The Ontological Status of Social Networks in Contemporary Public Policy

The article examines the essence of social networks as a space for the realization of communicative needs, as well as an integral element of the emerging new political reality. The authors determine the ontological status of social networks through the analysis of their place, structure and functions in modern public policy. Highlighting the positive and negative impact of social networks on democratic processes and on the political system as a whole, the authors assess the prospects for the development of social networks as actors in the political process.