Abstract: This article discusses the conflictogenic potential of spontaneous vigilantism in third spaces. Vigilantism is associated with usurpation of the function of justice by unauthorized persons. Vigilantism can be institutionalized and spontaneous, which is related to disorganized participation of individuals in penalizing the violators of social norms. In the conditions of post-truth, the important role in the formation of vigilant discourse is played by the environments of everyday communication – the so-called third spaces. In the context of third spaces, communication is realized beyond the institutional field, i.e. political parties and social movements. Besides the interpersonal relations, the discussion of crucial social issues also takes place in third spaces, which requires assessment from the perspective of its conflictogenic potential. The novelty of this article is determined by the relevant theoretical aspects – analysis of the phenomenon of post-truth, public sphere, echo chambers and third spaces, as well as the authorial empirical research dedicated to the content of messages in third spaces of the social network Vkontakte. The study of spontaneous vigilantism employs the range of posts from the online community “Overheard” in 15 megacities for the past two years. The quantitative and qualitative content analysis revealed the key topics with a vigilant problematic, which were assessed through the prism of conflictogenic potential. The conclusions is made on the contradictory nature of spontaneous vigilantism in the Russian third spaces.

Abstract: A trend away from the traditional media and fall of the era of television augments power of the Internet as a factor of sociopolitical communication. The subject of this article is the selective moderation in the ideologized and institutional virtual communities of the social network “Vkontakte”. Special attention is given to the question of which of the two ideal types – “public sphere” or “echo-chamber” communication in the Russian social networks suits the most. The object of this study is the virtual public sphere. The authors examine such aspects as the conceptualization of public sphere, categories of counter-public spheres, echo-chambers and “safe spots”. The field experiment carried out in 115 virtual communities became the main method for this research. Supplementary became the methods of observation, discourse analysis and network, which allowed conducting classification of the selected resources. The scientific novelty consists in the description of specificity of moderation of virtual communities in accordance with the criteria of prevalent ideological discourse. The conclusion is made that the communication platform of the politicized communities in the social network “Vkontakte” is being moderated; however, in majority of case, such moderation does not imply total exclusion of the critically-oriented users from the discussion. At the same time, the selectiveness of moderation is evident, since blocking of critics is more noticeable than blocking of adepts of the communities.

Abstract: Information society is an important factor that affects the transformation of political values and orientations. In terms of the convergence of classical ideologies and emergence of the new ideological directions, gains relevance the problem of ideological identification. Thus, the object of this research is the ideological identification of the Internet users. The subject of this research is the ideological predisposition of the residents of Saint Petersburg towards using the online information political resources. The authors focus on examination of the socio-demographic aspects of the problem of digital inequality, analysis of the factors of ideological segregation of media resources, study of the specificity of network political orientations of the users. Particular attention is given to the question of correlation of the political orientations with the claimed ideology. The scientific novelty lies in comprehensive analysis of the ideological orientations of Internet users in accordance with the models of identification of the political ideologies. The main conclusion consists in determination of the ideological groups that to a greater or lesser degree are prone to use the Internet and distinguish the values characteristic co the cyberculture.

Abstract: This article is dedicated to analysis of the structure of virtual elite within the realm of the Russian-language Web 2.0 resources. The author analyzed the six trendy Internet resources (Vkontakte, Facebook, Live journal, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube) for determining the specificity of groups that enjoy most popularity among the audience of these online platforms, as well as the dynamic aspects of emergence of the virtual elites in the context of evolution of the Internet technologies. An attempt is made to highlight the groups that most efficiently derive the social capital from the production of online content. The subject of the research is the structure of virtual elite of the Web 2.0 resources; while the object is the phenomenon of Web 2.0 as a technology that manifests as the factor of social stratification in the Internet. The author meticulously review the topics of personalization of the narrative of virtual elites and feminization of the Web 2.0 resource. The study leans on the complex of methods, including comparative, network, classical textual, and content analysis alongside the analysis of virtual images and methods of statistical processing of information. Among the main conclusions are: determination of the structure of virtual elite of the Web 2.0 resources in accordance with certain parameters; detection of the dynamics of transformation of the structure of elites; emphasis of qualitative  changes in the structure of virtual elite. The authors demonstrate the discrepancy of feminization of the virtual elite, as well as turn attention to the vector of personalization of narrative of the virtual elite representatives.

Abstract: This article is focused on evolution of the phenomenon of virtual elite. The successful span of stratification within the network community is possible through the analysis of the structure of Internet community using the methods of network analysis. However, constant changes in the network structure alongside the evolution of factors determining the development of network, require the preliminary detection of its dynamics on the theoretical level. The subject of this research is the dynamics of conceptualization of the phenomenon of virtual elite, while the object is the phenomenon of stratification in the virtual world. The author provide a detailed analysis of the most important concepts and theories of the Internet elites, based on which the notion of the contemporary virtual elite of the Web 2.0. is being conceptualized. Special attention is given to the specificity of network community, virtual reality, and technologies Web 2.0. as the factors affecting the dominance of separate groups in the Internet. The work is dedicated to conceptualization of the category “virtual elite”, and therefore, methodologically leans on the theories of technocracy, meritocracy, netocracy, classification of network culture of M. Castells, concept of virtual reality, and concept of creative class of R. Florida. The scientific novelty consists in the comprehensive examination of dynamics of the phenomenon of virtual elite and theoretical concepts, which at different staged of Internet development, revealed the specificity of network stratification. In conclusion, the authors determine the modern structure of the Internet-strata, factors that define this structure, as well as highlight the main characteristics of the contemporary virtual elite.