Избегание новостей в России: Масштабы и характерные черты

Вестник Московского университета. Серия 10: Журналистика. 2025. Т. 50. № 1. С. 69–93.

Kazun A. D.

This article explores the phenomenon of news avoidance in Russia during 2023-2024, drawing on data from a survey of 6,007 respondents and 67 interviews. The study reveals that over 20% of Russians consciously limit their news consumption, indicating that a significant portion of the population engages in news avoidance, although it is less widespread than in many other countries. The most commonly avoided topics include politics, international relations, crime, and economics. The primary reasons for avoiding news are its negative impact on mood, an oversaturation of political content, news fatigue, and distrust in the media. Women are more likely than men to cite emotional reasons for avoiding news. That may be connected with gender stereotypes and socialization differences. The strategies for news avoidance are varied, with the most common approaches involving the reduction of the number of used news sources and the time spent on them, or redirecting attention to alternative activities. News consumption regulation predominantly occurs through self-restriction and conscious habit adjustment rather than changing of the information environment. While news avoidance is often intended to preserve mental health, individuals who limit their news intake tend to exhibit higher levels of emotional distress.

Keywords: медиа, новости, медиапотребление, media consumption, news avoidance, избегание новостей, доверие новостям

Publication based on the results of: Consumption and economic behavior of households in Russia, 2025-2027 (2027)