The purpose of this study was to examine the use and perception of social network sites (SNSs) in Russia by young adults. This type of social media is extremely popular nowadays. The social networking audience in Russia had the highest engagement among other countries in 2009 and 2010. SNSs in Russia are experiencing an astonishing growth nowadays which is an important indicator of the development of a network society, or information society in the country. This research was carried out with the help of qualitative methods including 14 personal interviews with open-ended questions among young adult users of the Russian SNSs, aged 22-28, who obtained a degree in or are students in higher institutions. The interviews were conducted in Russian, transcribed, and finally their descriptive summaries were translated into English. It was discovered that the patterns of use of SNSs by respondents have changed over time in regard to time and attitude. Face-to-face communication was found to be affected by communication on SNSs. Respondents were aware of privacy issues and addiction to SNSs but indicated a low concern for these issues. It was discovered as well that Russian SNSs provide new uses and gratifications for those that use them due to some special services and features and they way in which users employ them. SNSs in Russia have been integrated to a great extent into daily lives of users as they imply various benefits for users and can be utilized for both personal and business purposes. Further detailed research can be conducted for each sphere of these findings, such as problems of privacy and addiction, connection of privacy issues and changes in perception of SNSs, various uses of SNSs including innovative ones such as opportunities of learning and self-education on SNSs.
Asiasanat:social media, social network sites, information society, network society, use, perception, young adults
