Social Digital Capital as Hybrid Non-Material Capital: Theoretical Approaches and Practical Solutions in the Russian Context

Abstract

The article analysed theoretical approaches towards understanding digital capital as a new form of non-material capital which becomes a key human resource in the context of digitalization of all spheres of public life. It investigated the dynamics of theoretical insights into the forms of non-material capital discussing such concepts as “information capital”, “information habitus”, etc. The study discussed the contribution of the French sociologist P. Bourdieu into the conceptualization of non-material capital. The results of the latest research into digital capital in both international and Russian academic discourse were analyzed. The article reviewed critical reflections on the opportunities for the empirical analysis of digital capital: digital capital index, "digital passport", etc. Formation of digital capital and its measurement model is analysed through the systematization of the empirical research in this area. We conducted a series of expert interviews conducted during summer and autumn of 2021 to demonstrate how the concept of digital capital is perceived by Russian media researchers, educators, journalists, and representatives of the legislative power of the Russian Federation. Thematic analysis of the respondents' answers made it possible to identify the main sub-themes of digital capital in expert discourse: well-being of the individual, digital content, digital transformation, material resources, government, digital inequality, media education and media literacy. The article pointed to the importance of digital capital as a new hybrid meta capital in the professional and personal spheres of human life in the modern digital world, as well as to the role of the state in overcoming digital inequality and forming digital capital of citizens. We identified the issue of measuring digital capital given the rapid development of digital media communications and emergence of new services, platforms and technologies. The research provided some insights into such aspects of digital capital as safe functioning in the digital media communication environment and capacity to create and distribute digital content. The study discussed the specifics of measuring and constructing digital capital in the Russian Federation determined by the complexity of climatic, territorial and other characteristics.