The mechanisms of sociopolitical mobilization of youth on the example of Russian, Belarusian and Chinese Telegram channels

Abstract

The subject of this research is the online and offline mechanisms of sociopolitical mobilization of youth, namely digital grouping and formation of digital communities, as well as the opposition-mobilization model of information distribution developed by E. V. Brodovskaya and A. Y. Dombrovskaya. This model was tested on the open statistical databases provided by “Telegram Analytics” and “Google Trends”, which revealed the key patterns and differences in the protest events that unfolded in Moscow (July 14 – September 29, 2019), Minsk (August 9 – November 19, 2020), and Hong Kong (June 12, 2019 – July 1, 2020). The novelty of this research lies in the following: 1) application of the model of information distribution developed by E. V. Brodovskaya and A. Y. Dombrovskaya to the data array obtained by the author from the statistical database of “Telegram Analytics” and “Google Trends” regarding the protest events in Moscow, Minsk, and Hong Kong; compilation of weekly charts of the activity of protest Telegram channels and building histograms based on them, with visualization of their peak mentioning in other Telegram channels during the indicated periods. The author formulates recommendations on how to avoid the escalation of conflict during protest actions, taking into account mobilization mechanisms on the basis of Telegram channels.