ATTITUDE OF RUSSIAN YOUTH TO THE STATE POLICY OF REGULATION OF DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS

Abstract

This article measures the attitude of Russian youth towards state-imposed restrictions on the dissemination of information on the Internet, social media, and instant messengers, based on the level of media consumption and threats of destructive influence. Based on an online survey of the target audience, security problems of the digital communications environment, in which illegal and immoral content is widespread, are identified. The study substantively defines the attitude of young people to the creation of a “sovereign Internet” and a digital profile of a Russian citizen, to the introduction of a social rating, the "right to be forgotten," and personal identification of users, to the prohibition of fake news and insults to the authorities. Also, the attitude of young people to the blocking of digital resources by state bodies, in particular the Telegram messenger, is discussed. The author defines the ratio of supporters of the introduction of severe restrictions, supporters of electoral restrictions and opponents of restrictions among young users of digital communications. In addition, the study revealed the preferences of young people regarding possible regulators of the rules of conduct in the digital environment. Based on the results of the study, it was concluded that the online environment is not perceived by young people as a safe space for everyday activity. Most of respondents regularly encounter various negative effects of network structures. At the same time, the introduction of more stringent Internet regulation is a debatable issue. Young people are inclined to support only several initiatives, critically evaluating the politicization of this process, perceiving it as a mechanism for strengthening state control over society. Given the high heterogeneity of the modern «digital generation», the author actualizes the problem of manipulative influence and external information threats.

Keywords:

digital communications, digital environment, government policy, regulation of relations, sovereign Internet, online, offline, youth