INTERNET AS A MEANS OF SOCIAL REALITY REPRESENTATIONS FORMATION
The article is devoted to studying the influence of such phenomenon as the Internet on formation of representations about social reality. At the beginning of the article, the concept of social reality in general is considered. The analysis of approaches is based on the definition offered by A. Schutz, as one of the phenomenology founders, because the concept of «social reality» has been first applied in the phenomenology. Having considered A. Schutz's approach, as well as current ideas of Russian researchers on this topic, the author has offered his own definition of social reality. After defining such important characteristic of social reality as subjectivity, a role of mass media in formation of representations about social reality has been considered. The conclusion has been made, that media are one of the basic actors of designing of such representations. Further, in the article the sociological research results have shown that the Internet is the most popular media in the audience from 15 till 50 years old. The research has also revealed the tendency that the position of the Internet improves, and position of the TV goes down as the audience becomes younger. That has allowed to make a conclusion, that the leading positions of the Internet will become stronger as there will be a process of alternation of generations. The author makes a conclusion, that already now (and especially in near-term prospect) the information from the Internet makes considerable impact on representation of individuals about social reality.