Virtual Urbanization

Abstract

This article analyzes sixteen of Russia’s largest cities and their agglomerations by means of collecting data from the Vkontakte social network. Analysis of maps representing collected data reveal a peculiar self-identification among users living within the agglomerations in question: Those who dwell in municipal districts located along the agglomeration’s periphery tend to associate themselves with the agglomeration’s center. The authors suggest possible reasons for this behavior and demonstrate the potential for further research using this collected data.