(Source: http://grustniy-kot.livejournal.com/52042.html)

According to the “Public Opinion” Foundation (POF), only 48% of Russians know who the bloggers are. Besides, only 18% of respondents heard of the law, according to which the requirements applied to the blogs with a daily attendance of more than 3 thousand were the same as to the mass media. In any case, half of them give the positive estimation of the law. Sociologists stress it that the citizens perceive bloggers as irresponsible, but influential people.

As POF found, the word “blogger” is familiar to 48% of all citizens, and the rest (47%) had never heard of it (5% were undecided). The fact that the law, according to which the requirements applied to the blogs with a daily attendance of more than 3 thousand were the same as to the mass media, was introduced on 1 August was familiar only to 18% citizens. This law is known only to 30% of the Internet audience (48% of Russians, according to the Public Opinion Foundation), among them the users of Twitter and Facebook - 42% and 44%, respectively.

Among those who know about the law on bloggers 9% treat them positively, 4% - do not care 3% - treat them negativey. Among Facebook users 15% support the law, 13% refer to it as neutral, and 11% - in the negative.

Among those who use Twitter, 17% approved the new law on bloggers, 8% were indifferent, and 13% opposed it. 14% of Russians believe that the bloggers bring harm and do good in equal proportions, 9% estimate their activities as neutral, 7% believe that bloggers all in all do more good, and 5% think that they do more harm.

Another 12% were undecided, and 52% of Russians did not respond at all, because the word “blogger” was unfamiliar to them. The Head of the “Public Expertise” Foundation, the ex-secretary of the Union of Journalists Igor Yakovenko believes that the activity of bloggers is on the periphery of public consciousness.

In addition, according to him, the “patriotic” trend for tightening of legislation dominates in the minds of citizens. “A monstrous mass of legislative initiatives of the State Duma deputies destroys any interest of citizens to the law” - Mr. Yakovenko added.

The Internet expert, blogger Anton Nosik believes that “the sample considered to be representative by the Russian sociologists is not suitable for the measurement of online audience and their opinions”. “People think that “blogger” is a separate profession” the president of the Association of Internet Media Ivan Zasurskiy said. “They do not understand that their own social network account can also be considered a blog and they also theoretically fall under the law of bloggers”. The poll was conducted by POF from August 9-10 among 1,500 respondents f 43 constituent units.