Digital technologies have become an integral part of modern society, significantly changing our daily life. However, alongside numerous benefits, they also bring a range of negative social consequences, from economic inequality and cybercrime to privacy violations and online violence. A particular threat, especially during wartime, is misinformation. The Internet has become the main source of information for many people. But fake news and propaganda can manipulate public opinion, causing social tension and political instability. Moreover, social media algorithms often create so-called information bubbles, where users only see news and opinions that align with their interests. This leads to the polarization of society and the reduction of critical thinking. The lecture addresses the extent to which these threatening phenomena are widespread in Ukraine and the world, how they are being countered, and what effective countermeasures exist.
About the speaker:
Viktoriia Bolotova is Associate Professor at the Applied Sociology and Social Communications Department, V.N. Karazin Kharkiv National University. She holds a PhD in Sociology. She is the coordinator and analyst of sociological researches in social communications, and an expert of The National Agency for Higher Education Quality Assurance (Sociology).