Radiy Khabirov: “State is the main creator of meanings on the Internet”

UFA, 14 June 2019. /Bashinform News Agency, Rushana Ibraeva/ translated by Tatiana Aksyutina/.

In Ufa, the digital revolution is being discussed at the “Digital in Kurultay” Conference. Leaders of digital media and those who determine the information agenda in the country have arrived in the capital of Bashkiria.

The Acting Head of the republic also spoke to the audience and shared his opinion on the role of the Internet in everyday life. Radiy Khabirov admitted that treated social media, as one of the many useful tools. For example, Ufa residents were outraged that the road to the airport was closed before the weekend, which caused a massive traffic jam. It was heard by the authorities, and the repair schedule was adjusted.

“The state has a partner represented by social media and those who form meanings on them,” said Radiy Khabirov. “It is a criterion of the correctness and wrongness of our activity there”.

The head of the republic believes that meanings are now formed on the Internet, and newspapers are losing momentum.

“I see two groups of those who read newspapers — the elderly in the districts who read the local press, and those who read on board of the plane as there is no Internet there.”

At the same time, Radiy Khabirov is sure that the state remains the main generator of meanings on the Internet, and it has no equal players. He was supported by the founder of MediaMetrics, German Klimenko, who claims that there is a time of professionals on the Internet, and ultimately the audience turns to those who make content professionally. Moreover, talented creative bloggers often begin to cooperate with the state because it is the state structures that have the most significant opportunities, including financial ones. The task of the state is to fulfill its functions, no matter what.

At the same time, Radiy Khabirov supported those who express their opinions on the Internet. He said that ancient people in the Shulgan-Tash cave made a rock drawing with three mammoths going one way and the fourth one going the other: “They call him a mammoth dissident. They are also needed. Someone must express an alternative opinion. "

According to Valery Fedorov, Director General of VCIOM, 18% of the Russian population do not appear on the Internet at all, 62% are online every day. The most active users of the network are people under the age of 24 - 84%; those who are 30-45 years old constitute 35%.