May 11, 2021. VCIOM presents the data of a survey about the Russian opinions on spamming.
Almost one-third of Russians (28%) know what “spam” means (“unsolicited bulk mail”, Eng.); 14% of respondents consider that it refers to unnecessary information; 5% believe that it means “trash”; 3%, fraud; 3%, ads; 2%, virus. More than one-third of respondents (37%) did not encounter this word before, Most of those who are aware that spam means unsolicited ads are young Russians aged 18-24 (47%) and respondents aged 25-34 (41%), as well as residents of Moscow and St Petersburg (42%), million-plus cities (41%), people living in cities with a population of 500-950 thousand inhabitants (38%) and respondents with higher and incomplete higher education diplomas (42%).
Spam has become an essential part of the daily life of Russians: about one-third of Russians (29%) receive annoying ads every day; every fourth (24%) gets spam messages once or several times a week; 17%, once every few months. Slightly less than one–third of Russians (28%) say they have not received spam calls or messages over the recent month.
Annoying ads largely refer to bank services (73%), communication services (35%), health services (34%), legal services (19%), education services (15%), medicines (15%), software programs (12%) and travel services (9%).
Most of Russians (63%) get annoyed when they receive spam calls and messages; 8% do not get annoyed; one-third of Russians (29%) say they are indifferent.
Russian nationwide VCIOM-Sputnik survey was conducted on April 30, 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 advertising. Today people come across different types of advertising including spam. Are you familiar with the word “spam”? How would you define spam? (open-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents; answers of at least 2% of respondents) | ||||||
| Total respondents | Aged 18-24 | 25-34 | 35-44 | 45-59 | 60 + |
Annoying/ unwanted ads | 28 | 47 | 41 | 31 | 28 | 11 |
Unnecessary information | 14 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 14 | 7 |
Trash | 5 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 7 |
False information | 5 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 5 |
Fraud | 3 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
Ads | 3 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
Virus/ malicious emails | 2 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
Other | 3 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 |
I hear about it for the first time / no answer/ don’t know | 37 | 15 | 12 | 26 | 38 | 62 |
Let us talk about advertising. Today people come across different types of advertising including spam. Are you familiar with the word “spam”? How would you define spam? (open-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents х) | |||||||
| Total respondents | Moscow and St Petersburg | Million-plus cities | 500-950 thousand inhabitants | 100—500 thousand | Less than 100 thousand | Rural area |
Annoying/ unwanted ads | 28 | 42 | 41 | 38 | 31 | 22 | 15 |
Unnecessary information | 14 | 26 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 9 |
Trash | 5 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 |
False information | 5 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 5 |
Fraud | 3 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
Ads | 3 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
Virus/ malicious emails | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
Other | 3 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 3 |
I hear about it for the first time / no answer/ don’t know | 37 | 16 | 26 | 22 | 35 | 41 | 52 |
Let us talk about advertising. Today people come across different types of advertising including spam. Are you familiar with the word “spam”? How would you define spam? ( open-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents ) | |||||
| Total respondents | Incomplete secondary education | Secondary education (school, vocational school) | Specialized secondary education (technical school) | Incomplete higher (not less than three years in a higher education institution), higher education |
Annoying/ unwanted ads | 28 | 28 | 27 | 30 | 42 |
Unnecessary information | 14 | 15 | 16 | 8 | 7 |
Trash | 5 | 8 | 5 | 7 | 0 |
False information | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 3 |
Fraud | 3 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 9 |
Ads | 3 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
Virus/ malicious emails | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
Other | 3 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
I hear about it for the first time / no answer/ don’t know | 37 | 28 | 35 | 38 | 39 |
Spam is unsolicited ads sent through email, messengers, social media, text messages or unsolicited calls. Have you received spam calls or messages over the recent month? If so, can your recall how often you received it over the recent month? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | |
| Total respondents |
Almost every day | 29 |
Once or several times a week | 24 |
Once or several times a month | 17 |
I have not received spam calls or messages over the recent month | 28 |
Don’t know | 2 |
You say that you have received spam messages or phone calls over the recent month. Can you recall what cervices or products they were about? Choose them from the list. Any number of answers (open-ended question, any number of answers, % of total respondents) | |
| Total respondents |
Bank services (introducing a new card, deposits, etc.) | 73 |
Communication services (new tariffs) | 35 |
Health services | 34 |
Legal services (legal counsellor, legal advice) | 19 |
Education services (courses, workshops, webinars, etc.) | 15 |
Medicines, health products | 15 |
Software, apps | 12 |
Travel services (health resort package, tour package, etc.) | 9 |
Other (specify) | 22 |
I do not remember/ Don’t know | 5 |
When your receive spam calls or messages, do you get annoyed, not get annoyed, or are you indifferent? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | |
| Total respondents |
I get annoyed a lot | 28 |
Likely to get annoyed | 35 |
Unlikely to get annoyed | 6 |
Not at all annoyed | 2 |
Indifferent/ I pay no attention | 29 |
Don’t know | 0 |