Improving the Psychological Resistance of Young People to Manipulative Influence on the Internet

Abstract

Increasing psychological resistance to manipulative influence and preventing the involvement of minors in illegal activities with the help of information and communication technologies (ICTs) are important tasks of the State. The article analyzes some psychological mechanisms that contribute to manipulation on the Internet, including the effects of normative influence, conformity, perceived interpersonal similarity, cascades of available information, emotional contagion, hemophilicity, false memories, and multiple sources. The authors analyze the main strategies for promoting false and misleading information: artificial polarization, managing false accounts on behalf of public opinion leaders, creating emotional messages, using conspiracy theories, trolling aimed at provoking harassment of users on the network, defaming and delegitimizing opponents.
 Attention is also drawn to ways to counteract destructive information and psychological impact, which include not only ways to improve the legislative apparatus and the use of software and technical solutions, but also to increase the level of psychological stability of citizens, conducting preventive and preventive measures aimed at forming ideas about information threats, their types, methods of identification and protection, group norms and values. The author points out the need to develop and implement special psychological trainings and games created in the form of computer programs, mobile applications and online simulators in the socio-cultural and educational environment.