TRUSTWORTHY NEWS: VCIOM: Russia Public Opinion Research Center

TRUSTWORTHY NEWS

Russians’ trust in information from social media and blogs keeps growing.

26.12.2023

IN BRIEF

• Top three sources Russians get news about Russia from are television (40%, −13 p.p. compared to 2018), news websites (19%), social media (14%, −6 p.p. compared to 2020).;

• Russians consider that television is as balanced as the internet sources when presenting news (26% for television, 24% for social media, 22% for news websites). ;

• 32% of respondents consider that major media outlets have become more unbiased in recent years, the same number of respondents think that nothing has changed (32%), 24% say they have become less unbiased.

MOSCOW, 26 December 2023. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the findings of a monitoring survey on media outlets among Russians.

Nothing but television

Television still holds the first ranking among sources of information about the events in Russia (40%), however five years ago this percentage was higher (53% in 2018). The second position is held by global network (news, analytical, information websites – 19%; social media, blogs – 14%; messengers – 11%). Paper-based media and radio are extremely unpopular: newspapers – 1%; magazines -<1%; radio - 2%.

Media preferences of Russians have changed since 2018; television has become less popular; interest in online channels saw both rises and falls. The audience of news websites has been at the same level (18% in 2018; 23% in 2020; 20% in 2021: 19% in 2023). Social media had a surge in popularity in 2020-2021 (20-21%) but currently is down to the 2018 levels (14%). Messaging apps show a maximum growth in audience: over the recent two years the percentage of respondents who opt for this media as the main source of news has almost tripled (4% in 2021; 11% in 2023).

The choice of information sources is age specific. Russians aged 45 and older tend to be interested in television (46% of those aged 45-59; 70% of those aged 60 and older vs. 9-12% of those aged under 35). Young respondents are more likely to prefer world wide web to get news. In this group, social media is dominant (25% among those aged under 25 and 28% of those aged 5-34). Young people often scroll through the messengers (23% and 19%).

Women are more likely than men to mention television (45% vs. 34% of men), and men prefer social media (16% vs. 12%) and messengers (13% vs. 9%).
The larger the size of the settlement, the more often the main source of information about the events in Russia are news websites (30% of metropolitan residents vs. 12% rural area residents), social media (19% of metropolitan residents vs. 9% rural area residents) and messengers (14% of metropolitan residents vs. 9% rural area residents). As to rural area and small settlements (up to 100 thousand inhabitants), television is mentioned by every second respondent (48-52%).

In search of objectivity

Over the period of measurement perceptions of TV as an unbiased source of information has been steadily decreasing (46% in 2016; 43% in 2017; 34% in 2018; 30% in 2019), whereas social media has seen an increase in perceptions (10% in 2016; 13% in 2017; 18% in 2018; 15% in 2019).

Those who consider that websites are more unbiased are Russians under 45 (33-28% vs. 13-18% of those aged older 45), inhabitants of large cities with a population of over 500 thousand inhabitants (27-33% vs. 16% of small settlements with a population of under 100 thousand inhabitants and rural area inhabitants), as well as active Internet users (31% vs. 2% of TV viewers).
Social media and blogs are viewed as unbiased by men (27% vs. 21% of women), young respondents under 35 (35-44%), metropolitan residents (32%) and active Internet users (38% vs. 1% of TV viewers).
Television is chosen by women (32% vs. 19% men), respondents aged older than 60 (51% vs. 5-13% of Russians aged under 45), rural area residents (38%) and active TV viewers (68% vs. 1% of those who prefer Internet).

Every third Russian thinks that over the recent two or three years the coverage of domestic events by major media outlets has become more unbiased (32%). The percentage returned to the 2018-2019 levels (34%, each) after a decrease during the 2020-2021 pandemic (34%, each). Another one-third of respondents believe that over the recent two or three years nothing has changed (32%); every fourth points out a decrease in objectivity (24%, −10 p.p. compared to 2020-2021).

Women often think that major media outlets are more objective (38% vs. 25% of men); this opinion becomes more popular with age (49% among those aged 60 +). As to those who prefer watching TV, 53% think the same way (vs. 15% of Internet users).

VCIOM-Sputnik Russian nationwide telephone survey was conducted December 17, 2023. A total of 1,600 Russians aged 18+ were surveyed. Survey method: telephone interviews, stratified random sample based on a complete list of mobile phone numbers in use in Russia. The data were weighted for socio-demographic characteristics. The margin of error at a 95% confidence level does not exceed 2.5%. In addition to sampling error, minor changes to the wording of questions and different circumstances arising during the fieldwork can introduce bias into the survey.

