"If a person truly wants something, they will find a way": volunteers of the National Centre RUSSIA met with blogger Maxim Anufriyev
Information awareness and protection against online manipulation were the focus of a meeting between volunteers and the well-known blogger and author of the socio-political channel "Max's View", Maxim Anufriyev. During the meeting, participants discussed how to remain a mindful user in an age of information overload, how to recognise manipulative content and fake news, and how to build a safe and responsible digital environment. After the meeting, he visited the new journey-style exposition "Book of Fairy Tales" at the National Centre RUSSIA.
Maxim Anufriyev is an example of strength of spirit and the boundless potential of human capability. He was diagnosed with type II spinal muscular atrophy in childhood. At the age of 25, he can sit only with support and speak, yet he works actively and creates content by controlling a computer with his eyes.
In his work, the blogger explains how to communicate information to an audience in a clear and engaging way while remaining honest and avoiding manipulation. "First and foremost, I see myself as an information professional. My task is to tell people the truth, convey meaning, and protect my audience from information noise, which is now everywhere. I have a rule of three questions: what am I writing, why am I writing it, and who am I writing it for," he said.
According to him, honest answers to these questions help in preparing high-quality content. Moreover, readers can ask themselves the same questions in order to navigate the vast flow of information.
The meeting also addressed the importance of information detox and discussed the pros and cons of completely withdrawing from social media. The audience was impressed by Maxim Anufriyev's creative activity: he runs several blogs and is involved in music. One of his key achievements is an online resource for people with disabilities. It brings together communication software, ranging from a text-to-Braille converter to applications that allow cursor control through eye movement.
"The meeting with Maxim was very pleasant. We, the volunteers of the National Centre RUSSIA together with the staff, welcomed him very warmly and tried to support him throughout the dialogue. Many of us became interested in his musical work, and the topic of the meeting turned out to be extremely relevant, especially today," said volunteer of the National Centre RUSSIA Lyudmila Tsingova.
One of the key topics of the meeting was the fight against fake news. Such content is not only harmful but can also be dangerous. Maxim Anufriyev named the main signs of fake information online, including emotional language and the absence of references to official sources. He then played a game with the audience focused on identifying real and false news items, and the group quickly managed to detect the fake stories together.
"Maxim is an amazing person who inspired me deeply. Meeting him allowed me to look at the world from a different perspective. Such a friendly and sincere dialogue prompted deep and even philosophical reflections about my abilities and life in general," said Yekaterina Sokolova, manager of the volunteer programme at the National Centre RUSSIA.
After meeting with the volunteers, Maxim Anufriyev visited the exposition "Book of Fairy Tales". The exposition turns to folk art as a special cultural language that helps tell engaging stories about the regions of the country. It allows both children and adults to take a fresh look at favourite fairy-tale characters, learn more about the legends of the peoples of Russia, and, most importantly, feel inspired and filled with faith in New Year miracles.
"Every time I come to the National Centre RUSSIA, I know I will be amazed. I really liked the exposition "Book of Fairy Tales", and I am genuinely impressed. Everyone should see this. Telling the story of the regions through the lens of magic is a great idea. You are doing a great job," Maxim Anufriyev shared with the press service of the National Centre.
The blogger had previously visited the National Centre RUSSIA in April, when he met with volunteers and visited the exposition "Journey Across Russia". He noted how vividly and accessibly the exposition shows the richness of Russian regions and inspires real trips around the country.
Guided tours of the exposition are free of charge. To attend, visitors need to register on the website Russia.ru in the "Events" section.
Event photobank
The ceremonial event marked the completion of large-scale work to open the Yugra branch of the National Centre RUSSIA.
The event was held on 24 December as part of the project " Platform of the Future: Region-2030. 100 Steps".
The Ryazan Region Days at the National Centre RUSSIA are being held from 23 to 28 December.
