Online activity of illegal communities in the Telegram messenger: structure and methods of countering the spread of destructive ideas

The work is devoted to the study of the structure of connections of illegal communities in the Telegram messenger within the Russian media space. The research is based on the network graph methodology and methods. Using social graphs allows you to identify nodes and edges in the information hub of prohibited content. The methodology allows us to form ideas about how the prohibited content is distributed: whether this process is centralized or decentralized, chaotic or controlled. The nature of the structure of mutual mentions between Telegram channels determines the extent to which an information bubble is created in thematic illegal resources and a network of influence on the media message and discourse of the national media space. In the context of the study, we are talking about negative illegal political discourse to mobilize users and involve them in the destabilization of the socio-political situation in the Russian Federation. When determining the nature of the dissemination of prohibited information and establishing an understanding of how unfriendly forces influence the media message and the minds of users, the state authorities of the Russian Federation can most effectively counteract digital risks and increase the number of deleted or blocked pieces of content. And, to start working not only with directive forms of countering prohibited information, but also using ways and methods of counter-discursive work.

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