The Ratio Commitment to Social Activity on the Internet and Physical Space among Young People

Abstract

Due to large-scale shifts in the development of digital technologies, with the expansion of opportunities and the spread of the Internet environment, activity is increasingly being moved from the physical environment to the Internet environment. In this regard, one of the most important problems is to identify the correlation of activity in the two environments and its reflection in the social identity of young people. The purpose of this study is to analyze the ratio of personal commitment to social activity in the Internet and physical space, taking into account its forms and the depth of ethnic, religious and civic identity. The study involved 199 people aged 17-24 years (M = 20.02; SD = 2.7). Commitment to various forms of social activity in the physical and Internet environment was assessed using scales developed and modified by the authors. Identification with the institution of religion was revealed with the help of specially designed questions about belonging to a confession and the degree of religiosity. Civic identity was determined according to the scale developed by A.N. Tatarko. The certainty of ethnic identity was estimated using the scales by A.N. Tatarko and N.M. Lebedeva. Descriptive statistics methods, correlation and regression analyzes were used for data processing. It was found that commitment to civil, political or friendly activities does not depend on their involvement in a real or virtual environment. Leisure activities are mostly represented in the virtual environment. The certainty and positivity of ethnic identity are associated with pro-social and more acceptable forms of activity for young people, but its uncertainty is associated with protest forms of activity in both environments; civic identity is associated with the most preferred leisure activity in both environments, with volunteer activity and reduced protest activity in the real environment, political activity on the Internet and preference for activity in the Internet space; commitment to religion is associated with corresponding activity and conflicts with the protest, environmental and network ones, which mainly characterize leisure time. Activity in the physical environment is a stronger predictor of civic, ethnic and religious identity than in the Internet environment.