Key effectiveness indicators, survey of 17 December, 2023: cooperation rate (CR)* = 0.7916; minimum response rate (MRR)** = 0.0179; response rate (RR)*** = 0.0764. calculations are based on corporate standards: https://profi.wciom.ru/principy_standarty/korporativnyj-standart-po-izmereniyu-rezultativnosti-oprosov-sputnik-vciom/

* CR: the number of complete interviews divided by the sum of: а) complete interviews and b) non-interviews with eligible respondents.

** MRR: the number of complete interviews divided by the sum of: а) complete interviews, b) interrupted interviews after successful screening and c) all the respondents where it is unknown whether they meet the selected criteria or not.

** RR is calculated in the same way as MRR, with the only difference that the number of respondents with unknown eligibility decreases proportional to the percentage of eligible cases in the total number of respondents with identified eligibility or non-eligibility.

What is the main source of information about the events in our country? (close-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents)
	2018	2020	2021	2023
Television	53	38	42	40
Internet — news, analytical, official websites	18	23	20	19
Internet — social media, blogs	14	20	21	14
Messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber, etc.)*	-	-	4	11
Conversations with people	7	7	5	8
Radio	3	5	2	2
Newspapers	3	2	1	1
Journals	<1	<1	<1	<1
None of the above mentioned	1	3	2	2
Don’t know	1	1	3	3

* In 2018, 2020 this response option was not provided.

What is the main source of information about the events in our country? (close-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents)
	Total	Men	Women	Ages 18-24	25-34	35-44	45-59	60 +
Television	40	34	45	9	12	24	46	70
Internet - news, analytical, official websites	19	19	19	24	24	27	18	10
Internet – social media, blogs	14	16	12	25	28	15	11	4
Messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber, etc.)	11	13	9	23	19	16	8	2
Conversations with people	8	9	7	9	10	11	10	4
Radio	2	2	2	2	<1	3	1	3
Newspapers	1	<1	1	<1	<1	<1	1	2
Magazines	<1	<1	<1	<1	<1	<1	<1	<1
None of the above mentioned	2	2	2	1	3	2	1	2
Don’t know	3	5	3	7	4	2	4	3

* In 2016, 2017 this response option was not provided.

In your opinion, where is it easier to find unbiased information about events in Russia? (close-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents)
	2016**	2017	2018	2019	2023
Television	46	43	34	30	26
Internet – social media, blogs	10	13	18	15	24
Internet - news, analytical, official websites	22	20	19	18	22
Conversations with people	7	10	13	9	11
Newspapers	4	4	3	3	1
Radio	1	2	1	2	1
None of the above mentioned	10	8	4	15	7
Don’t know*	-	—	8	8	8

* In 2016, 2017 this response option was not provided.

** Household face-to-face interviews (“Express” project); stratified multi-stage quota sample based on specific socio-demographic characteristics, representative of the Russian population aged 18 and older according to type of settlement, gender, age, education and federal district. Sample size: 1,600 respondents.

In your opinion, where is it easier to find unbiased information about events in Russia? (close-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents)
	Total	Men	Women	Ages 18-24	25-34	35-44	45-59	60 +
Television	26	19	32	5	9	13	28	51
Internet – social media, blogs	24	27	21	44	35	28	23	10
Internet - news, analytical, official websites	22	22	21	33	31	28	18	13
Conversations with people	11	13	9	4	11	13	15	9
Radio	1	1	1	2	<1	1	2	2
Newspapers	1	1	2	<1	<1	1	1	3
Magazines	<1	<1	<1	<1	<1	<1	<1	<1
None of the above mentioned	7	7	7	7	9	9	8	4
Don’t know	8	10	7	5	5	7	5	5

Do you consider that the coverage of events by major media in your country over the recent 2-3 years has become… (close-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents)
	2018	2019	2020	2021	2023
Has become more unbiased	34	34	23	23	32
Has not changed	30	34	37	32	32
Has become less unbiased	31	25	34	34	24
Don’t know	5	7	6	11	12

Do you consider that the coverage of events by major media in your country over the recent 2-3 years has become… (close-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents)
	Total	Men	Women	Ages 18-24	25-34	35-44	45-59	60 +
Has become more unbiased	32	25	38	25	17	22	33	49
Has not changed	32	36	29	38	41	38	30	23
Has become less unbiased	24	27	21	27	29	28	26	15
Don’t know	12	12	12	10	13	12	11	13

Topics:

Media