UDC: 008
https://doi.org/10.25198/2077-7175-2026-2-127


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DIGITAL MYTHOLOGY IN THE SPACE OF DIGITAL SOCIETY

S. I. Platonova
Udmurt State Agricultural University, Izhevsk, Russia
e-mail: platon-s@bk.ru

Abstract. Mythological narratives offering different versions of digitalization thus capture the complexity of digital processes. This makes a theoretical analysis of the main mythological vectors of digital society relevant. The purpose of this article is to explore the nature, causes, and purposes of the formation and functioning of digital myths in modern society. The research methodology is based on an interdisciplinary and systemic approach. The theoretical and methodological basis of this article is formed by constructivist structuralism (P. Bourdieu), the theories of «surveillance capitalism» and «knowledge society» (Sh. Zuboff, N. Stehr), and the concept of data-centric science (J. Gray). In Russian and Western discourses, the characteristics of the mythologization of digital society have been explored by A.A. Lisenkova, G.L. Tulchinsky, S.A. Kravchenko, M. Osserwaarde, and others. It is shown that, alongside the critical discourse of digitalization, there is a technocratic discourse, accompanied by the fetishization and mythologization of digital processes. The mythologization of digital processes is analyzed based on ideas about digital inequality and ways to overcome it. It is substantiated that the solution to the problem of digital inequality lies not so much in the development of digitalization, digital literacy and digital education, but in resolving the contradiction between the concentration of digital resources by large platform companies and government agencies and the lack of such resources among ordinary users. It is shown that the mythologization of data-centric science leads to an underestimation of the importance of theoretical models, hypotheses, and deductive schemes. There is a debate about the thesis of forming a digital society as a knowledge society, a society of equal opportunities. The reasons for the mythologization of digital technologies have been identified: in the mythological discourse of the digital society, owners of large digital companies and media corporations, ordinary users, scientists participate. The scientific novelty of the article lies in the fact that the analysis of the mythological vectors of digital society allows us to identify their positive and negative characteristics. The theoretical and practical significance of the article lies in substantiating the possibility of studying the main mythological trends of digital society as a stable social phenomenon possessing the characteristics of ambivalence, dynamism, subjectivity, and universality. The obtained results demonstrate the need for a systemic, interdisciplinary analysis of digitalization and social and humanitarian expertise of political decisions.

Key words: digitalization, digital mythology, digital inequality, data-centric science, knowledge society.

Cite as: Platonova, S. I. (2026) [Digital mythology in the space of digital society]. Intellekt. Innovacii. Investicii [Intellect. Innovations. Investments]. Vol. 2, pp. 127–136. – https://doi.org/10.25198/2077-7175-2026-2-127.


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