Upbringing and traditional values in the digital age discussed at the "Inventing the Future" Symposium
On November 5, as part of the International Symposium "Inventing the Future" at the National Centre RUSSIA, events focused on the theme of family and relationships of the future were held. During the session "What Comes After Generation Alpha" and the open discussion "The Future of Family: Involvement, Responsibility, Traditions," experts discussed upbringing and traditional values in the digital age.
Technological development affects all areas of people's lives, including their values, views, psyche, and behavior. The influence of the digital age on the lives of the new generation of children, as well as how to build a strategy for harmonious upbringing, was discussed in the session "What Comes After Generation Alpha."
Experts noted that one of the most significant differences between new generations and previous ones is the unlimited volume of accessible information. According to science fiction writer Sergei Lukyanenko, the ease of obtaining knowledge may lead future generations to be less interested in personal development.
Olga Gaevskaya, Head of the Career Development and Alumni Relations Department at the NRU HSE, emphasized that an excess of information should not be seen as a negative factor. In her opinion, the speed of brain activity and even "clip thinking" help to quickly extract important information from a large volume of data.
In addition to changes in information perception, there are differences in values that researchers from many countries, including the UAE, are currently studying.
"We must pay attention to the new approach to information consumption. An excess of knowledge and news has led to the digital generation being disconnected from the postulates that were widely spread before. We need to study the entire system of values that exists in the world, as the current generation has the opportunity to communicate with people in virtual reality," emphasized Aisha Juma Al-Shamsi, Head of the Arabic Language and Literature Department at Mohamed Bin Zayed University in the UAE.
Differences in values, including positive ones, were also noted by Elena Omelchenko, Professor and Head of the Sociology Department, Director of the Youth Research Centre at the St. Petersburg branch of NRU HSE. In her opinion, the formation of the current generation in an era of instability will lead to today's children being even more oriented toward family and friendship. Furthermore, as Omelchenko explained, their characteristic traits will include a strong sense of justice and tolerance for any, including cultural, differences.
The session "What Comes After Generation Alpha" also featured Sergei Zhurikhin, Vice Rector of the Moscow Government University; Stepan Lvov, Director for Strategic Development at VCIOM; Evgeny Shamis, founder of the "RuGenerations – Russian School of Generational Theory" research centre and author of a trilogy on generations; Antonina Selezneva, Director of Educational Activities at EISR, Doctor of Political Science, Associate Professor at the Department of Sociology and Psychology of Politics at Lomonosov Moscow State University; and Mariam Alkalbani, Head of the Scientific Research Support Department at Mohamed bin Zayed University. The discussion was moderated by journalist Nikita Pimenov, host of the "Good Morning" program on Channel One.
The participants of the open discussion "The Future of Family: Involvement, Responsibility, Traditions" explored the impact of digital technologies and the transformations happening in the world not only on future generations but also on the image and structure of the family.
As Sergei Pereslegin, scientific supervisor of the Sociosoft project, Director of the Knowledge Management Centre at the IRIAS, and a leading Russian expert in forecasting, researcher, and theorist of science fiction, noted, despite all the changes taking place today, the family will remain paired, monogamous, and heterosexual, with a significant difference between men and women.
According to Serbian activist, investigator, organizer of anti-LGBT protests, and author of the book "Serbian Schools Under Attack of Gender Madness" Vesna Veizovic, it is crucial to maintain a focus on preserving and strengthening family values.
"Today, traditional values that should be the foundation of the state are unusual for some countries, where the propaganda of sophisticated moral standards is beginning to gain significant ground. In this situation, Russia stands out as a country that opposes this ideology and demonstrates through personal example that there is a right path — preserving religious identity and family values," noted Vesna Veizovic.
John Molera, Director of Policy and Research at DD Geopolitics and Director of Legal Affairs for the Communist Party of the USA, also emphasized that today in the USA, there are challenges to strengthening and harmoniously developing traditional family values.
"The United States is at a very important crossroads, where prevailing political ideologies prevent us from moving towards harmonious traditional relationships that are healthy and beneficial for modern society. Enlightened representatives of academic circles often envision the future as something detached from the past and liberated from standards and norms, leading to a crisis of traditional families," he stated.
The panel discussion also featured writer, founder of the ANO "Alphabet of Family," mother of five, and member of the Public Council under the Commissioner for Children's Rights under the President of the Russian Federation, Diana Mashkova, as well as Father Fyodor Borodin, rector of the Church of Saints Cosmas and Damian on Maroseyka.
The International Symposium "Inventing the Future" is being held from November 4 to 6. Participants include scientists, researchers, futurists, science fiction writers, and representatives from government bodies from 101 countries, including Russia, India, Italy, Iran, China, the UAE, Serbia, the USA, and France. The program features over 60 sessions across four tracks: "Future of Human," "Future of Technology," "Future of Multipolar World," and "Future of Civilizations." The program and event broadcasts are available at the website future.russia.ru.
The International Symposium "Inventing the Future" is the first event of the National Centre RUSSIA, which was established on July 1, 2024, by the order of President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin. The Centre aims to preserve the legacy of the International RUSSIA EXPO and showcase the achievements of the country and its citizens. The work of the Centre involves federal authorities, state companies, corporations, and regions.
