Experts have revealed the growing vulnerability of Russians to disinformation

In the age of digital technology and instant access to information, Russians face the growing threat of fake news. According to a study by the Dela PR communication agency, 55% of respondents have already encountered unverified data and note that it is becoming increasingly difficult to distinguish it from the truth. The survey data was reviewed on March 25 by Izvestia.

It turned out that 57.5% of Russians trust the official statements of government agencies and companies, 35% rely on scientific publications. However, 30% prefer to rely on their knowledge and intuition. Another third (30%) of Russians noted that the importance of high-quality content is growing in Telegram and expert blogs. At the same time, the credibility of word of mouth remains minimal.

In addition, the level of information verification remains low: only 15% of respondents always check the sources before distributing them. Another 35% do this selectively, and about a quarter (25%) of respondents prefer not to share news at all. This creates conditions for the rapid spread of fakes and their fixation in the information field, which can undermine confidence in verified news.

Despite the stated confidence in the reliability of sources, the audience still faces misinformation. A quarter of the respondents consider politics and geopolitics to be the most vulnerable area. Almost a third of the respondents (32.5%) noted the high risks of fake health messages, about 27.5% pointed to the media, and about a quarter (25%) pointed to the economy. Misinformation can directly affect the safety of citizens and form erroneous behavior in critical situations.

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Nevertheless, 20% of respondents are confident that they are able to recognize lies by their style and presentation. Also, 6% stated that there are practically no fakes in their information field.

"The victims of fakes are not only insecure beginners, but also experienced users and companies. Any false information about a brand can quickly spread through digital channels and cause reputational damage. Over the past year, we have witnessed several similar stories with large companies. In such circumstances, the speed of reaction plays a key role: it is important not to justify oneself after the fact, but to quickly give a clear and reasoned position in order to prevent the consolidation of a false narrative," said Yana Voronina, Director of Development at the Dela PR communications agency.

At the same time, the survey participants clearly understand what is the reason to doubt the reliability of the information. First of all, these are anonymous or newly created sources, as indicated by the majority (57.5%) of respondents. 52.5% are wary of factual errors and logical inconsistencies, and 47.5% lack references to sources. And for a third (35%) of the audience, overly emotional presentation of the material and flashy, sensational headlines are alarming signals.

Based on these criteria, the level of trust in the news is formed, which affects the willingness of the audience to pay for content. For example, 37.5% of respondents consider news to be a public good, so they are not ready to spend money on it. However, 32.5% accept a small fee for reliable information, while 20% prefer a free subscription to trusted sources. Only 7.5% are willing to pay for exclusive investigations.

Separately, the respondents spoke about ways to attract the attention of the audience. 47.5% of Russians consider the use of sensational headlines acceptable, provided that the content of the material is supported by facts, although 17.5% perceive such practice as deception. Even trusted publications run the risk of losing credibility if they don't strike a balance between interesting presentation and authenticity.

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In addition to the ways of presenting the material, the issue of countering fakes is also important for the respondents: 52.5% are in favor of removing false content, and another 20% are in favor of labeling it. Only 2.5% opposed such measures, they considered such measures censorship.

The study shows that the fight against fakes requires not only efforts from the media and platforms, but also a more attentive attitude from users themselves.

On March 22, Deputy Speaker of the State Duma Boris Chernyshov (LDPR) proposed the creation of an institute for the protection of citizens' rights in cooperation with AI technologies. According to him, the new body will be able to receive complaints about decisions related to artificial intelligence, analyze algorithm errors and cases of fake news. The Institute's tasks also include preparing recommendations for the safe implementation of AI in business and government structures.

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