Russians expressed their opinion on a legislative initiative regarding social media.
MOSCOW, April 10, 2017. The Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the results of a survey devoted to the attitudes of Russians towards new legislative initiatives regarding social media access.
Russians favor the idea to ban social networks for children under 14. Sixty-two per cent of respondents support the initiative; the share of supporters aged 18-24 makes up 67% which is higher than the share of those who are aged 60 and over (60%). A third of respondents oppose the initiative (35%); they are basically residents of Moscow and St.Petersburg (47%).
When asking about restrictions using social media, respondents express high level of disapproval. Fifty-two per cent perceive negatively the idea to provide passport details when creating a social media account; remarkably, this share is higher among active Internet users rather than those who do not surf the Internet (58% vs 36%). Thirty-nine per cent of respondents favor the initiative (48% of those aged 25-34).
The VCIOM-Sputnik initiative all-Russian survey was conducted on April 6, 2017, using stratified dual-frame random sample based on a complete list of landline and mobile phone numbers operating in Russia, and involved 600 respondents. Russians aged 18 and over took part in the survey. The data were weighted according to selection probability and social and demographic characteristics. The margin of error at a 95% confidence level does not exceed 4.5%. In addition to sampling error, minor changes in question wording and different circumstances arising during the fieldwork can introduce bias into the survey.
What are you attitudes towards an initiative banning children under 14 from using social media? (closed-ended question, one answer, %) | |||||||||
| Total respondents | Aged 18-24 | 25-34 | 35-44 | 45-59 | 60 and over | Those who use the Internet almost every day | Those who use the Internet several times a week/a month | Those who use the Internet occasionally or never use it |
I completely support it | 37 | 43 | 33 | 40 | 35 | 36 | 33 | 43 | 39 |
I am likely to support it | 25 | 24 | 30 | 26 | 22 | 24 | 29 | 25 | 15 |
I am likely to oppose it | 21 | 23 | 18 | 17 | 28 | 18 | 24 | 21 | 14 |
I completely oppose it | 14 | 10 | 17 | 16 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 20 |
I do not know what social media is | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
Don’t know | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 8 |
What are you attitudes towards an initiative banning children under 14 from using social media? (closed-ended question, one answer, %) | |||||||
| Total respondents | Moscow and St.Petersburg | Million cities | More than 500 ths inhabitants | 100–500 ths inhabitants | Less than 100 ths inhabitants | Rural area |
I completely support it | 37 | 24 | 41 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 |
I am likely to support it | 25 | 25 | 32 | 28 | 29 | 27 | 15 |
I am likely to oppose it | 21 | 32 | 8 | 12 | 15 | 25 | 26 |
I completely oppose it | 14 | 15 | 19 | 13 | 15 | 8 | 15 |
I do not know what social media is | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
Don’t know | 2 | 4 | 0 | 11 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
What are you attitudes towards an initiative to provide passport details in order to create a social media account? (closed-ended question, one answer, %) | |||||||||
| Total respondents | Aged 18-24 | 25-34 | 35-44 | 45-59 | 60 and over | Those who use the Internet almost every day | Those who use the Internet several times a week/a month | Those who use the Internet occasionally or never use it |
I completely support it | 23 | 16 | 27 | 19 | 25 | 22 | 20 | 25 | 27 |
I am likely to support it | 16 | 20 | 21 | 18 | 14 | 13 | 17 | 20 | 12 |
I am likely to oppose it | 20 | 14 | 17 | 18 | 28 | 15 | 22 | 22 | 12 |
I completely oppose it | 32 | 45 | 33 | 41 | 30 | 22 | 36 | 28 | 24 |
I do not know what social media is | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 7 |
Don’t know | 8 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 21 | 5 | 4 | 18 |
Note: Using materials from the site www.wciom.ru or wciom.com, as well as distributed by VCIOM, the reference to the source (or hyperlink for the electronic media) is obligatory!