COZY WEB AS A NEW TREND IN SOCIAL MEDIA USE BY YOUNG PEOPLE
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Abstract
This article examines the phenomenon of the «cozy web» – private digital spaces that are gradually becoming an alternative to public social media. The results of a survey on the use of online communities by young Belarusians (n = 227) were obtained. It was found that the majority of respondents are involved in closed groups, preferring platforms with a controlled audience, with instant messaging apps leading the way. The main advantages of closed groups for respondents are security, access to relevant information, and depth of communication; the disadvantages are a violation of confidentiality and interpersonal conflicts. It was found that when experiencing emotionally significant events, young people opt for direct interpersonal contact, effectively disregarding digital platforms, even their preferred closed groups, as a means of coping with stress. A conclusion is drawn about the persistent nature of the cozy web as a form of sociocultural adaptation to the conditions of hyperpublicity and information overload. A hypothetical three-level model of the communicative ecology of a young social media user is proposed: personal communication for confidential exchange, closed groups for coordinating current activities and confidential discussions, and public networks for passive content consumption.
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References
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