The impact of memes on student youth (Based on sociological research)

Elnara I. Garayeva, Cand. Sc. (Sociology), Associate Professor of the Department of Personnel Management and Sociology, Ural Institute of Management, RANEPA, e-mail: El.garaeva@bk.ru

This article presents the results of a sociological study using a survey method on the influence of memes on students. 516 full-time students from Ekaterinburg universities took part in the survey; their ages ranged from 18 to 24 years. The reasons for the popularity of memes among students are analyzed. The article characterizes the positive and negative consequences of the influence of memes on the younger generation. Young people are currently actively spending time on social media. This article provides a ranking of the preferences of student youth for the use of social media, which are one of the main platforms for exchanging memes. An important topic raised in the article is cyberbullying. Recommendations are given from respondents that will help minimize destructive content and draw attention to the problem of cyberbullying.

Keywords: VKontakte, Telegram, cyberbullying, Internet bullying, Internet meme, popular social media

Acknowledgments. Research has been carried out with financial support of the Russian Science Foundation No. 22-18-20091, https://rscf.ru/project/22-18-20091/ in Pyatigorsk State University.
 

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