Features of agenda setting in Telegram

This article focuses on the aspects of agenda formation in Russian-language Telegram messenger channels. Within the framework of the classical model of M. McCombs and D. Shaw, the main principles of agenda setting by traditional media are analyzed. Building upon the fi ndings of more recent research in the fi eld of agenda setting in the digital space, the authors highlight the advantages of social media as communication platforms and potential reasons for their increasing popularity among both individuals and political actors. Furthermore, the relevant features of the Telegram messenger in the context of political communication are systematically described, such as the lack of strict content moderation, emphasis on the speed of information exchange, user privacy, and the need for an individualized approach to shaping the information fi eld for each user. Based on the platform’s characteristics, a model for agenda formation is proposed, which involves categorizing channels into two levels: content information producers and news aggregators/interpreters. The hypothesis is also put forward that channels that aggregate and interpret information through an extensive network of links have the greatest potential for setting the agenda for their audience. To test the model, a pilot study was conducted using the Tgstat service, where the top 10 most cited channels from the “Media and News” and “Politics” categories for October 2023 were selected. Subsequently, no more than 50 channels were included in the analysis, those which were most frequently mentioned by the popular authors. The researchers conclude that multiple agendas can coexist within the messenger within various thematic blocks. These thematic blocks are formed through the network of links to channels that the most popular platforms on the messenger feature in their news feeds.