RESEARCH ON METHODS AND CONSEQUENCES OF MANIPULATION OF CONSCIOUSNESS THROUGH SOCIAL NETWORKS ON STUDENT AGE CITIZENS

DOI: 10.31673/2412-4338.2025.038727

Abstract

The relevance of the study is determined by the growing role of the digital environment as a key channel for shaping public opinion, especially among the youth audience, which constitutes the most active segment of social media and online media users. In the context of hybrid warfare, information competition, and the spread of digital technologies, the intensity of manipulative information influence, carried out through various techniques — from overt disinformation to covert cognitive engineering — has significantly increased. The study conducted a comprehensive analysis of the theoretical and methodological foundations of defining the concept of information manipulation in the digital space. A classification of the main forms and methods of influence has been carried out: fake news, clickbait headlines, visual manipulation, algorithmic promotion of the desired content, creation of the “information capsule” effect (filter bubble), targeted use of bot networks, comment farm groups, and fake accounts. Special attention is paid to psychological factors that contribute to a decrease in critical perception of information: cognitive distortions (confirmation effect, illusory truth effect, accessibility heuristic), the emotional impact of messages, social confirmation, and the authority of sources. The mechanisms of forming trust in information in conditions of content overload, information fatigue, and reduced cognitive processing of new messages were investigated. As part of the empirical part, a sociological study was conducted among students of higher educational institutions in Ukraine. The survey allowed us to determine the level of awareness of young people regarding manipulative techniques, the availability of critical thinking skills, and the ability to identify disinformation. The results showed a high level of trust in information from social networks, limited use of source verification tools, and vulnerability to content with a bright emotional tone. Based on the results of the study, specific recommendations were proposed for the education system: integration of media literacy and digital criticism courses, implementation of training on recognizing manipulative messages, and development of analytical thinking through practical cases. The prospects for interdisciplinary cooperation between specialists in information security, psychology, journalism, and education are outlined to form a sustainable mechanism for countering manipulation in the digital environment. The materials of the work have applied value and can be used at the level of educational programs, scientific developments, and state information policy to increase the information stability of society.

Keywords: information security, social networks, manipulation, emotional influence, media literacy, digital safety, cognitive biases