Information Alternatives and Political Legitimacy: The Phenomenon of Telegram Channels in Russia

The article presents an analysis of telegram channels as a new form of network media in the modern information space. An analysis of the history of the formation and transformation of the Telegram messenger from the moment of its creation to the present has been made. The authors pay attention to the study of the advantages and disadvantages of using telegram channels as alternative sources of information compared to traditional media. The development of digital technologies and rapid changes in the information environment have significantly influenced the methods of political and other communication in modern society. Classical media are gradually losing their exclusive right to identify important public topics, while Internet platforms and messaging applications are taking up an increasingly significant place. A particularly noticeable phenomenon in recent years has been the channels in the Telegram messenger, which, starting with the function of simple messaging, quickly turned into new information platforms that can significantly influence the opinion of society.

The relevance of the study is due to the fact that the channels in Telegram today perform not only an informational function, but also become a platform for political confrontation, a means of uniting people, substantiating ideas and influencing public opinion. In today's society, where information flows play a key role in the distribution of power, Telegram channels are a new center of influence that acts along with or even opposes the official media. At the same time, the peculiarities of the work of such channels — the unknown authors, the lack of editorial control and insufficient verification of information — pose risks to the stability of the information environment and reduce public confidence in the media.

The purpose of the study is to determine what political and sociological features telegram channels in Russia have, acting as an alternative platform for public dialogue.

Research objectives:

1. Analyze telegram channels through the prism of social theories of Jürgen Habermas, Manuel Castells, Henry Jenkins and Bruno Latour, using their key ideas to understand modern media platforms.
2. Explore how telegram channels are used in the political sphere and how they affect the opinions of people in society.
3. Using sociological research, determine how citizens perceive information from telegram channels and what role these channels play in shaping political views.
4. Identify the dual effects of the development of telegram channels: on the one hand, expanding access to information and freedom of expression, on the other — increasing opportunities for information manipulation.

The focus is on the socio-political aspects of the work of telegram channels: how they affect the creation of a new space for public discussions, change the balance of influence in society and transform the ways citizens participate in political life. The main hypothesis of the study is that telegram channels create new ways of public dialogue, making political discussions more accessible to ordinary citizens. However, simultaneously they can contribute to the division of society into isolated groups and increase opportunities for informational influence on public opinion.

The empirical base of the study was compiled by statistical materials and studies of other authors using the Anketolog.ru service and the native advertising platform Telega.in, as well as a sociological survey conducted by the authors on the topic of the study.

The research methodology consisted of content and statistical analysis, theoretical analysis and quantitative sociological method.

The study confirmed the assumption that the channels in Telegram create new forms of public communication. They make political discussions more understandable for ordinary people, but at the same time increase the likelihood of dividing the information space and possible manipulations. The survey revealed that most of the users use this platform every day and consider it an additional source of political news, which is trusted more than ordinary media. However, this trust has its limits: only a small part of the respondents unconditionally believes the published materials, while the majority prefers to check the information received. Telegram channels play a twofold role in modern society. On the positive side, they contribute to more active involvement of citizens in political processes and improve direct communication between people. However, on the negative side, they can increase distrust among the population and destroy the unity of the public information space.

The study suggests that telegram channels create new ways of public communication, making political discussions more accessible to citizens. At the same time, they simultaneously increase the likelihood of dividing society into isolated groups and increase the possibilities for deliberate distortion of information.

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