Digital political practices of Russian youth: YouTube top bloggers

Abstract

The relevance of the proposed research is, firstly, based on the complexity of youth as an object of study (indefinite age limits and a high level of youth individualization make it difficult to research the identification of practices). Secondly, how virtualization and mediatization effect new political practices in the digital space, including blogosphere, comparisoning it with continuing real political passivity of the Russian youth. As part of the study, digital political practices are considered as a form of interaction in the blogosphere resulting in the reproduction and transfiguration of political relations by young people, the acquisition of civic identity and the realization of civic agency. The purpose of the study is to identify the repertoire of digital political practices of young people. The focus of this study was youth YouTube-channels that occupy top places in the national rating. The study revealed that the youth environment is a non-politicized vlog segment with the audience from 5 to 14 million subscribers (opposed to 1-5 million for the vlogs, dedicated directly to political personalities and events). It was defined the repertoire of digital political practices of young people according to the analysis of video with Russian YouTube top bloggers. We may state their peripheral and marginal nature with the risk of destructive exposure.