Results of our studies

IN BRIEF

March 16, 2021. The information presented below illustrates results of a survey on social media censorship and the Russian opinions on the topic.

Most of Russians use different social media and messenger apps: WhatsApp (70%; mainly those aged 25-44 — 77%), Vkontakte (50%; often young respondents aged 18-25 — 72-74%), YouTube (40%; 56% of the 18-24-year-olds), Instagram (38%) and Odnoklassniki (37%).

Unreliable information on social media

Half of Russians believe that you can always or almost always determine if information on the Internet is trustworthy or not. This opinion is shared by young Russians aged 18-24 (78%) and the 25-34-year-olds (62%).

Half of respondents consider that any unreliable information on the Internet should be blocked (51%). This stance is often supported by those who use the Internet occasionally or never use it (65%). A quarter of respondents believe that it is important to block only unreliable information that poses a serious threat (23%); a further 14% think that even potentially harmful information must be blocked.

Almost half of Russians find it difficult to assess the policies related to the control over reliability of information on the Internet (48%). Twenty-nine percent of Russians agree with these policies; 19% disagree; often active Internet users (24%).

Blocking social media accounts

Russians consider it inappropriate to block accounts of users before judgement (51%); this opinion is popular with people living in the metropolitan area (61%) and million-plus cities (58%). Thirty-eight percent of respondents think it is appropriate.

Seventy percent of Russians have heard or are aware that Facebook and Twitter blocked and deleted accounts of certain Russian organizations and users: often men report so (75%). They cited several famous figures whose accounts were blocked by Twitter or Facebook; those persons are D.Trump (11%), A. Navalny (3%) and V. Solovyov (3%).

As to the reasons why certain Russian accounts or posts were deleted, those respondents who are aware of that point out dissemination of unreliable and false information (9%), political reasons (9%) or uncomfortable character of information (6%).

More than half of Russians believe that blocking accounts is acceptable if information posted is provocative or unreliable (52%); this opinion is often expressed by active Internet users (56%).

Is it censorship, and how to tackle it?  

Forty-nine percent of respondents view such blocks as censorship by social media networks. This opinion is popular among Russians aged 45-59 (56%). Twenty-nine percent of Russians do not view it as censorship - often young respondents aged 18-24 (57%).

The Russian government should take measures to tackle censorship, according to 70% of those who consider the blocks censorship. This opinion is often expressed by respondents aged 60 and older (78%). Twenty-six percent of Russians think nothing should be done.

Those who think that certain actions are needed propose the following options: to block accounts in response (8%), to introduce penalties (6%), to block websites (6%), to slow down their performance (5%), or to create alternatives (4%).

Russian nationwide VCIOM-Sputnik survey was conducted on March 11, 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.

Let us talk about social media and messengers. Do you use the following social media, messengers? If so, what social media do you use? Cite those social media networks and messengers that you use, please.  (closed-ended question, any number of answers, % of those who use the Internet)

 

Total respondents

Men

Women

Aged 18-24

25-34

35-44

45-59

60 +

WhatsApp

70

67

73

72

77

77

67

58

Vkontakte

50

49

51

74

72

55

32

31

YouTube

40

45

35

56

43

40

37

31

Instagram

38

29

45

61

57

44

23

16

Odnoklassniki

37

30

42

2

30

41

45

46

Viber

36

30

41

25

42

41

37

29

Telegram

27

30

26

60

36

32

17

10

TikTok

17

16

18

39

19

16

12

10

Facebook

14

14

14

13

15

17

11

13

Twitter

6

8

5

13

9

7

4

4

I do not use social media, messengers 

5

7

3

2

1

3

7

10

LiveJournal

1

2

1

0

1

2

3

1

Other  

5

5

4

2

4

3

6

8

Don’t know

0

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

In your opinion, is it possible to distinguish between reliable and unreliable information on the Internet, social media, or not? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents)

 

Total respondents

Men

Women

Aged 18-24

25-34

35-44

45-59

60 +

Almost always possible

8

10

7

21

9

8

6

6

Possible in most cases

44

45

43

57

53

45

43

34

Impossible to distinguish in most cases

28

26

30

10

24

32

33

29

Almost always impossible to distinguish

12

12

11

9

9

10

13

15

Don’t know

8

7

9

3

5

5

5

16

In your opinion, should dissemination of reliable information on the Internet and social media be restricted, or not? If yes, to what extent should it be restricted? (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

It is necessary to block only unreliable information that poses a serious threat to society

23

24

18

19

It is necessary to block even unreliable information that possibly poses a threat to society

14

15

13

8

It is necessary to block  any unreliable information

51

47

58

65

It should not be restricted

10

11

8

3

Other  

1

1

1

1

Don’t know

1

2

2

4

In your opinion, is it acceptable or unacceptable to block accounts (or users’ personal profiles) on social media without recourse to courts? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents)

