Политика использования социальных сетей в России после Спецоперации в 2022 г.(Social Media Usage Policy in Russia after the Special Military Operation in 2022)

Abstract

This article examines the characteristics of social media usage in Russia, particularly following the special military operation in Ukraine in 2022, a period that marked a significant shift in the country’s information and communication landscape. The study aims to provide an in-depth analysis of how the Russian government regulates, restricts, and controls the use of digital media platforms among its citizens. Special attention is given to the political, security, and ideological considerations that underlie these restrictions, especially in the context of national sovereignty, information warfare, and state security. The primary objective of this research is to identify the key reasons behind limitations on social media usage and access to online information in Russia. It also seeks to analyze the legal framework governing these restrictions, including laws, government decrees, and regulatory policies that justify bans, content moderation, platform blocking, and surveillance of online activities. By examining these normative instruments, the article highlights how legal mechanisms are employed to shape public discourse and manage information flows in times of political tension and conflict. Methodologically, this study adopts the perspective of the social construction of mass media, which views media not merely as neutral channels of communication but as socially and politically constructed institutions influenced by power relations, ideology, and state interests. Through qualitative analysis of policy documents, official statements, and regulatory practices, the research illustrates how state narratives are reinforced through digital media governance. The findings indicate that the Russian government has developed a systematic and institutionalized policy framework to regulate social media and internet access. These policies significantly affect freedom of expression, access to alternative information sources, and patterns of online communication, reshaping the role of social media in Russian society in the post-2022 period.