VIRTUALIZATION OF THE SOCIAL REALITY OF YOUTH

The relevance of this study is determined by the increasing pace of virtualization of modern society. The "new reality" dictates its own rules, social networks, like the Internet, become an integral part of life and significantly change the existing social reality, generating new contradictions and restrictions. This publication analyzes statistics and trends in Internet usage both abroad and in Russia. The results of various studies on the behavior of young people on the Internet, the impact of virtualization on the younger generation are considered. Part of the results of the study of youth in the Republic of Bashkortostan aged 14-35 years, conducted in 2021, is also presented. The sample size was 2000 people, the methodology included both an apartment survey of respondents and an online survey using Google Forms. The study allowed us to draw the following conclusions: a rating of popular social networks among the youth of the republic was compiled; it was revealed that the use of social networks to a certain extent brings additional social burden into the lives of young people; differences in behavior trends in the Internet environment of generations Y and Z were identified; values and priorities of representatives of generations Y and Z.