In a previous article we talked about the three (Q Zone, Tieba and Sina Weibo) that you should know about. Now, we want to focus on detailing the history and use of the quintessential Russian social network: VK. Formerly known as VKontakte, or, written in Russian: ВКонтакте, VK has more than ten years of history, and it is in the top 20 of the most visited websites in the world, which makes it the most popular social network in Russia.
Currently, this social network has more than 650 million registered usersand an estimate of 97 million active users per month. This wide range, together with its wide compatibility thanks to its proper interface in 85 different languageshave made it one of the most important websites in Russia.
Precisely this importance has raised for years a particular interest on the part of the Russian government in this growing social network. An interest that has been consummated during this last month of 2021, with the nationalization of VK by the Kremlin.
Russian government takes over VK
Since the beginning of VK, around 2006, the platform has been a point of focus for the Russian government, mainly because of its broad impact. In addition, the constant criticism of its founder, Pavel Durov, also founder of Telegram, it made him a more pressing target for this government renowned for its control over its media. This, to the point that in 2014 Durov ended up selling his shares in the company to Alisher Usmanov, an ally of Putin and also the owner of the Russian technology company. mail.ru.
After this and after different purchase-sale operations through subsidiaries and associated companies, the Russian government managed to take over the company by getting its main economic front, Gazprom gas companycontrolled by the Kremlin government, won 50% of the votes on the VK board. That is, an absolute majority to make decisions within the management of the social network.
Of course, this poses a great benefit to the government of Vladimir Putin, by giving it a new means of controlling the main social network within the country, and allowing it to entrench the fight against others like Facebook, where debates and debates have been openly presented. opposition complaints. Due to the characteristics of VK, it is also proposed as an alternative to YouTube, which has been another point of focus for the government.
What is Vkontakte… and how to sign up for VK
The main definition found of this network is that of a copy of Facebook. Not without reason, since the design and functionality of the so-called ‘Russian Facebook’ it is very similar to that of Zuckeberg’s company.
Visually, it uses the same colors, blue and white (also in its blue logo with white letters), and distributes content in very similar boxes, and just like Mark’s social network, VKontakte has apps on Google Play and the App Store.
Regarding its functions, VKontakte allows share content on a wall and post as in any other social network, being able to add a photo or a file, in addition to allowing you to search in different categories such as friends, communities, messages, photos, video, music and games.
However, one of the features that has most distinguished VK throughout history is that it allows uploading not only the personal photos and videos of its users, but also also music and videos from third parties.
Of course, this act is also prosecuted by law, however, no major measures have been taken against this function, at least so far, so it could also be considered a merger between Facebook and with some Netflixits main focus is to openly share files and videos, and the least is to add friends on its platform.
This has led many to use it both to upload and consume pirated movies, for example.
Another difference between Facebook and VKontakte is that the latter has a much simpler and more intuitive interface, since over time it has opted for simplify its usenot add too many new or complicated features and stick to what is familiar to your users, with whom you have achieved great .
VK, one of the most visited websites in the world
Currently, Vkontakte (which translates as ‘in contact’) is available in multiple languages, both on Android and iOS. In Russia it is the leader and behind it it is in second place. Actually, VK is also a very popular social network in Belarus, Kazakhstan and Ukraine and in the rest of the countries of Eastern Europe.
The majority of Russian users use websites that are not so common in the rest of Europe to browse the Internet, not only in the case of these social networks but also, for example, in their browser. It is the most used search engine in Russia, above Google, and, therefore, has become the most visited website in the country. And to compete with both search engines, the Russian government launched Sputnik in 2014, for which no data can be found.
The evolution of VK is similar to that of the other international social networks, since, for example, in 2016 it incorporated the function of live messaging and the stories. Although the Internet also throws up very unfriendly data on this platform suggesting that it is used to search for women in Russia, since a simple search generates results such as “catalogue of Russian women”.
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