Media strategies for recognizing and protecting against distorted news (fake news) in the Russian Internet

The article proposes an approach to identifying signs of fake information and counteracting it within the framework of the information policy of higher educational institutions. An analysis of information cases with signs of disinformation showed that the disseminated fakes have significant risk factors for the state. False information is aimed at destabilizing the socio-political situation and forming a negative image of the country's leadership among citizens. At the same time, targeting the mass audience, fakes aim to change moral attitudes, increase anxiety, and create negative narratives about the socio-political order. The goal of this study is to determine modern individual strategies for self-defense against fake information. The object of the study is the information field of the Russian Federation. The subject of the study is fake information. The scientific article examines the global dynamics of fake information dissemination, the technologies used to create unreliable content, and strategies for countering distorted information. Content analysis of unreliable publications, a literature review on the topic, and an online survey of youth to identify the level of competencies in countering disinformation were used as research methods. The main conclusions of the scientific research include the active development of technologies that complicate the determination of the credibility of information. Artificial intelligence is often used to create fake information, making it difficult to distinguish from credible content at a glance. Additionally, fakes often utilize links to non-existent sources or quotes from pseudo-experts. Manipulative techniques and the lack of prompt action from government structures and interested companies allow fakes to exert a greater impact. An example of such influence is the case discussed in the article concerning Kazan Federal University. A significant contribution to the study of the topic is the conducted survey, which revealed important directions for reducing the impact of fakes, including the demand for an official channel with reliable information and the state's position, which can be one of the elements of the e-government system. Based on the conducted research, rules for protection against disinformation were formulated. The main theses include the principle of promptness, the principle of the information bubble, a critical approach to information, attention to manipulation markers, information hygiene, and verification of information through official resources.

information policy, fakes, disinformation, fact checking, reliability, media literacy, information manipulation, legislation, e-government, self-defense strategy