Putin orders investigation into online influencers

VLADIMIR PUTIN has ordered an investigation into the online content influencing Russian young people, as large numbers turn away from traditional Kremlin propaganda.

The Russian president called for research into “behavioural patterns of youth on the Russian internet in order to increase the level of awareness of Russian government bodies” in a statement on the Kremlin’s official website.

Mr Putin, 67, also announced the creation of a non-profit organisation to produce “content aimed at the spiritual and moral education of youth and its distribution on the internet”.

The order forms part of a broad agenda aimed at strengthening government interventions in Russian life.

With public discontent growing, the state is actively searching for new means of influence. Teenagers and young adults have proven particularly elusive for the Kremlin.

Earlier this month, the government raised the Federal Youth Affairs Agency’s annual budget from 7.7billion to 11.9 billion roubles (from about £93.6million to £144.7million).

Young people have dominated protest actions in recent years, and have subverted massively state-funded media efforts by finding and establishing alternate online information channels. In a bid to win over the young, the Kremlin previously formed pro-putin youth groups such as Nashi and has since created the Youth Army.

But recent efforts to create influential content have fallen flat. Last month, the Moscow city government attempted to quell protest sympathy by hiring rapper Timati to record a music video, Moscow. It became Youtube’s most-disliked video of all time.