-language Instagram accounts that prominently feature children, have a high follower count, include promotional content, and display performative narratives. The findings indicate that children are portrayed as instruments for attracting attention, advertising products, and reinforcing their parents’ social status. The linguistic and visual structures of these representations are shaped by discourses such as visual consumerism, apparent agency, performative parenting, and the commodification of childhood. As a result, children’s presence in these digital spaces is less a reflection of their lived experiences and agency, and more a reproduction of dominant discourses within the digital economy. These representations highlight a new form of child labor in virtual environments, calling for serious reconsideration in media policy and legal protection of children.

Previous studies have predominantly examined the representation of artificial intelligence in fictional literature, revealing a notable gap in analyzing cinema as an influential medium. The period before 1990 marked the onset of fundamental shifts in communication technologies and the public’s perception of technology, while the era after 2010 witnessed artificial intelligence becoming widely integrated into everyday life. These two historical ruptures have generated significant semantic transformations in cinematic portrayals that demand precise comparative and theoretical analysisThis study aims to conduct a comparative analysis of the “representation of artificial intelligence” in world cinema during the periods before 1990 and after 2010. Its central research question investigates the conceptual, narrative, character-development, and cultural-discourse differences and similarities surrounding artificial intelligence across these two eras. Twenty films (ten from each period) were selected based on their global acclaim and the centrality of artificial intelligence in their narratives. These films were analyzed using Saussurean–Peircean semiotics alongside Stuart Hall’s constructivist approach. The findings indicate that pre-1990 cinema predominantly focused on the “threat of technology” and the “human–machine war,” whereas post-2010 works emphasize “ethical crises,” “human–machine emotional relationships,” and “responsible coexistence.” Nevertheless, in both periods, artificial intelligence consistently functions as a “challenging Other,” perceived both as a threat and as a mirror reflecting humanity’s desires, hopes, and fears. The results underscore the necessity of rethinking the cultural-communication discourse surrounding technology and the shared future of humans and machines.

This study investigates the representation of fan identity associated with Esteghlal Tehran Football Club on Instagram. Employing Braun and Clarke's six-phase thematic analysis framework, the research is grounded in Henri Tajfel's Social Identity Theory. The sample comprises two highly viewed posts from prominent Esteghlal fan pages during the early days of the new year, each containing an image and accompanying caption. Findings reveal that, despite critical and occasionally harsh language directed at the coaching staff, players, and club management, fans' efforts are not aimed at severing ties with team identity but rather at reconstructing it amidst crisis. Themes such as "feelings of despair over continued failures," "desire for introspection within the in-group," "blaming sub-elements to preserve group self-esteem," and "maintaining in-group solidarity through protest language" underscore the complex dynamics of fandom when facing identity threats. Overall, the study highlights Instagram as a potent platform for the emergence of new and visual forms of collective football fan identity in Iran.

Child exploitation in cyberspace is one of the most serious challenges of the digital age, requiring innovative approaches and advanced technologies to combat it. In this regard, Microsoft has developed Project Artemis—an analytical tool that identifies suspected grooming behaviors in online textual conversations and reports them to the relevant authorities. Although introduced as a solution to enhance children’s safety, this technology raises concerns regarding user privacy, data collection and processing methods, and potential misuse of surveillance systems. Issues such as extensive monitoring of user communications, possible misidentification of conversations, and challenges related to data governance demand deeper investigation. This paper adopts a descriptive-analytical approach to examine these concerns, aiming to strike a balance between child protection and users' privacy rights. While Artemis proves to be an effective tool in identifying and addressing online child sexual abuse, it also faces limitations such as inefficacy in encrypted chats, lack of comprehensive preventive strategies, and privacy concerns. Full effectiveness requires the development of complementary technologies, legal reinforcement, policy collaboration, and broader engagement from communication platforms. Furthermore, designing localized tools tailored to national cultural contexts should also be considered.