Scientific article
Published:
Meaning-Making in Times of Trouble: COVID-19 Conspiracies on Russian Telegram
Written by
Ilya Yablokov
Lecturer in Digital Journalism and Disinformation, University of Sheffield
Natalia Moen-Larsen
Senior Research Fellow
Helge Blakkisrud
Senior Research Fellow (part time)
Ed.
Summary:
Many Russians harbor distrust toward government institutions and official information. Amid the uncertainties of the COVID-19 pandemic, they turned to social media for advice. This article analyzes how the Russian-language Telegram channel “COVID Resistance” contributed to the process of making sense of the situation. Based on a close reading of selected posts, we reconstruct four conspiratorial narratives promoted by this channel: “toxic vaccines,” “fascistoid restrictions,” “coronavirus as a hoax,” and “besieged nation.” We find that these narratives, despite often contradicting each other, served as a form of meaning-making, offering explanations that helped ordinary people navigate the crisis.
- Published year: 2025
- Full version: https://doi.org/10.1080/10758216.2025.2591711
- Publisher: Routedge
- Page count: 12
- Language: English
- Pages: 1 - 12
- Journal: Problems of Post-Communism
Written by
Ilya Yablokov
Lecturer in Digital Journalism and Disinformation, University of Sheffield
Natalia Moen-Larsen
Senior Research Fellow
Helge Blakkisrud
Senior Research Fellow (part time)