 

Total respondents

Moscow and St Petersburg

Million-plus cities

500-950 thousand inhabitants

100–500 thousand inhabitants

Less than 100 thousand

Rural area

Definitely yes

14

10

11

10

14

18

15

Rather yes

24

22

22

24

26

22

27

Rather no

22

24

21

26

21

22

18

Definitely no

29

37

37

29

30

27

25

Don’t know

11

7

9

11

9

11

15

Are you likely to favor or oppose government policies aimed to control reliability of information on the Internet, social media, to combat false information? If you know nothing about it, let us know. (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 yes

13

12

14

20

Rather yes

16

17

22

12

Rather no

9

11

8

2

Definitely no

10

13

2

3

I know nothing about the government policies in this field

48

45

51

61

Don’t know

4

2

3

2

Do you know, did you hear or do you hear for the first time that Facebook and Twitter delete publications and block accounts of certain Russian users and organizations on social media?  (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents)

 

Total respondents

Men

Women

Aged 18-24

25-34

35-44

45-59

60 +

I am well aware

17

23

11

28

18

14

17

14

I heard something but I do not know any details

53

52

53

40

49

60

57

49

This is the first time I hear about that

30

25

36

32

33

26

26

37

                                   

Based on what you know or heard, can you tell us whose accounts (famous people and organizations) have been recently blocked by Twitter or Facebook? Cite, please, three names or titles of organizations. (open-ended question, up to 5 answers, % of those who “know, heard”; answers of at least 2% of respondents)  

 

Total respondents

Trump

11

Navalny

3

Solovyov

3

Government / state bodies / accounts of public figures / civil servants

2

Russia Today

2

Other

11

Don’t know /No idea

76

In your opinion, why did Facebook and Twitter delete publications/block accounts of the Russian users and organizations on social media? You can give several reasons. (open-ended question, up to 3 answers, % of those who “know, heard”; answers of at least 2% of respondents)

 

Total respondents

Because of unreliable, false information

9

Reasons related to politics 

9

Uncomfortable information

6

They are afraid of the truth Russia is telling about

5

Propaganda / terrorist propaganda

4

Violation of terms of use / publication did not comply with the social media posting guidelines  

4

Censorship

4

Calls to extremism / rallies / riots

4

Information not beneficial to the Russian government  / eroding the foundations

4

Information contradicts the interests of another state / certain viewpoint being imposed/ only their opinion is acceptable

3

Anti-Russian campaign / war against Russia / cold war

2

Safety reasons / publications could be harmful

2

These media are run by the U.S.  / private organizations / they block what they want

2

They execute orders from above

2

They do not like Russia/are afraid of us

2

They follow the U.S. directions

2

It was profitable to someone

2

Dissemination of sexually explicit material

2

Because of sanctions

2

Other

10

Don’t know /No idea

38

Recently Twitter and Facebook have locked accounts of certain Russian media outlets, journalists, public officials, businessmen without giving reasons. Do you consider it acceptable or inacceptable to lock the accounts of the Russian users and organizations? (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

Acceptable in most cases

4

4

1

5

Acceptable in certain cases, for example, when posting  something provocative  or untrustworthy

52

56

51

35

Inacceptable in any case

32

32

27

36

Don’t know

12

8

21

24

In your opinion, should the suspension of the accounts of the Russians users and organizations be viewed as censorship by Facebook and Twitter, or not? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents)

 

Total respondents

Men

Women

Aged 18-24

25-34

35-44

45-59

60 +

Yes, it is censorship

49

52

46

35

43

49

56

50

No, it is not censorship

29

31

28

57

36

34

21

21

Don’t know

22

17

26

8

21

17

23

29

In your opinion, should the Russian government do anything to combat Facebook and Twitter censorship, or not? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of those who think “it is censorship”)

 

Total respondents

Men

Women

Aged 18-24

25-34

35-44

45-59

60 +

Definitely yes

33

40

26

11

22

28

31

49

Rather yes

37

29

44

43

38

38

41

29

Rather no

17

16

18

29

27

17

16

9

Definitely no

9

11

7

16

10

12

7

6

Don’t know

4

4

5

1

3

5

5

7

In your opinion, what exactly should the Russian government do to combat Facebook and Twitter censorship? Several answers are possible (open-ended question, up to 5 answers, % of those who think that “it should”; answers of at least 2% of respondents)

 

Total respondents

To block / block in response / block their accounts

8

Penalties

6

To block websites

6

To slow down the performance/traffic

5

To create  alternative social media

4

To restrict the performance

3

To block the banned /unreliable content

3

To introduce specific regulations

2

To litigate it in the court/to act according to the legislation

2

To control

2

To create Russia’s own independent Internet

2

Other

16

Don’t know

57

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