March 9, 2021. Below are the results of a survey devoted to the attitudes of Russians towards a possibility of domestically produced operating system.
Computer software developer
Most of Russians think it is not important what country invented a computer program or app for smartphones (68%). Those who think so are often Russians aged 18-44 (75-77%). Those who think the inventor is important are Russians who are older (30-31%) and those who use the Internet several times a week or a month (30%) rather than Russians in general (27%).
Domestic software compared to the foreign one
Russians trust domestic software and apps more than the foreign ones (45%); they are more often Russians aged 45-59 (51%). The percentage of those who trust less is 27%; this share is higher among young respondents (40%).
Forty percent of Russians consider that domestic computer programs are cheaper than the foreign counterparts. This stance is shared by 52-54% of the 18-35-year-olds and only 23% of Russians aged 60 and older. More than one-third of Russians remain undecided (37%).
Thirty-seven percent of Russians believe that the Russian software programs are less likely to be of good quality than the foreign ones. This opinion is popular with young respondents aged 18-24 (48%) and Russians aged 35-44 (48%). Twenty-six percent of Russians consider domestic software to have a better quality.
Thirty-four percent of respondents believe that the Russian computer programs are less compatible with other programs than the foreign ones (34%). This opinion is less popular among older Russians (18%); but half of them fail to assess the domestic computer programs by this parameter (50%).
According to 39% of Russians, Russian computer programs and apps are more reliable that their foreign counterparts; this opinion is often shared by Russians aged 60 and older (46%). Thirty-one percent of Russians think they are less reliable; 30% are undecided.
Attitudes towards plans to develop a Russian OS
More than half of Russians positively perceive plans to develop a Russian OS (57%). The stance is often shared by Russians aged 45+ (65%). Twenty-seven percent of Russians have neutral views; they are mainly Russians aged 18-24 (43%). Nine percent of respondents have negative perceptions; they are mainly the youngest ones (18%).
If Russia develops its own OS, 49% of Russians say they may switch to it; 15% say they will definitely do that. Thirty-three percent of respondents say they will not switch to the Russian OS; most of them are young respondents aged 18-24 (55%).
The main reasons why certain respondents are ready to switch to the domestic OS are: patriotism, desire to support domestic production (29%); opinion that the domestic products are better and more reliable than the foreign ones (13%), and interest and desire to test domestic developments (10%). Other factors are a lack of trust in foreign products, expecting computer programs spy on you (9%) and high levels of trust in domestic manufacturer (9%).
Those who would not switch to the Russian OS say that they are satisfied with their current OS (21%) or that they got used to it and do not want to change anything (18%). Sixteen percent of respondents believe that the Russian OS will not be reliable or of high quality; 12% think it will be incompatible with other programs.
Russian nationwide VCIOM-Sputnik survey was conducted on March 4, 2021. A total of 1,600 of Russians aged 18 and older took part in the survey. Results are based on telephone interviews. Stratified dual-frame random sample based on a complete list of Russian landline and mobile phone numbers was used. 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 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.
Is it important or not important to you personally what country created a particular computer program or app for smartphones? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | ||||||
| Total respondents | Aged 18-24 | 25-34 | 35-44 | 45-59 | 60 + |
Definitely important | 11 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 14 | 12 |
Rather important | 16 | 18 | 12 | 13 | 16 | 19 |
Rather not important | 32 | 33 | 35 | 39 | 33 | 24 |
Definitely not important | 36 | 42 | 42 | 38 | 33 | 32 |
Don’t know | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 13 |
Is it important or not important to you personally what country created a particular computer program or app for smartphones? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | ||||
| Total respondents | Those who use the Internet almost every day | Those who use the Internet several times a week, several times a month | Those who use the Internet occasionally or never use it |
Definitely important | 11 | 12 | 10 | 8 |
Rather important | 16 | 16 | 20 | 11 |
Rather not important | 32 | 33 | 33 | 26 |
Definitely not important | 36 | 37 | 32 | 37 |
