The influence of the mass media on youth socialization in modern society: The case of Russia

The role of the mass media in shaping of youth socialization cannot be underestimated. The mass media reach large numbers of the public via radio, television, newspapers and the Internet. One of the most popular forms of media among the Russian youth is television due to lots of extraordinary ideas and themes on youth telecasts. Moreover television is free of charge and available to anyone. People with higher education prefer newspapers and magazines, as they think that the government prints won’t give inadequate information. Besides reading requires more intellectual efforts and abilities in analysis. Elderly people rely on facts given over the wireless, because in the times of communism news given over the radio was considered to be the honest truth.

Spiritual development of the society is strongly linked to the moral control of telecasts' contents. 80 percent of respondents supported this concept, 59 percent of youth think that the Russian mass media don’t promote citizenship and patriotism.

Nowadays e-books and webzines supplant printed editions. Electronic editions are getting more popular especially among youth. The Internet changes mode of life and turns into the main source of information. It is not merely a global data communications system but also a new form of social interaction including social networking websites.

Though the majority of youth reject the idea of strong influence of the mass media on their life, psychological investigations found play an important role of the mass media in shaping youth’s mentality and world outlook.  

The results show that events of twenty years’ standing led to lack of more or less clear system of values, norms, orientations, cultural wealth of young people in modern society. They have obvious clash of opinions in their minds.Therefore, one of the principle measures to be taken is to shape a system of education in Russia.