Journal of Culture-Communication Studies

Journal of Culture-Communication Studies

Nethnography of Entrepreneurial Communication in Iran; A Case Study of Iranian Entrepreneurs on the Social Network Instagram

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
1 PhD candidate in communications
2 Assistant Professor and Faculty Member, Faculty of Social Sciences, Payam Noor University, Tehran, Iran.
10.22083/jccs.2026.534673.4069
Abstract
This qualitative study, using a netnographic approach, examines the communication strategies of Iranian entrepreneurs on the social network Instagram. The present study is based on the conceptual frameworks of entrepreneurial communication, symbolic interaction, and sociology of communication, and attempts to show how Iranian entrepreneurs use the possibilities of digital media to represent identity, generate social capital, and shape alternative social discourses.

The qualitative analysis of the study reveals six key communication strategies: personal narrative, social interaction and empathy, purposeful self-disclosure, entrepreneurial identity construction, critical reflection on social structures, and value-based activism in resource-constrained conditions.

The findings show that entrepreneurship in Iran is not simply an economic activity, but rather a cultural, identity-based activism intertwined with social structures. By presenting a theoretical model based on the cultural and social context of Iran, this study highlights the emotional, symbolic, and structural dimensions of entrepreneurial communication. Finally, this study provides new horizons for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners interested in studying the growing role of communications in entrepreneurial ecosystems in emerging economies.
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Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 02 February 2026