March 22, 2021. The following information describes the findings of a survey about the Russian perceptions of the Internet and possible restrictions.
What is the Internet, and what kind of information is spread online?
Russians view the Internet as an uncontrolled information space where you can encounter different types of information, including unreliable information (57%; +30 p.p. since 2006). One-third of Russians believe that the Internet is likely a powerful resource of reliable and up-to-date information (34%); this opinion is popular among those living in large cities (44%-46% in metropolitan areas and million-plus cities).
As seven years ago, every second Russian (54%; +1 p.p. since 2013) believes that the growth of the Internet uniting the whole world is beneficial to our society. This stance is expressed by persons with higher and incomplete higher education diplomas (62%). Thirty-two percent of Russians point out that the Internet harms the society.
As to negative opinions about the Internet, one-third of respondents (35%) agree that the Internet threatens family values (+7 p.p. since 2014); the majority disagrees with that (60%). Only 27% consider that the Internet poses a demographic threat; 62% disagree with that (62%). Thirty-five percent of Russians think that the Internet can threaten stability in the country (+10 p.p. since 2014); 56% disagree with that. Fifty percent of respondents consider that foreign countries use the Internet against Russia (41% in 2014); 31% oppose them. Forty-six percent of Russians are confident that the Internet increases the suicide rate; they are opposed by 43%.
Children online
Thirty-five percent of the Russian families have children under 12 who use the Internet at home (+9 p.p. since 2012.). An overwhelming majority of parents take action to protect their children from danger coming from the Internet (81%). The most popular measure is “parental control” from the Internet service provider or parental control software (41%, +28 p.p.). One-third of Russians stay with their child while the child is surfing the Internet (31%). Many respondents install pop-ups blocking tools (17%), use certain browser settings (17%) or install an antivirus program (16%).
Russian nationwide VCIOM-Sputnik survey was conducted on March 7, 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.
Please choose a statement about the Internet that best suits your point of view | ||
| 2006 | 2021 |
The Internet is the most powerful resource to get up-to-date and reliable information | 44 | 34 |
The Internet is uncontrolled information space full of unreliable and even harmful information | 27 | 57 |
Don’t know | 29 | 9 |
Please choose a statement about the Internet that best suits your point of view | |||||||
| Total respondents | Moscow and St Petersburg | Million-plus cities | 500-950 thousand inhabitants | 100-500 thousand | Less than 100 thousand | Rural area |
The Internet is the most powerful resource to get up-to-date and reliable information | 34 | 44 | 46 | 26 | 34 | 33 | 25 |
The Internet is uncontrolled information space full of unreliable and even harmful information | 57 | 45 | 48 | 65 | 59 | 57 | 64 |
Don’t know | 9 | 11 | 6 | 9 | 7 | 10 | 11 |
In your opinion, is the growth of the Internet, information space uniting the whole world, beneficial or harmful to our society? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | ||
| 2013 | 2021 |
Rather beneficial | 53 | 54 |
Rather harmful | 24 | 32 |
Don’t know | 23 | 14 |
In your opinion, is the growth of the Internet, information space uniting the whole world, beneficial or harmful to our society? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | |||||
| Total respondents | Incomplete secondary | secondary | Secondary special | Incomplete higher, higher |
Rather beneficial | 54 | 35 | 49 | 47 | 62 |
Rather harmful | 32 | 48 | 37 | 35 | 27 |
Don’t know | 14 | 17 | 14 | 18 | 11 |
To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements? | ||||||
| Completely disagree | Likely to disagree | Likely to agree | Completely agree | Don’t know | |
The Internet is a threat to family values | 2014 | 17 | 35 | 22 | 6 | 20 |
2021 | 24 | 36 | 20 | 15 | 5 | |
The Internet is a threat to the demographic situation in Russia | 2014 | 19 | 38 | 17 | 4 | 22 |
2021 | 26 | 36 | 15 | 12 | 11 | |
The Internet is a threat to political stability in Russia | 2014 | 15 | 35 | 20 | 5 | 25 |
2021 | 21 | 35 | 22 | 13 | 9 | |
The Internet is used by foreign countries against Russia | 2014 | 10 | 21 | 30 | 11 | 28 |
2021 | 19 | 22 | 24 | 26 | 9 | |
The Internet considerably increases the suicide rate | 2014 | 10 | 23 | 25 | 8 | 34 |
2021 | 15 | 28 | 26 | 20 | 11 | |
Are there children under twelve using the Internet at home in your family? (closed-ended question, one answer, % of total respondents) | ||
| 2012 | 2021 |
Yes | 26 | 35 |
No | 73 | 65 |
Refusal to answer | 1 | 0 |
Do you take any action to protect children from such information on the Internet? If so, what kind of measures? (closed-ended question, several answers, % of those who have children under 12 using the Internet at home; open-ended question, any number of answers) | ||
| 2012 | 2021 |
Parental control program (software by the Internet service provider) | 13 | 41 |
I stay with my child in front of the computer while he/she is surfing the Internet | 33 | 31 |
Pop-up windows blocking tools | 20 | 17 |
Brower settings | 8 | 17 |
Anti-virus programs | 21 | 16 |
Restricting the access to the Internet* | - | 8 |
Talking to children about it * | - | 2 |
I look through the Internet search history* | - | 2 |
Other | 9 | 2 |
No measures | 23 | 15 |
Don’t know | 0 | 4 |
*These response options were proposed by respondents themselves and not chosen from the list.