INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CULTURAL RESEARCH

Examines the impact of Internet technologies and virtual culture of the real cultural practices of different social groups. Analyzes the main positions that have emerged in the evaluation of the significance of the World Wide Web. Outlines key social characteristics of the adopters of new communication strategies. Defines the role and place of Internet technologies in today's informational, social, entertainment, communication spheres.

Сonsidered the chronological stages of development of the Internet (both in terms of technological change, and from the perspective of social expectations). Compared predicted and actual impact of the World Network on the different spheres of individual and social life (self-expression, self-actualization, politics, economics, entertainment, culture, communication, etc.). Marked national character of Russian specificity of cultural changes and their relationship with modern technology: perhaps because of the chronological coincidence of the political changes, which had taken place in the end of the twentieth century, with the penetration and development of the World Wide Web in our country, the influence of Internet technology is more widespread than it really is.