MOSCOW, 9 January 2024. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the findings of a survey on censorship and the changes to public opinion over the recent fifteen years.
Mass media and state
Today most of Russians consider that state censorship over mass media is needed (63% vs 58% in 2008). About one-third of respondents think that state censorship is not needed (30% vs 24% in 2008). Over the fifteen years the number of respondents who are undecided has decreased (18% in 2008 vs 7% in 2023).
- A typical Russian who supports state censorship is a woman (66% vs. 59% of men), aged 45 and older (69% of the 45-59-year-olds and 77% of those aged 60+), who has secondary or secondary special level of education (65-68%), high or average income (64-66%), living in a small settlement (up to 100 thousand inhabitants.) or rural area (66% and 69% respectively), active TV viewer (76%) or who prefers both TV viewing and Internet (72%).
- A typical Russian who does not support state censorship is a man (34% vs. 26% of women), aged under 35 (61% of the 18-24 -year-olds and 40% of those aged 25-34), with incomplete secondary education (42%), poor income (42%), living in a capital, million-plus city or a large city (500-950 thousand inhabitants) - 38%, 35% and 36% respectively, an active Internet user (49%).
Censorship: pro et contra
Those who are in favor of state censorship say it helps to maintain stability and order and prevent panicking (44%). Respondents also think that censorship helps to protect against unreliable information (20% of those who support the idea), to fight against fake news that may be misleading.
Ten percentage of those who support censorship says it helps to increase the level of culture (10%). Respondents also say that censorship can also help to protect against negative and immoral information, propaganda of deviant behavior, and that there should be age restrictions (9%, each).
Over the last fifteen years the reasons behind respondents’ choices in favor of censorship have undergone changes. In 2008 respondents opted for censorship as a means to protect against immoral information (40 % of total supporters in 2008); today it is less important (9% in 2023). In 2008 respondents also said that censorship helps to avoid slander and disinformation and to provide citizens with trustworthy information (22%) and to prevent access to stupid things, to increase the level of culture and education through media (11%).
Russians who oppose censorship (30%) often say that information should be trustworthy and unbiased to form public opinion (39% of those who oppose censorship). They say that censorship restricts freedom of speech and democracy (17%), it is used as a tool to hush up the problems and for propaganda (15%), and it results from a lack of pluralism and competition (14%). Arguments against censorship have changed since 2008: in 2008 more respondents pointed out restrictions of rights and freedoms (24%), whereas today they often mention the importance to receive full and comprehensive information.
VCIOM-Sputnik Russian nationwide telephone survey was conducted July 28, 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 28 July, 2023: cooperation rate (CR)* = 0.7570; minimum response rate (MRR)** = 0.0148; response rate (RR)*** = 0.1063. calculations are based on corporate standards: https://profi.wciom.ru/principy_standarty/korporativnyj-standart-po-izmereniyu-rezultativnosti-oprosov-sputnik-vciom/
In your opinion, is censorship important for the Russian mass media outlets (television, print press, etc.)? close-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents | ||
| 2008 | 2023 |
Definitely important | 26 | 24 |
Likely important | 32 | 39 |
Likely unimportant | 16 | 17 |
Definitely unimportant | 8 | 13 |
Don’t know | 18 | 7 |
In your opinion, is state censorship needed for the Russian media (television, print, et cetera)? close-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents | ||||||||
| Total | Men | Women | Ages 18-24 | 25-34 | 35-44 | 45-59 | 60 + |
Definitely needed | 24 | 24 | 24 | 13 | 20 | 18 | 25 | 34 |
Likely needed | 39 | 35 | 42 | 21 | 33 | 40 | 44 | 43 |
Likely not needed | 17 | 17 | 17 | 30 | 25 | 20 | 13 | 9 |
Definitely not needed | 13 | 17 | 9 | 31 | 15 | 13 | 13 | 6 |
Don’t know | 7 | 7 | 8 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 5 | 8 |
If you think that censorship is important, why and for what reason? Several answers are possible. open-ended question, up to 3 answers, % of those who consider that “there should be censorship” | |
| 2023 |
There should be control over information / information should be filtered/ censorship is important/ to secure against anti-state propaganda / not to demonize our country, Government /the war is on / there should be right information about the SMO/not to make public information / people should believe in the victory/ information war / domestic enemies/ for the order in the country/ not to make people panic / calm the situation in the country / too much unimportant information/ there are things people should not know about | 44 |
Many fakes / only trustworthy information should be presented / information should not be misleading | 20 |
Enhance culture / strong words should be omitted / there should not be any unskillful journalists and TV hosts / not to let them show nonsense | 10 |
Too many bad things / exclude violence / alcohol / flatness/ LGBT propaganda/ so that there would be less negative information | 9 |
There should be more attention to the upbringing of the young people / stronger patriotism / ideology/ age restrictions / the heads of children and teenagers are being stuffed with nonsense | 9 |
Public opinion / people should know what is happening in the country | 8 |
To control those who provide information / not to give access to the stars who left Russia / not to give access to bloggers/ they should be responsible / they should stand by their word | 3 |
Other | 3 |
Don’t know | 22 |
If you think that censorship is needed, why? Several answers are possible. open-ended question, up to 3 answers, % of those who consider that “there should be censorship” | |
| 2008 |
They show a lot of violence, bad and vulgar things | 40 |
Slander and disinformation should be avoided; people should be provided with trustworthy information | 22 |
To avoid stupid things, to increase the level of culture and education through media | 11 |
Mass media demoralize children and teenagers | 9 |
Commercials should be restricted, taken away | 3 |
Other | 1 |
Don’t know | 21 |
If you think that censorship is not needed, then why? Several answers are possible. open-ended question, up to 3 answers, % of those who consider that “there should NOT be censorship” | |
| 2023 |
Truth / people should know truth / objectivity / more information/ forming public opinion / public discussion of problems/people should decide themselves / they should analyze, compare information | 39 |
Democracy/ there should be freedom of speech / violation of rights and freedoms / it goes contrary to the Constitution | 17 |
State should not intervene / state restricts information / state shows what is beneficial/hushing up problems / not to show negative stories / not to criticize the authorities/ censorship is harmful/ against propaganda/ manipulations | 15 |
Alternative opinions / there should be different viewpoints / plurality / choice/competition | 14 |
Independent/free/open media / there should not be restrictions for mass media | 6 |
Other | 10 |
Don’t know | 19 |
If you think that censorship is not needed, then why? Several answers are possible. open-ended question, up to 3 answers, % of those who consider that “there should NOT be censorship” | |
| 2008 |
There should be freedom of speech; censorship is contrary to human rights | 24 |
Information should be timely and trustworthy | 18 |
Information will be one-sidedly; facts will be distorted | 12 |
Censorship is contrary to democracy | 11 |
Censorship is contrary to the Constitution | 4 |
Censorship is a turn to Soviet times | 4 |
Other | 3 |
Don’t know | 28 |