Don’t know | 5 | 2 | 5 | 18 |
Now I will read several statements about computer programs or apps for smartphones developed in Russia; please choose the one you most agree with: Compared to foreign counterparts the domestic program … (closed-ended question, one answer for each line, % of total respondents) | ||||||
| Total respondents | Aged 18-24 | 25-34 | 35-44 | 45-59 | 60 + |
Safety | ||||||
Inspires more confidence | 45 | 46 | 32 | 45 | 51 | 48 |
Inspires less confidence | 27 | 40 | 40 | 31 | 20 | 16 |
Don’t know | 28 | 14 | 28 | 24 | 29 | 36 |
Price | ||||||
Is likely to cost less | 40 | 54 | 52 | 45 | 41 | 23 |
Is likely to cost more | 23 | 27 | 24 | 28 | 24 | 19 |
Don’t know | 37 | 19 | 24 | 27 | 35 | 58 |
Quality | ||||||
Is likely to have a higher quality | 26 | 28 | 21 | 24 | 28 | 27 |
Is likely to have a lower quality | 37 | 48 | 43 | 48 | 31 | 28 |
Don’t know | 37 | 24 | 36 | 29 | 41 | 45 |
Compatibility with other programs | ||||||
Is likely to be more compatible with other programs | 27 | 32 | 20 | 23 | 27 | 32 |
Is likely to be less compatible with other programs | 34 | 45 | 47 | 48 | 28 | 18 |
Don’t know | 39 | 23 | 33 | 29 | 45 | 50 |
Reliability | ||||||
Is likely to be more reliable | 39 | 36 | 36 | 34 | 39 | 46 |
Is likely to be less reliable | 31 | 44 | 39 | 41 | 27 | 19 |
Don’t know | 30 | 20 | 25 | 25 | 34 | 35 |
What is your personal attitude towards the plans to develop a Russian domestic operating system for PCs? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | ||||||
| Total respondents | Aged 18-24 | 25-34 | 35-44 | 45-59 | 60 + |
Definitely positive | 27 | 16 | 23 | 31 | 33 | 27 |
Rather positive | 30 | 19 | 25 | 27 | 32 | 38 |
Neutral | 27 | 43 | 34 | 28 | 23 | 21 |
Rather negative | 4 | 8 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 1 |
Definitely negative | 5 | 10 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 1 |
Don’t know | 7 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 12 |
Imagine Russia developed its own OS for PCs. Would you personally replace your current OS with the domestic one? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | ||||||
| Total respondents | Aged 18-24 | 25-34 | 35-44 | 45-59 | 60 + |
Definitely yes | 15 | 15 | 8 | 15 | 16 | 18 |
Rather yes | 34 | 22 | 32 | 37 | 41 | 30 |
Rather no | 18 | 31 | 25 | 20 | 15 | 11 |
Definitely no | 15 | 24 | 26 | 16 | 11 | 7 |
Don’t know | 18 | 8 | 9 | 12 | 17 | 34 |
Can you explain why you would replace your current OS with the domestic one? Several reasons can be cited. (open-ended question, up to 5 answers, % of those who would “replace” it; answers of at least 2% of respondents) | |
| % of those who would “replace” |
I am a patriot / I support domestic production / each country should has its own OS | 29 |
It is better and more reliable than the foreign one | 13 |
It is interesting to try it / to test it | 10 |
We are being spied / information leaks abroad / let our agencies spy on us, not the foreign ones | 9 |
More confidence | 9 |
If it does not underperforms / if it outperforms | 8 |
If it is adjusted to Russians / uses Russian language / convenient / user-friendly | 7 |
Our OS will be safer, have much higher protection | 7 |
Due to sanctions foreign operating systems can be blocked / we must be independent | 6 |
It will be cheaper / more available | 5 |
Easier to use / no problems updating it / better technical support | 3 |
Russia has good software engineers | 3 |
I do not trust foreign systems / I am against them | 2 |
There will be less foreign advertising / less adult content / fewer nasty things | 2 |
Russian OS will have impact on the country’s development, economy / money will not go abroad | 2 |
Other | 6 |
Don’t know | 10 |
Can you explain why you would NOT replace your current OS with the domestic one? Several reasons can be cited (open-ended question, up to 5 answers, % of those who would NOT “replace” it; answers of at least 2% of respondents). | |
| % of those who would NOT “replace” it |
I am Ok with the current OS / I like it / it is convenient | 21 |
We got used to the old one / no desire to change anything | 18 |
Our OS will be worse than its foreign counterparts / “raw” / unreliable / poor quality | 16 |
Incompatible with other programs | 12 |
It has not established itself/ not time-tested / I will wait for reviews | 9 |
I am concerned about data safety / they want to control us / they want to isolate us from the world | 8 |
I do not trust the domestic OS | 6 |
I have no PC / I do not use it / I know nothing about it | 5 |
Not clear how it performs / we need to test it first | 5 |
Foreign OS gained its reputation / I trust it | 4 |
Foreign OS is more reliable | 3 |
Price is unknown / not willing to pay | 3 |
Russia will never make anything good / no specialists | 3 |
Problems with technical support | 2 |
Other | 7 |
Don’t know | 14 |