The Role of Online Media in Shaping Public Opinion about the Prospects for Peace and Military Conflict

Abstract

The aim of the article is to find out the connection between online media and the manifestations of the components of public opinion about the military conflict and the prospects for peace. The study uses methods such as content analysis, scaling, and correlation analysis. In the study, the hypothesis of the connection between online media content and societal changes in public opinion in Ukraine during the war was confirmed. It was determined that society’s confidence in victory was significantly related to changes in online media’s information field. The attitude towards the Armed Forces of Ukraine correlates only with the perception of news about military operations. The disposition towards the Ukrainian governing bodies is not contingent upon the interpretation of digital media content. The desire to continue the fight correlates with the war awareness level and reporting on domestic politics in digital media. The idea of future peace in public opinion is closely related to the idea of justice and victory broadcast in online media. © 2024, Pakistan Society of Criminology. All rights reserved.