State Capabilities in Shaping Youth Identity Online: Insights from Expert Surveys


Cite item

Full Text

Abstract

Recent studies on youth identity formation in the digital realm have predominantly focused on issues related to virtual or online identity. This study, however, redirects attention toward the challenges of shaping real-world identity through online platforms. Guided by a constructivist methodology, the research draws upon the findings of an expert online survey conducted in November 2024. Discourse analysis was employed to analyze the collected data. The surveyed experts unanimously support the importance of the state’s role in fostering youth identity via internet resources but emphasize the nuances associated with different types of online platforms. Particularly, they highlight the potential impact of entertainment and gaming websites on identity development among young Russians. Experts warn against adopting rigid, bureaucratic approaches when crafting identity-related policies online, stressing instead the need for subtle, tailored strategies. Furthermore, the results affirm the ongoing tension between reinforcement and mobilization theories regarding how modern information technologies shape political awareness and citizen identity.

About the authors

Nikolai V. Grishin

Institute of Scientific Information for Social Sciences of the Russian Academy of Sciences; St Petersburg University

Author for correspondence.
Email: nvgrishin@mail.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-0850-7581

Doctor of Political Sciences, Leading Researcher, Institute of Scientific Information for Social Sciences of the Russian Academy of Sciences; Senior Researcher at the Faculty of Political Science, St Petersburg University

Moscow, Russian Federation; St Petersburg, Russian Federation

References

  1. Belokonev, S.Yu., & Kosareva, A.A. (2023). The influence of Internet communications on the formation of political identity and political behavior of Russian youth. Russian Journal of the Humanities, 23(3), 299–310. https://doi.org/10.15507/2078-9823.063.023.202303.299-310 (In Russian) EDN: VHWRTS
  2. Choi, Y.-T., & Kwon, G.-H. (2019). New forms of citizen participation using SNS: An empirical approach. Quality & Quantity. 53, 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11135-018-0720-y EDN: AZTMGF
  3. Fadeeva, L.A. (2023). Securitization of identity politics as an analytical tool. Bulletin of Perm University. Political Science, (2), 101–111. (In Russian) https://doi.org/10.17072/2218-1067-2023-2-101-111 EDN: WBFTCL
  4. Filatova, O.G. (2014). Internet technologies of political mobilization in modern Russia. Political Expertise. POLITEX, (4), 57–67 (In Russian). EDN: VEIDXF
  5. Grishin, N.V. (2019). A state as an actor of identity construction policy. The Caspian region: politics, economics, culture, (3), 66–72. (In Russian) https://doi.org/10.21672/1818-510X-2019-60-3-066-072 EDN: MDURPG
  6. Grishin, N.V. (2020). The state identity policy: a new bet in the political struggle? Tomsk State University Journal of Philosophy, Sociology and Political Science, 55, 231–239. https://doi.org/10.17223/1998863Х/55/23 (In Russian) EDN: PUDINI
  7. Kasavina, N.A. (2020). “Digital existence”: A digital turn in understanding human existence. The Digital Scholar: Philosopher’s Lab, (4), 73–89. (In Russian) https://doi.org/10.5840/dspl20203441. EDN: TJPIMS
  8. Khramova, L.S. (2023). Personal identity in the era of digital transformation. Intellect. Innovations. Investments, (4), 130–135. (In Russian) https://doi.org/10.25198/2077-7175-2023-4-130. EDN: EEHPEX
  9. Lisenkova, A.A. (2020). Identification strategies and practices in the space of social networks. Liberal Arts in Russia, 9(1), 35–41. (In Russian) https://doi.org/10.15643/libartrus-2020.1.4 EDN: MYEXUY
  10. Mchedlova, M.M., & Kazarinova, D.B. (2020). The identity politics: Competition of new theoretical meanings and political strategies. Political science (RU), (4), 13–35. (In Russian) http://www.doi.org/10.31249/poln/2020.04.01 EDN: EBKKZD
  11. Morozova, E., Miroshnichenko, I., & Ryabchenko, N. (2016). Frontier of the network society. World economy and international relations, 60(2), 83–97. (In Russian) https://doi.org/10.20542/0131-2227-2016-60-2-83-97 EDN: VVTOLX
  12. Platonova, S.I. (2023). Social identity as a phenomenon of digital society. Sociology of Science and Technology, (3), 149–164. (In Russian) https://doi.org/10.24412/2079-0910-2023-3-149-163 EDN: LXRHHG
  13. Pogorelov, D.N., & Rylskaya, E.A. (2021). Personal identity in virtual space and real identity: Comparative characteristics. Yaroslavl Pedagogical Bulletin, (1), 105–114. (In Russian) https://doi.org/10.20323/1813-145X-2021-1-118-105-114 EDN: NWOKAP
  14. Popova, O.V. (2019). State identity policy in expert assessments of Russian political scientists. Caspian region: politics, economics, culture, (4), 50–56. (In Russian) https://doi.org/10.21672/1818-510X-2019-61-4-050-056 EDN: QJPATS
  15. Popova, O.V. (2020). On the unsolved problems of the theory of state identity policy in Russian political science. Political science (RU), (4), 86–110. (In Russian) https://doi.org/10.31249/poln/2020.04.05 EDN: CGOZKJ
  16. Semenenko, I.S. (2019). The concept of identity in the study of politics. In O.V. Gaman-­Golutvina & A.I. Nikitin (Eds.), Modern political science: Methodology (pp. 446–463). Moscow: IMEMO. (In Russian) EDN: YZGCRF
  17. Snegur, M.R. (2023). Representation of national identity on the network. Discourse, 9(4), 99–113. (In Russian) https://doi.org/10.32603/2412-8562-2023-9-4-99-113. EDN: ETLOSJ
  18. Vorobyov, V.P., & Retinskaya, V.N. (2022). Figurative and symbolic aspects of the formation of state identity of young people in the Internet era. University proceedings. Volga region. Humanities, (1), 59–71. (In Russian) https://doi.org/10.21685/2072-3016-2022-1-5 EDN: CMJIRP

Supplementary files

Supplementary Files
Action
1. JATS XML
Download

Согласие на обработку персональных данных

 

Используя сайт https://journals.rcsi.science, я (далее – «Пользователь» или «Субъект персональных данных») даю согласие на обработку персональных данных на этом сайте (текст Согласия) и на обработку персональных данных с помощью сервиса «Яндекс.Метрика» (текст Согласия).